Festive Orzo Salad
Brighten up your table with this vibrant Festive Orzo Salad! Bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors, this colorful dish combines tender orzo pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and sweet red bell pepper for a refreshing base. Tossed with briny kalamata olives, creamy feta cheese, and aromatic parsley, it’s all brought together with a zesty homemade lemon-oregano dressing. Perfect as a make-ahead side dish for holiday gatherings, summer barbecues, or light lunches, this versatile salad can be served chilled or at room temperature. Quick to prepare and irresistibly flavorful, it’s a celebration of fresh, wholesome ingredients in every bite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups orzo pasta
- 6 cups water
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 0.5 red onion, finely chopped
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 0.5 cup kalamata olives, halved
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the orzo pasta and cook according to the package instructions, typically about 7-10 minutes, until al dente.
Drain the orzo and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
While the orzo is cooling, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion. Add these to the bowl with the cooled orzo.
Add the chopped parsley, crumbled feta cheese, and halved kalamata olives to the bowl and gently toss everything together.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the orzo mixture and toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2664 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 110.8 g | 142% | |
| Saturated Fat | 28.2 g | 141% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 100 mg | 33% | |
| Sodium | 3461 mg | 150% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 349.3 g | 127% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 35.5 g | 127% | |
| Total Sugars | 27.7 g | ||
| Protein | 75.8 g | 152% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1036 mg | 80% | |
| Iron | 23.9 mg | 133% | |
| Potassium | 1936 mg | 41% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
