Garden Orzo Salad with Herb Dressing
Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this Garden Orzo Salad with Herb Dressing is a light yet satisfying dish that's perfect for any occasion. Tender orzo pasta is tossed with a colorful array of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper, along with tangy Kalamata olives and creamy crumbled feta cheese for a delightful texture combination. The zesty herb dressing, made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and a touch of honey, ties everything together beautifully, while fresh parsley, dill, and basil add an aromatic finish. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is ideal for meal prep, picnics, or a refreshing side dish. Serve it chilled for the ultimate summer salad packed with Mediterranean charm!
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Orzo pasta
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 large Cucumber (diced)
- 1 Red bell pepper (diced)
- 0.5 cup Red onion (finely chopped)
- 0.5 cup Kalamata olives (sliced)
- 0.75 cup Feta cheese (crumbled)
- 0.25 cup Fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh dill (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh basil leaves (chopped)
- 3 tablespoons Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, honey, salt, and black pepper to make the herb dressing.
In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
Sprinkle the chopped parsley, dill, and basil over the salad mixture.
Pour the herb dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.
Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice if needed.
Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2454 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 124.3 g | 159% | |
| Saturated Fat | 37.4 g | 187% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 160 mg | 53% | |
| Sodium | 4167 mg | 181% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 284.4 g | 103% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 29.1 g | 104% | |
| Total Sugars | 32.8 g | ||
| Protein | 73.9 g | 148% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1275 mg | 98% | |
| Iron | 20.5 mg | 114% | |
| Potassium | 1964 mg | 42% | |
*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.
