Summer Vegetable and Orzo Salad
Bright, fresh, and bursting with flavor, this Summer Vegetable and Orzo Salad is the perfect side dish or light main course for sunny days. Featuring tender orzo pasta paired with a medley of crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell peppers, and tangy red onion, this salad is as colorful as it is delicious. Tossed in a zesty, homemade lemon vinaigrette and accented with crumbled feta, parsley, and basil, every bite offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s ideal for picnics, barbecues, or quick weeknight meals. Serve it fresh or chilled to let the vibrant summer-inspired ingredients truly shine.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Orzo pasta
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 1 medium Red bell pepper
- 0.5 small Red onion
- 0.5 cup Feta cheese
- 0.25 cup Fresh parsley
- 0.25 cup Fresh basil
- 0.25 cup Olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 clove Garlic
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, and set aside to cool completely.
While the orzo cools, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion.
Chop the fresh parsley and basil leaves finely. Set aside.
In a small bowl, make the vinaigrette by combining olive oil, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until emulsified.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, and basil. Toss gently to mix.
Crumble the feta cheese over the salad and pour the vinaigrette on top. Toss everything together until evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
Garnish with additional parsley or basil, if desired, before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1072 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 21.3 g | 27% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.3 g | 52% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 67 mg | 22% | |
| Sodium | 2072 mg | 90% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 188.0 g | 68% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 19.4 g | 69% | |
| Total Sugars | 22.5 g | ||
| Protein | 42.0 g | 84% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 518 mg | 40% | |
| Iron | 10.6 mg | 59% | |
| Potassium | 1553 mg | 33% | |
*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.
