Zesty Orzo Salad
Brighten up your table with this vibrant and refreshing Zesty Orzo Salad, a Mediterranean-inspired dish perfect for any occasion! Packed with tender orzo pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and sweet red bell pepper, this salad bursts with fresh flavors and textures. Tangy feta cheese, briny Kalamata olives, and a zesty lemon-garlic dressing infused with oregano elevate each bite to perfection. Quick to prepare in just 30 minutes, this chilled salad is a versatile side dish or a light main course, ideal for picnics, potlucks, or meal prep. Garnished with fresh parsley for an herby finish, this colorful orzo salad is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 small red onion
- 0.75 cup feta cheese
- 0.5 cup kalamata olives
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. 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. Set everything aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, feta cheese, and kalamata olives.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until all the ingredients are well coated.
Finely chop the fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the salad as a garnish.
Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled as a side dish or a light main course and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2313 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 116.9 g | 150% | |
| Saturated Fat | 27.7 g | 138% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 100 mg | 33% | |
| Sodium | 3918 mg | 170% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 267.8 g | 97% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 30.9 g | 110% | |
| Total Sugars | 20.5 g | ||
| Protein | 58.8 g | 118% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 834 mg | 64% | |
| Iron | 18.5 mg | 103% | |
| Potassium | 1248 mg | 27% | |
*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.
