This refreshing and vibrant Mediterranean orzo salad combines tender orzo pasta with contemporary greens, herbs, olives, chargrilled artichokes, and optionally available feta cheese.
Stuffed with flavours, this Mediterranean orzo salad combines tender orzo pasta with contemporary greens, herbs, kalamata olives, chargrilled artichokes, and optionally available feta cheese. The right marriage of Italian and Greek cuisines, it’s tossed in a zingy lemony dressing.
I wish to serve this salad as a light-weight lunch or dinner, however it additionally make a tasty and vibrant facet dish to convey to a barbecue or picnic. This dish pairs effectively with different salads comparable to my Lentil Tabbouleh, Chickpea Salad, or Marinated Courgette Salad.
This Mediterranean orzo salad recipe requires minimal cooking which is good on a scorching summer time day. Many of the preparation entails chopping contemporary greens and herbs in addition to making the dressing.
The feta cheese is optionally available so you’ll be able to both skip it or use a plant-based various.
TOP TIPS:
- To stop the orzo from sticking collectively as soon as cooked, rinse is below chilly water then toss it in a tablespoon of extra-virgin oil.
- For optimum flavour, be sure you use the highest quality extra-virgin olive, vinegar, greens, contemporary lemon juice, and herbs yow will discover.
- There’s a little bit of leeway with the dressing. I like loads of zing, and usually use the juice of two massive lemons. Be at liberty to experiment, utilizing much less or extra to fit your personal desire.
- Additionally, as feta is mostly fairly salty, I solely season this Mediterranean orzo pasta salad with pepper earlier than serving it. So in case you are not utilizing feta, you may want so as to add somewhat little bit of salt.
What’s orzo?
Formed like massive grains of rice, orzo is a small pasta produced from durum wheat semolina. It may be eaten chilly or scorching.
Fast and straightforward to prepare dinner, this can be a very versatile year-round storecupboard staple appropriate for salads, pasta casseroles, bakes, soups, stuffed greens and so forth…
One can find it within the dry pasta aisle of supermarkets.
The way to make this Mediterranean orzo salad
Components (and substitutions):
To make this Mediterranean orzo pasta salad you have to:
- 300 g dry orzo (you can even additionally small shell-shaped pasta)
- extra-virgin olive oil
- cherry tomatoes
- cucumber
- yellow pepper
- crimson onion
- contemporary parsley
- contemporary basil
- contemporary mint
- kalamata olives (or black olives)
- chargrilled artichokes in oil
- feta cheese (optionally available so you’ll be able to skip it or use a plant-based various)
- pepper
FOR THE DRESSING:
- Dijon mustard
- extra-virgin olive oil
- crimson wine vinegar
- garlic cloves
- Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
Step 1: The way to prepare dinner the orzo
To prepare dinner the orzo, merely warmth a saucepan full of over medium-high warmth. When boiling, salt the water. Add the orzo and prepare dinner in line with the packet directions till the pasta is al dente, about 7 to eight minutes.
In order that the orzo doesn’t clump collectively when cooling, drain it in a colander then rinse it below chilly water. Drain it once more, then switch it to a salad bowl and toss in a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Put aside.
Step 2: Make the dressing
Combine all of the dressing substances collectively in a small bowl or jar and season to style with lemon juice. Put aside.
Step 3: Prep the greens & herbs
To prep the greens, lower the cherry tomatoes into quarters and the cucumber into small cube. Deseed the pepper and lower it into small cube. Finely slice the crimson onion. Chop the herbs.
Step 4: Mix the whole lot
Add the chopped greens, herbs, olives, and artichokes on high of the orzo. Toss the whole lot with the dressing till effectively mixed.
If utilizing, add the crumbled feta on high and toss once more. Season the style with pepper (and extra lemon juice if wanted).
Step 5: Serve
When you have time, depart the salad to relaxation for half-hour earlier than serving.
What to serve with this Mediterranean orzo salad
This salad is hearty and filling sufficient to be served by itself but additionally pairs effectively with quite a lot of major programs and facet dishes.
Heat pita is ideal for scooping up this salad, however I additionally like a slice of ciabatta bread. For a mezze platter, you’ll be able to add hummus, falafels, my vegan tzatziki, or baba ganoush on the facet.
If you’re catering for various diets, this is a perfect dish to serve alongside (meat-free) sausages, grilled meat or fish.
Watch how one can make this Mediterranean orzo pasta salad recipe
I hope you get pleasure from this Mediterranean orzo salad recipe as a lot as I do. When you do make it, don’t overlook to tag me on Instagram!
Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe
This refreshing and vibrant Mediterranean orzo pasta salad combines tender orzo pasta with contemporary greens, herbs, olives, chargrilled artichokes, and optionally available feta cheese.
Disclaimer: the gear record above consists of affiliate hyperlinks to merchandise I exploit and like.
Components
- 300 g orzo
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 175 g cherry tomatoes
- 150 g cucumber
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 medium crimson onion
- 15 g contemporary parsley
- 15 g contemporary basil
- 10 g contemporary mint
- 125 g kalamata olives
- 100 g chargrilled artichokes in oil
- 200 g feta cheese
- Pepper, to style
FOR THE DRESSING:
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 6 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp crimson wine vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice of 1 to 2 lemons, to style
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Directions
-
Warmth a pan full of water over medium-high warmth. When boiling, salt the water.
-
Add the orzo and prepare dinner in line with the packet directions till the pasta is al dente, about 7 to eight minutes.
300 g orzo
-
Drain in a colander and rinse completely below chilly water. Drain once more.
-
When the cooked orzo is effectively drained, switch it to a salad bowl and toss in a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Put aside.
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
-
Make the dressing: Combine all of the dressing substances collectively in a small bowl or jar and season to style with lemon juice. Put aside.
2 tsp Dijon mustard, 6 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 2 Tbsp crimson wine vinegar, 3 garlic cloves, minced, Juice of 1 to 2 lemons, to style
-
To prep the greens, lower the cherry tomatoes into quarters and the cucumber into small cube. Deseed the pepper and lower it into small cube. Finely slice the crimson onion.
175 g cherry tomatoes, 150 g cucumber, 1 yellow pepper, 1 medium crimson onion
-
Chop the herbs.
15 g contemporary parsley, 15 g contemporary basil, 10 g contemporary mint
-
Add the chopped greens, herbs, olives, and artichokes on high of the orzo.
125 g kalamata olives, 100 g chargrilled artichokes in oil
-
Toss the whole lot with the dressing till effectively mixed.
-
If utilizing, add the crumbled feta on high and toss once more. Season the style with pepper (and extra lemon juice if wanted).
200 g feta cheese, Pepper, to style
-
When you have time, depart the salad to relaxation for half-hour earlier than serving.
Video
Vitamin
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 372kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 10gFats: 22gSaturated Fats: 6gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 12gLdl cholesterol: 22mgSodium: 598mgPotassium: 262mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 753IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 1mg
Discover this recipe on-line:
Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe
https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/mediterranean-orzo-salad/
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Continuously requested questions on Mediterranean orzo salad
Sure, this Mediterranean Orzo Salad may be made forward of time. In truth, making it a number of hours upfront permits the flavors to meld collectively.
This Mediterranean orzo salad is greatest served chilly or at room temperature. It’s an excellent dish for picnics and barbecues as a result of it travels effectively and might keep at room temperature for a number of hours.
Saved in an hermetic container, this Mediterranean orzo salad will final within the fridge for about 3 to five days.
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