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This savory and zesty orzo salad options cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, spinach, and a do-it-yourself (or store-bought!) Italian dressing. It is nice for making forward and sharing with the group at potlucks, barbecues, picnics, and cookouts!
Why you will love orzo salad
This fast and straightforward recipe options the right steadiness of summer time flavors and textures. The small, rice-shaped orzo pasta pairs properly with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and creamy feta cheese. Kalamata and inexperienced olives (I used Castelvetrano olives) lend a briny depth, and recent spinach provides a vibrant inexperienced crunch. Tossed in a zesty lemon French dressing, this vegetarian salad is each refreshing, wholesome, and flavorful. Whether or not you are heading to a yard barbecue, picnic, or potluck, this versatile and crowd-pleasing orzo salad is certain to be a success. What I like one of the best is that it takes solely 20 minutes to make, retains properly refrigerated, and is nice for making forward. Serve it chilled or at room temperature, making it a great dish for any summer time gathering.
The final word summer time facet dish
Get pleasure from orzo salad as an appetizer, facet dish, or use the leftovers as a lightweight lunch. Its fast preparation time and gorgeous presentation make it a favourite for summer time or any time of 12 months. Different cookout sides you would possibly like are tomato avocado corn bacon salad and family-favorite strawberry spinach salad.
Predominant components
- Orzo is a short-cut pasta that appears much like rice. Prepare dinner the pasta al dente for one of the best texture and rinse it beneath chilly water after cooking to forestall it from turning into mushy. You can even use quinoa, jasmine rice, or brief pasta, comparable to fusilli, farfalle (bow-tie pasta), penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or orecchiette.
- Cherry tomatoes. I used 2 colours: yellow and crimson. Slice them in half.
- Cucumber. Use two medium cucumbers (quartered) or one giant one. There isn’t a have to peel them.
- Olives. Use pitted black, inexperienced, or kalamata olives. I used a combo of kalamata and Castelvetrano olives.
- Feta cheese has a mushy texture and briny taste.
- Spinach or arugula each make a terrific addition to the orzo salad.
Salad dressing
- Salad dressing components embrace further virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
- I like to recommend utilizing freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice (not bottled) and additional virgin olive oil.
- You need to use dried Italian seasoning or Herbs from Provance as a substitute of dried oregano.
- Mix all of the dressing components in a mason jar or a small high-sided mixing bowl and whisk with the fork (or shut the jar with the lid and shake it vigorously to mix the flavors).
How one can make orzo salad
This vegetarian pasta salad takes solely 20 minutes! You possibly can serve it instantly or refrigerate it for as much as 3 days (preserve spinach separate). Prepare dinner orzo al dente, drain, and rinse it beneath working chilly water in a effective mesh strainer. Make the salad dressing. Then, merely mix cooked orzo with halved cherry tomatoes, quartered cucumber, olives, feta cheese, recent spinach, and salad dressing in a big bowl. Observe: That is the overview. The detailed recipe (with quantities) is on the backside of this put up (within the recipe card).
Ideas and suggestions
- Prepare dinner orzo al dente. This type of texture works one of the best with the pasta salad particularly if you wish to make it forward and prevents the orzo from getting mushy. To cook dinner pasta al dente, you usually must boil pasta 2 minutes shorter than regular. For instance, if the bundle directions let you know to boil (simmer) pasta for 10 minutes – simmer/cook dinner it in boiling water for 8 minutes as a substitute.
- Rinse cooked orzo beneath working chilly water in a effective mesh strainer earlier than mixing with the opposite components. This eliminates further starch and stops the orzo from cooking within the residual warmth, holding its al dente texture.
- Make it gluten-free. Gluten-free orzo is obtainable. You can even use quinoa, jasmine rice, or cauliflower “rice”.
Make it forward
This salad retains properly refrigerated, so it is an ideal recipe for meal prep, or to make forward for lunch and snacks. You possibly can simply make this salad forward by cooking orzo upfront and mixing all salad components collectively besides the salad dressing and spinach. Add these two instantly earlier than serving.
What to serve with orzo salad
It is a versatile facet dish that pairs properly with any weeknight dinner and is equally spectacular for picnics, potlucks, and BBQ events. Listed here are my favourite summer time meals to pair with the summer time orzo salad:
- Cilantro-Lime Rooster with Corn and Feta Cheese
- Rooster with Peaches and Lemon-Honey Sauce
- Garlic Butter Rooster with Zucchini and Corn
- Bacon Pineapple BBQ Rooster Bake
Different summer time pasta salad recipes
In the event you loved this shiny and vibrant orzo salad, try my different summer time favorites:
- Mexican Avenue Corn Pasta Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Corn Pasta Salad with Bacon and Creamy Pesto Dressing
- Spaghetti Salad
- Pasta Salad with Peaches, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella Cheese
Orzo Salad
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Components
Pasta
- 1 cup raw orzo
Salad dressing
- ¼ cup further virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or extra
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- freshly floor black pepper to style
Salad components
- 10 oz cherry or grape tomatoes (crimson and yellow) sliced in half
- 2 medium cucumbers quartered
- ⅓ cup pitted black olives sliced
- ⅓ cup pitted inexperienced olives sliced (I used Castelvetrano olives)
- 4 oz crumbled feta cheese
- 2 oz child spinach
Directions
Prepare dinner pasta
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Prepare dinner 1 cup of orzo in 2 cups water for about 10 minutes on a simmer. Add small quantities of additional water if the orzo continues to be not cooked and the water is already absorbed. As soon as the pasta is completed cooking (al dente), drain and rinse beneath chilly working water in a effective mesh strainer.
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Whereas the orzo is cooking, proceed with the remainder of the recipe.
Make dressing
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Mix the salad dressing components in a small mason jar. Whisk with a fork till emulsified.
Assemble the salad
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In a big mixing bowl, add sliced cherry tomatoes, quartered cucumber slices, olives, and salad dressing. Combine the dressing completely with the veggies.
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Add drained and rinsed orzo, crumbled feta cheese, and child spinach to the bowl with marinated veggies. Toss to mix—season with salt and pepper. Add extra lemon juice if desired.
Notes
Useful suggestions
- Rinse cooked orzo beneath chilly water in a effective mesh strainer earlier than including to the salad. You need pasta to cease cooking and forestall it from getting mushy.
- Salad dressing choices. Make a dressing from scratch or use store-bought Italian or Greek.
- Veggies. Add mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, or zucchini.
- Add leafy greens, comparable to spinach or arugula.
- Cheese. Different choices in addition to feta are small Mozzarella balls (pearls), sliced Mozzarella, and cubed or grated Parmesan.
- To make it gluten-free, use gf orzo, quinoa, jasmine rice, or the gluten-free pasta of your selection. As soon as cooked, rinse the pasta with chilly water to forestall it from getting mushy. That is particularly essential for gluten-free pasta.
- Make it dairy-free. Use dairy-free, vegan feta cheese as a substitute of standard.
- How one can serve it? Serve it heat, at room temperature, or chilled.
Storage Ideas
- You possibly can retailer the leftovers refrigerated in an air-tight container for as much as 3 days.
- Make-ahead tip: Do not add the dressing and spinach when you plan on refrigerating the salad for a day or two. Add these proper earlier than serving.
