This Greek orzo salad is made with cucumbers, chickpeas, tomatoes, red onion, feta and herbs, all tossed in a herb dressing. A simple yet hearty pasta salad that can be served as a main course or side dish.
Orzo pasta salad is an unexpected and delicious addition to any meal. The combination of crunchy vegetables, protein packed chickpeas and creamy feta cheese just can’t be beat!
There’s nothing better than the perfect side dish when it comes to a summer get together. I enjoy coming up with various side dishes that are fresh and new like this orzo salad. The delicious mixture of chickpeas and crunchy vegetables pair well with the creamy feta cheese to make the ultimate easy summer salad.
HOW DO YOU MAKE ORZO SALAD?
This orzo pasta salad is made with fresh veggies and herbs to provide the best flavor. A combination of tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, chickpeas and feta cheese is mixed with orzo pasta, then tossed in a Greek style dressing. This salad can be made up to 4 hours before you plan to serve it.
To cool your orzo quickly for this salad, run it under cold water in a colander. The cold water will cool the pasta as well as prevent it from clumping together.
The dressing is a simple combination of olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, herbs and spices. It takes about 2 minutes to put together and adds plenty of flavor to the salad.
If you prefer to use a different cheese other than feta for your orzo pasta salad, goat cheese is a great substitute. You also don’t have to stick to the vegetables I used. There are plenty of other veggies that would work well either as a substitute or as an addition.
Some other great additions to this orzo salad are
- Olives
- Pine nuts
- Green peppers
WHAT IS ORZO?
Orzo is a type of short cut pasta that resembles grains of rice, only a tad bit bigger. It can also go by the name “risoni.”You can find orzo in the pasta aisle of almost all major grocery stores.
HOW DO I USE ORZO?
Orzo is cooked just as most pasta is – boiled. You can use orzo like you would rice or in a variety of pasta dishes.
This orzo pasta salad is so easy to make that I make a batch a few times a month, I love to have it as a lighter lunch. It’s definitely healthier than many other side dishes can be, and it gets the kids to eat their vegetables. It’s definitely one of my go-to dishes for summer family meals or get togethers.
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Orzo Salad Video
Orzo Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried orzo pasta cooked in salted water according to package directions, then cooled
- 1 1/2 cups cucumber diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup chickpeas
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the orzo pasta, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, red onion, parsley and feta cheese in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, oregano and salt and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss to coat, then serve.
Ash says
Can I use crushed mustard seed powder instead of Dijon mustard?
Sara says
I haven’t tried it this way, if you try it I’d use a smaller amount of powder than actual mustard.
Janet P. says
Great recipe!!! Always a hit to bring to a barbecue for a side!!!!
Colleen says
Made it today, but I didn’t have garbanzo beans or fresh parsley so I skipped them, and it was delicious! Will definitely make again!
Colleen says
Oops forgot to rate it!
Marla says
This salad has wonderful flavors and texture. This was my first time using the orzo pasta and your directions were easy to
Daisyheadfayzie says
I made this yesterday and it was easy to make and delicious.
I added sliced kalamata olives for more flavor even though it didn’t need it.
Debbie Basile says
Can I make this a day ahead? Or how soon before serving?
Sara says
I would do a few hours ahead of time, as the pasta will absorb the dressing the longer it sits!
Joan says
I’ve been making this for years and get requests to make this for family gatherings. Also great using asparagas
Angela S says
Added sun dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts and red bell pepper!!! So good!!!