Orzo Salad with Vegetables and Feta

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 crunch 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.

MORE SALAD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Greek Pasta Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Spaghetti Salad
• 60 Pasta Salad Recipes
• Chickpea Salad

5 from 3 votes

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Orzo Salad

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.

Course Salad

Cuisine Greek

Keyword greek orzo salad, orzo pasta salad, orzo salad

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 310 kcal

Author Dinner at the Zoo

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

1. Place the orzo pasta, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, red onion, parsley and feta cheese in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, oregano and salt and pepper.

3. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss to coat, then serve.

Nutrition Facts

Orzo Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 310 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 13g 20%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 11mg 4%

Sodium 157mg 7%

Potassium 280mg 8%

Total Carbohydrates 38g 13%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 4g

Protein 9g 18%

Vitamin A 4%

Vitamin C 10.4%

Calcium 9%

Iron 9.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.