Description
Mediterranean orzo salad brings fresh Mediterranean flavors together in a light, zesty dish. Crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and herb-infused dressing create a perfect summer side you’ll crave at every outdoor gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) orzo pasta
- ½ cup (75 g) crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup (75 g) Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup (150 g) cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup (40 g) red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh spinach, chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Immerse orzo in generously salted boiling water, cooking until al dente for 8-10 minutes. Drain completely and rinse with cold water to halt cooking and preserve optimal texture.
- Vegetable Ensemble: Meticulously cube tomatoes, slice cucumber into delicate rounds, dice olives, mince red onion, and roughly chop parsley and spinach leaves with precision.
- Flavor Infusion: Craft a Mediterranean vinaigrette by vigorously whisking extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until achieving a silky, harmonious emulsion.
- Composition and Melding: Combine cooled orzo in a spacious bowl with prepared vegetables, crumbled feta, and parsley. Cascade dressing over the mixture, gently folding to ensure comprehensive flavor integration and balanced distribution.
- Resting and Serving: Allow salad to harmonize for 10-15 minutes, permitting ingredients to meld and intensify their Mediterranean essence. Present chilled or at ambient temperature as a vibrant side dish or standalone culinary experience.
Notes
- Precision in Salting: Use kosher or sea salt to enhance orzo’s flavor during boiling, ensuring water tastes like the sea for perfect seasoning.
- Cooling Technique: Rinse orzo with cold water immediately after draining to stop cooking process and prevent mushy texture, maintaining ideal al dente consistency.
- Dressing Emulsification: Whisk dressing ingredients vigorously to create smooth, well-integrated flavor profile that coats ingredients evenly without separation.
- Marination Magic: Let salad rest for recommended time to allow flavors to meld, intensifying overall taste and creating more complex Mediterranean-inspired experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg