🫒 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🌿 Fresh, vibrant Mediterranean flavors
- ⏱ Ready in 20 minutes start to finish
- 🥗 Light but satisfying — perfect for lunch or dinner
- 🍋 Great warm or chilled (ideal for meal prep)
This Mediterranean Orzo Salad is a quick, fresh, and flavorful dish made with tender orzo pasta, crisp vegetables, briny olives, creamy feta, and a bright lemon-olive oil dressing. It’s a healthy, vegetarian meal that comes together in just 20 minutes and works beautifully as a main dish or side.
⏱ Recipe Overview
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Temperature: Boiling (212°F / 100°C)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 4
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, halved
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Directions
- Cook the orzo: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orzo according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly with cool water.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked orzo, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and parsley.
- Toss: Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat.
- Finish: Sprinkle with feta cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes for enhanced flavor.
🧂 Recipe Notes & Variations
- Add protein: Chickpeas, grilled chicken, or shrimp work well.
- Make it vegan: Omit feta or replace with dairy-free feta.
- Extra veggies: Roasted zucchini, artichokes, or spinach are great additions.
- Meal prep: Keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
📊 Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: ~320
- Protein: ~10g
- Carbohydrates: ~38g
- Fat: ~15g
- Fiber: ~4g
- Sodium: ~420mg
🧰 Tools You’ll Need
- Medium saucepan — Get on Amazon
- Fine mesh strainer — Get on Amazon
- Large mixing bowl — Get on Amazon
- Small whisk — Get on Amazon
- Chef’s knife — Get on Amazon
