Fresh & Zesty Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe

Mediterranean orzo salad bursts with vibrant colors and tantalizing flavors that dance across your palate.

Soft, pillowy pasta redefines into a canvas for bright, zesty ingredients that capture summer’s essence.

Crisp vegetables mingle with herbaceous seasonings, creating a refreshing dish perfect for warm afternoons.

Mediterranean cuisines inspire this light yet satisfying meal that feels both elegant and approachable.

Each forkful promises a delightful journey through sun-drenched coastal regions and time-honored culinary traditions.

Balanced textures and harmonious ingredients elevate this simple salad into a memorable dining experience.

You’ll find yourself craving these Mediterranean-inspired combinations again and again.

Why Mediterranean Orzo Salad Is a Bright and Refreshing Side

• Burst with Mediterranean Freshness: Packed with vibrant vegetables like baby spinach, red bell peppers, and cucumbers, this salad delivers a crisp, garden-fresh flavor profile that transports you straight to a sunny Greek coastline.
• Effortlessly Elegant Meal Prep: Designed for convenience, this orzo salad can be prepared ahead of time and chilled overnight, making it perfect for busy weekdays, picnics, or potluck gatherings with minimal last-minute fuss.
• Customize Your Culinary Canvas: The recipe offers flexible ingredients that welcome personal creativity- swap vegetables, adjust herbs, or add protein like grilled chicken or chickpeas to match your taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Textural Symphony in Every Bite: Combining smooth, tender orzo with crunchy vegetables, creamy feta, and briny olives, this salad creates a delightful contrast of textures that keeps every forkful interesting and satisfying.

Ingredients That Build Flavor in Mediterranean Orzo Salad

• Orzo: Small, rice-shaped pasta that serves as the hearty foundation of the salad, quick-cooking and perfect for cold dishes.

• Baby Spinach Leaves, Red Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Red Onion: Crisp vegetables that add vibrant colors, fresh crunch, and nutritional boost to the Mediterranean-style salad.

• Castelvetrano Olives, Kalamata Olives: Bright green and dark purple olives that provide rich, briny flavor and authentic Mediterranean character.
• Feta Cheese: Tangy, crumbly Greek cheese that adds creamy texture and sharp, salty notes.

• Canola Oil, Olive Oil: Neutral and flavorful oils that create a smooth, well-balanced vinaigrette base.
• Lemon: Fresh citrus that brightens the entire dish with its zesty, acidic profile.
• Oregano, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Classic Mediterranean herbs and seasonings that enhance and round out the salad's overall flavor.

Cooking and Mixing Mediterranean Orzo Salad the Easy Way

Step 1: Boil Orzo Perfectly

Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring water to a rolling boil. Gently add orzo and cook for 8-10 minutes until tender but firm. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Let orzo cool completely.

Step 2: Chop Fresh Vegetables

• Baby spinach, roughly chopped
• Red bell pepper, diced
• Cucumber, sliced into small cubes
• Red onion, finely minced
• Kalamata olives, halved

Step 3: Create Zesty Vinaigrette

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh lemon juice
• Dried oregano
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Step 4: Combine Salad Components

In a large serving bowl, gently mix cooled orzo with prepared vegetables. Crumble half the feta cheese over the mixture. Pour vinaigrette and fold ingredients carefully to ensure even coating.

Step 5: Chill and Enhance Flavors

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Before serving, sprinkle remaining feta cheese on top. Serve chilled and enjoy the burst of Mediterranean flavors.

Tips to Keep Your Orzo Salad Fresh and Vibrant

• Boost Orzo Texture: Rinse pasta immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent clumping, ensuring a perfect al dente consistency.
• Maximize Flavor Infusion: Let the salad chill for at least an hour, allowing the vinaigrette to penetrate each ingredient and create a more vibrant taste profile.
• Customize Veggie Crunch: Dice vegetables uniformly for even distribution and a satisfying texture that complements the soft orzo pasta.
• Oil Blend Magic: Use a combination of canola and olive oils to create a balanced, light vinaigrette that enhances without overwhelming the salad's delicate flavors.
• Fresh Herb Upgrade: Consider adding chopped fresh herbs like parsley or mint just before serving to bring a bright, zesty dimension to the Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Storing Mediterranean Orzo Salad Without Drying

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the salad chilled to maintain its crisp texture and fresh flavors.
• Reheating: Gently bring the salad to room temperature before serving. Avoid microwaving, as this can make the orzo mushy and wilt the spinach. Instead, let it sit out for 15-20 minutes to restore its original taste and texture.
• Fresh Touch: Before serving leftover salad, give it a quick stir and consider adding a small splash of fresh lemon juice or a drizzle of olive oil to revive the dressing and brighten the flavors.

Main Dishes That Go Well with Orzo Salad

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Enjoy a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio that complements the salad's bright, fresh Mediterranean flavors and cuts through the tangy feta cheese.
• Match with Grilled Protein: Serve alongside herb-marinated grilled chicken, lamb kebabs, or lemon-garlic shrimp to create a complete and satisfying Mediterranean-inspired meal.
• Elevate with Rustic Bread: Add warm, crusty sourdough or herbed focaccia to scoop up the salad's delicious vinaigrette and provide a delightful textural contrast.
• Complement with Greek Appetizer: Start the meal with tzatziki and pita chips to enhance the Mediterranean theme and prepare the palate for the orzo salad's vibrant taste profile.

Delicious Add-Ins for Mediterranean Orzo Salad

• Greek Island Remix: Replace baby spinach with fresh arugula, add diced kalamata olives, and sprinkle some dried mint for an elevated Mediterranean profile.
• Protein Power Bowl: Incorporate grilled chicken or chickpeas to transform the salad into a substantial meal with increased protein content.
• Seafood Coastal Edition: Mix in cooked shrimp or flaked tuna, replace red bell pepper with roasted red peppers, and garnish with fresh parsley for a seafront flavor experience.
• Veggie Festival Fusion: Swap cucumber with roasted zucchini, include grilled artichoke hearts, and add sun-dried tomatoes for extra vegetable complexity and depth.

Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Fresh Mediterranean orzo salad brings sunshine to your plate with zesty herbs and crisp vegetables. Creamy feta, tangy olives, and perfectly cooked pasta combine into a refreshing summer dish you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 16 ounces (454 grams) orzo
• 7 ounces (198 grams) feta cheese
• 3 cups baby spinach leaves
• 5 ounces (142 grams) Castelvetrano green olives
• 5 ounces (142 grams) Kalamata pitted olives

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 ½ cups (225 grams) chopped red bell pepper
• 1 cup (150 grams) cucumber, diced and seeded
• ¾ cup (120 grams) red onion, diced
• 1 lemon, juiced

Dressing and Seasonings:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) canola oil
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Boil water in a large pot, generously seasoning with salt. Submerge orzo and cook until tender, approximately 10 minutes. Carefully drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to halt cooking process. Spread orzo on a flat surface to cool completely.
2. Select a spacious mixing vessel and combine the chilled orzo with vibrant baby spinach, diced crimson bell pepper, crisp cucumber, finely sliced red onion, and richly flavored halved olives. Delicately crumble half of the tangy feta cheese across the pasta medley.
3. Craft a zesty vinaigrette by whisking together canola and olive oils with fresh lemon juice. Incorporate dried oregano, salt, and cracked black pepper to create a harmonious dressing that will elevate the salad’s flavor profile.
4. Gently cascade the prepared vinaigrette over the orzo mixture, using a soft folding technique to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated. Pause to taste and fine-tune seasoning as needed, ensuring a balanced flavor experience.
5. Transfer the Mediterranean salad to the refrigerator, allowing it to rest and develop deeper flavor nuances for one hour or overnight. Just before serving, garnish with remaining crumbled feta cheese, presenting a visually appealing and refreshing dish.

Notes

• Packed with crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and a bright lemon vinaigrette, this orzo dish offers a perfect balance of textures and tastes.
• Ideal for meal prep, picnics, or as a refreshing side dish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 490
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg