Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe is an easy and elevated pasta salad side dish filled with bright flavors and fresh herbs. Be sure to watch the recipe video too!
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There is something about the warmer temps that has me craving fresh Mediterranean flavors! I’ve been making this Mediterranean salad dressing and drizzling it over this Orzo Mediterranean Salad, on my chicken, adding it to marinades and over grilled veggies too.
Orzo salad isn’t a dish you may often think of for summer BBQ’s or picnics so it is one your guests will be pleasantly surprised with!
It has the perfect crunch from the cucumbers, plant protein from the garbanzo beans and bound together with a zingy Mediterranean/Greek vinaigrette dressing.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe is a satisfying side that
will soon be a staple worth keeping in your salad rotation!
Plus, who doesn’t love an easy summer salad?!
What is orzo?
Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that is usually made from white
flour, but can be made from whole-grain flour too.
Orzo can be easily confused with rice. Rice is simply rice,
while orzo is a short-cut pasta that just happens to look a lot like rice
because of its petite size.
Is orzo gluten free?
No, orzo is not gluten free because it is made from wheat semolina flour and wheat contains gluten. However, you should be able to find gluten-free orzo on grocery store shelves since the gluten-free diet is increasingly popular.
How do you cook orzo?
For this Orzo Mediterranean Salad recipe you will use the pasta method.
(This blog post is a great reference on a variety of other ways to cook orzo if you are interested in cooking it other ways!)
Bring salted water to boil, add your uncooked orzo to the water and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes (according to package directions). Drain the liquid off using a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the pasta from cooking. Toss with a tablespoon or 2 of olive oil to prevent it from clumping.
Since this is a cold salad, you can keep the orzo in the
fridge while you prep the veggies and Mediterranean dressing.
Once you have all of your veggies chopped and prepped make
the Greek dressing by whisking all of the following ingredients together in a
small bowl.
Once the orzo salad is finished, properly store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. That storage life makes this Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipe a great meal prep option to take for lunch throughout the week.
What will I need to make this easy orzo salad?
Orzo (you can also sub any small pasta shape ditalini or even Israeli Couscous)
Cook the orzo to package directions. In a large bowl, place the cooked and cooled orzo pasta, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, pepperoncini, kalamata olives and artichokes together.
In a 2 cup measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the Greek dressing.
Pour the dressing over the Mediterranean Orzo Salad, toss to thoroughly mix in dressing and serve.
Some other delicious additions to this orzo salad to add variety
include:
Sun dried
tomatoes
Feta cheese
Chopped baby
spinach
Capers
Roasted red
peppers (jarred)
What do I make with orzo besides salads?
Put it in soups
Toss cooked
orzo with broccoli
Salads, like
this delicious one!
Casseroles
Treat it like
rice and make stuffed bell peppers
Use it in rice
pilaf or other rice dishes
Make as a side
dish and enjoy with prawns, chicken, roasted vegetables, lamb, salmon, pork or
sausage. The possibilities are endless.
This vegetarian Orzo Salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a perfect make-ahead salad for all of the potlucks, picnics, barbecues and parties you have lined up this summer!
Cook the orzo to package directions (pasta method).
In a large bowl, place the cooked and cooled orzo pasta, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, peperoncini, garbanzo beans, kalamata olives and artichokes together.
In a 2 cup measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the Greek dressing.
Pour 1 cup of the dressing over the Mediterranean Orzo Salad, taste and add more until you get it to the taste you prefer. Toss to thoroughly mix in dressing and serve. You can keep some of the dressing on the side to serve when ready.
Video
Notes
The Greek dressing recipe makes 1 cup. Double the recipe if desired.
Welcome to my tiny “korner” on the Internet! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves cookies as much as kale. (OK, maybe I like cookies a little bit more but shh, don’t tell anyone). I am so glad you’re here! Follow along for hassle free, realistic and approachable recipes.
This salad seems easy to make and looks good. I am looking for quick and easy inexpensive ways make healthy food.
All of my favourite things in this salad. I can’t wait for summer BBQ’s so I have an excuse to make it again.
This is such a vibrant, delicious dish and great way to use up some leftover orzo!
Thank you Marlynn!
This is not your usual pasta salad! It is so filled with yummy good things that it’s a real favorite in our house!
I’m so glad! Thank you Jenn!
This recipe is so simple and so fresh and delicious.
Thank you so much Kara!