I love making Orzo salads. If you are not familiar with Orzo, it’s basically pasta shaped like large grains of rice. Many people often confuse Orzo with Rice. Orzo is pasta, not a grain like Rice.
What is Al Dente
When making pasta like this orzo, it’s important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure the best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term “al dente”, it means cooking the pasta so it’s still chewy and firm and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.
Ingredient Substitution
You can use an equal amount of Cherry Tomatoes instead of Grape Tomatoes. Besides the difference in shape, cherry tomatoes will be a bit sweeter than grape tomatoes.
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If you don’t have any Kalamata Olives on hand you can substitute for Black Olives or Green Olives but the overall flavor of this awesome orzo salad will be different.
I love feta cheese but realize that quite a few people don’t like the taste of it. Goat Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Ricotta Cheese or even Parmesan Cheese might be a good substitute.
Personally, I like to eat this salad at room temperature but you can serve it warm or cold. Just remember that the orzo will soak up some of the dressing so be mindful when adding it to the salad.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Mediterranean Orzo Salad recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Orzo, Grape Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Greek Kalamata Olives, Fresh Parsley, Capers, Fresh Lemon Juice, Honey, Garlic Clove, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Salt and Pepper.
How to Make Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- In a saucepan, cook the orzo until al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the tomatoes, feta cheese, kalamata olives, parsley and capers. Add the orzo and toss till combined.
- Pour just enough of the dressing to coat, then toss to combine. Add more dressing if necessary. The pasta will absorb some of the dressing.
- Serve warm or cold with the remaining dressing if needed.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
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Ingredients
- 8 oz Orzo
- 1 ½ Cups Grape Tomatoes, chopped
- ½ Cup Feta Cheese
- ¼ Cup Greek Kalamata Olives, chopped
- ¼ Cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
- 2 Tbsp Capers, drained
FOR THE LEMON DRESSING
- ¼ Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- ½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
- In a saucepan, cook the orzo until al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the tomatoes, feta cheese, kalamata olives, parsley and capers. Add the orzo and toss till combined.
- Pour just enough of the dressing to coat, then toss to combine. Add more dressing if necessary. The pasta will absorb some of the dressing.
- Serve warm or cold with the remaining dressing if needed.
This Orzo Salad is to die for. Very easy to make. It can be made in 15-20 minutes. Delicious.