Salad With Orzo and Feta

I’ve made this leafy feta orzo salad recipe a minimum of 4 instances within the final two weeks! It’s a brilliant and engaging summer season salad with crisp romaine lettuce, creamy avocado, and crumbly feta, bulked up with tender orzo pasta.

I really like summer-inspired recipes like this feta orzo salad and my straightforward Mediterranean salad. Simply give the whole lot a toss in a tangy lemon dressing and dig in!

This brilliant and recent inexperienced salad with orzo and feta is sort of a peek into my food-brain. It’s half pasta salad, half leafy salad, and it’s how I eat each day: avocados, feta cheese, after which a wide range of the whole lot else. I layered in some crisp lettuce, tender orzo (which, regardless of its rice-looking form, is 100% pasta), and ripe grape tomatoes, and bam! The household cleaned out the salad bowl in a single sitting.

Why I Love This Simple Salad With Orzo and Feta

• Contemporary elements. This salad combines one of the best of summer season’s elements into one bowlful. It’s tremendous recent and flavorful, particularly after I make it after a visit to the farmer’s market.
• Satisfying. I really like the way in which that orzo pasta and avocado bulk up this salad. It’s an important meatless meal, or you possibly can bulk it up with add-ons like protein, crispy chickpeas, chickpea patties, and many others. I share some concepts additional on.
• Fast. Chop the remainder of your elements whereas the orzo boils on the range. By the point the pasta is cooked, all that’s left to do is put all of it along with the zesty lemon dressing.

Salad Elements

I might very nicely stay on avocados alone, however they’re even higher in a salad! With their scrumptious taste and creamy texture, avocados is perhaps nature’s finest product, ever. Fortunate for me, my children additionally love ‘em. I’ve been including avocados to hummus, sandwiches, and lots of, many salads, together with this one with feta and orzo. 

You’ll discover some fast ingredient notes right here. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for a printable checklist with the complete recipe particulars.

• Lettuce – I really like the crispness of chopped romaine, however you should use any lettuce you’d like. Inexperienced leaf, iceberg lettuce, mesclun, arugula, or any mixture of leaves would style nice. You possibly can even make a spinach and orzo salad with darker greens.
• Orzo – You’ll must cook dinner the orzo for this salad in keeping with the instructions on the bundle. I normally goal for al dente, so tender however nonetheless a bit agency within the center.
• Avocado – Select a ripe, darkish avocado that’s agency (not exhausting) to the contact. My favorites are Hass avocados once they’re in season. 
• Tomatoes – Grape or cherry tomatoes are bursting with sweetness this time of the 12 months, in order that’s what I take advantage of. Be at liberty to cut up any ripe tomatoes, together with bigger varieties like Roma or heirloom.
• Feta Cheese – Cubed or crumbled into small items. Good substitutes are goat cheese or shaved parmesan.

The best way to Make Feta Orzo Salad

Assembling this crunchy salad with orzo is less complicated than a stroll within the park. It’s a stroll to the fridge and again, principally. In a bowl, layer the chopped romaine lettuce with cooked and cooled orzo, avocado, and tomatoes. Crumble over the feta. Subsequent, all it’s worthwhile to do is whisk up the dressing elements, pour that over the salad, and toss!

Simple Lemon Dressing

I’ve tried a number of scrumptious dressings for this feta orzo salad, however I at all times come again to this easy however punchy lemon and olive oil combo, which can be a favourite in my bulgur salad. Take out a bowl and a whisk, or do it my approach and mix the whole lot in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. 

The dressing begins with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and you’ll add any recent or dried herbs you’d like. I take advantage of dried thyme, however basil, oregano, cilantro, or an Italian seasoning mix additionally works nice right here. As soon as your dressing elements are in, whisk or shake them nicely to emulsify. You’re able to drizzle!

Serving Strategies

This recent and lightweight salad with orzo and feta is one among my favourite summer season lunches. I’ll high it with leftover hen breast or crispy falafel for a filling meal with a glass of Pinot Grigio by the pool. On another event, this salad is a simple aspect dish to deliver out at barbecues and potlucks.

It goes nice with grilling recipes like steak kebabs or grilled zucchini. Or, I’ll serve it with burgers as an off-the-cuff dinner with the fam. My suggestion to you is to make a giant bowl of it, seize a number of forks, and go at it like we did!

How Lengthy Do Leftovers Final within the Fridge?

Because the romaine leaves will begin to wilt after some time, this salad with orzo is finest when it’s eaten straight away. If it’s worthwhile to retailer any extras, refrigerate the salad hermetic and revel in it inside a day or two.

Extra Salad Recipes