Dairy-Free Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Bright, vibrant, and completely dairy-free, this Mediterranean Orzo Salad is a refreshing twist on a classic summer favorite. Packed with tender orzo pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet red bell pepper, briny Kalamata olives, and aromatic fresh herbs like parsley and mint, this salad is bursting with color and flavor in every bite. Tossed in a zesty dressing of extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and garlic, it's both light and satisfying. With a prep time of just 20 minutes and easily customizable ingredients, this plant-based dish makes the perfect side for a picnic, potluck, or an easy weeknight dinner. Serve it chilled for a refreshing meal that’s Mediterranean-inspired and completely dairy-free!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups Orzo pasta
• 4 cups Water
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium Red onion
• 0.5 cup Kalamata olives
• 0.5 cup Fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup Fresh mint
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Boil the water in a medium-sized pot. Add the orzo pasta and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain using a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.

Step 2

While the orzo is cooking, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and finely dice the red onion. Slice the kalamata olives and chop the fresh parsley and mint. Mince the garlic cloves.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and kalamata olives.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the orzo mixture and toss gently to combine, ensuring everything is evenly coated.

Step 6

Add the chopped parsley and mint to the salad, and gently fold them in.

Step 7

Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a delightful dairy-free Mediterranean meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2056.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2006.0

Total Fat 92.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 12.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3853.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 266.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 31.7g	0%
Total Sugars 21.1g
Protein 43.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 367.8mg	0%
Iron 18.5mg	0%
Potassium 1348.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.3%

Protein: 8.4%

Carbs: 51.3%