Garden Orzo Salad with Herb Dressing

Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this Garden Orzo Salad with Herb Dressing is a light yet satisfying dish that's perfect for any occasion. Tender orzo pasta is tossed with a colorful array of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper, along with tangy Kalamata olives and creamy crumbled feta cheese for a delightful texture combination. The zesty herb dressing, made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and a touch of honey, ties everything together beautifully, while fresh parsley, dill, and basil add an aromatic finish. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is ideal for meal prep, picnics, or a refreshing side dish. Serve it chilled for the ultimate summer salad packed with Mediterranean charm!

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups Orzo pasta
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 large Cucumber (diced)
• 1 Red bell pepper (diced)
• 0.5 cup Red onion (finely chopped)
• 0.5 cup Kalamata olives (sliced)
• 0.75 cup Feta cheese (crumbled)
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons Fresh dill (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons Fresh basil leaves (chopped)
• 3 tablespoons Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove Garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.

Step 2

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, honey, salt, and black pepper to make the herb dressing.

Step 3

In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.

Step 4

Sprinkle the chopped parsley, dill, and basil over the salad mixture.

Step 5

Pour the herb dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.

Step 6

Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice if needed.

Step 7

Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1406.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2454.2

Total Fat 124.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 37.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 160.3mg	0%
Sodium 4166.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 284.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.1g	0%
Total Sugars 32.8g
Protein 73.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1274.7mg	0%
Iron 20.5mg	0%
Potassium 1964.1mg	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: 43.8%

Protein: 11.6%

Carbs: 44.6%