I’ve made this leafy feta orzo salad recipe no less than 4 instances within the final two weeks! It’s a shiny and engaging summer season salad with crisp romaine lettuce, creamy avocado, and crumbly feta, bulked up with tender orzo pasta.
I like summer-inspired recipes like this feta orzo salad and my straightforward Mediterranean salad. Simply give all the pieces a toss in a tangy lemon dressing and dig in!
This shiny and contemporary 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 day-after-day: avocados, feta cheese, after which a wide range of all the pieces 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 Straightforward Salad With Orzo and Feta
- Contemporary substances. This salad combines one of the best of summer season’s substances into one bowlful. It’s tremendous contemporary and flavorful, particularly once I make it after a visit to the farmer’s market.
- Satisfying. I like the way in which that orzo pasta and avocado bulk up this salad. It’s an awesome meatless meal, or you’ll be able to bulk it up with add-ons like protein, crispy chickpeas, chickpea patties, and so on. I share some concepts additional on.
- Fast. Chop the remainder of your substances 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 may very nicely stay on avocados alone, however they’re even higher in a salad! With their scrumptious taste and creamy texture, avocados may be nature’s greatest product, ever. Fortunate for me, my children additionally love ‘em. I’ve been including avocados to hummus, sandwiches, and plenty of, many salads, together with this one with feta and orzo.
You’ll discover some fast ingredient notes right here. Scroll right down to the recipe card for a printable listing with the total recipe particulars.
- Lettuce – I 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 have to prepare dinner the orzo for this salad in accordance with the instructions on the package deal. 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 after they’re in season.
- Tomatoes – Grape or cherry tomatoes are bursting with sweetness this time of the yr, in order that’s what I take advantage of. Be happy 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.
What Is Orzo?
With out fail, each time I make this salad or one other orzo salad for a celebration or potluck, somebody at all times questions if it’s rice! Orzo is a small pasta that’s formed loads like giant rice grains. It even makes a very good stand-in for rice in dishes like soups and pilafs. You’ll discover it within the pasta aisle alongside the opposite pasta shapes.
How you can 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, mainly. In a bowl, layer the chopped romaine lettuce with cooked and cooled orzo, avocado, and tomatoes. Crumble over the feta. Subsequent, all it’s essential to do is whisk up the dressing substances, pour that over the salad, and toss!
Straightforward Lemon Dressing
I’ve tried just a few 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 means and mix all the pieces in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
The dressing begins with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and you may add any contemporary 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 substances are in, whisk or shake them nicely to emulsify. You’re able to drizzle!
Extra Add-In Concepts
Should you’d prefer to mess around with totally different dressings, attempt my creamy avocado lime ranch dressing or this zesty Italian dressing. This salad additionally tastes wonderful with the Dijon French dressing from my copycat La Scala chopped salad.
I like altering up the substances on this recipe, too. As a substitute of feta, I’ll use goat cheese or gorgonzola. Instead of romaine, I’ll use child spinach or kale. When avocado is out of season, it’s butternut squash to the rescue. Be happy to attempt extra add-ins like thinly sliced onions, olives, walnuts for crunch, apple slices or dried fruit for sweetness, like this orzo salad with cranberries.
Serving Solutions
This contemporary and lightweight salad with orzo and feta is certainly one of my favourite summer season lunches. I’ll high it with leftover rooster breast or crispy falafel for a filling meal with a glass of Pinot Grigio by the pool. On another event, this salad is a straightforward aspect dish to convey 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 an enormous bowl of it, seize just a few forks, and go at it like we did!
How Lengthy Do Leftovers Final within the Fridge?
For the reason that romaine leaves will begin to wilt after some time, this salad with orzo is greatest when it’s eaten instantly. If it’s essential to retailer any extras, refrigerate the salad hermetic and luxuriate in it inside a day or two.
Extra Salad Recipes
Pin this now to seek out it later
-
Assemble the salad. Organize the lettuce on a salad plate. Spoon the cooked and cooled orzo over the lettuce and layer over the avocado, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
-
Make the dressing. In a mixing bowl, whisk collectively olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dried thyme.
-
Toss. Pour the dressing over the salad, toss, and serve.
Energy: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 22g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Ldl cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1630IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could range in accordance with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
