I’ve made this leafy feta orzo salad recipe at the very least 4 occasions within the final two weeks! It’s a shiny and attractive 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 simple Mediterranean salad. Simply give every part a toss in a tangy lemon dressing and dig in!
This shiny 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 day-after-day: avocados, feta cheese, after which quite a lot of every part 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 best way that orzo pasta and avocado bulk up this salad. It’s an incredible meatless meal, or you’ll be able to 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 Substances
I may very effectively 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 youngsters 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 record with the complete recipe particulars.
- Lettuce – I really like the crispness of chopped romaine, however you need to use any lettuce you’d like. Inexperienced leaf, iceberg lettuce, mesclun, arugula, or any mixture of leaves would style nice. You’ll be able to even make a spinach and orzo salad with darker greens.
- Orzo – You’ll must cook dinner the orzo for this salad in accordance with the instructions on the bundle. I normally purpose 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 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.
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 rather a lot like massive rice grains. It even makes a superb stand-in for rice in dishes like soups and pilafs. You’ll discover it within the pasta aisle alongside the opposite pasta shapes.
Learn how 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 is advisable 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 means and mix every part 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 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 effectively to emulsify. You’re able to drizzle!
Extra Add-In Concepts
In the event you’d wish to mess around with completely 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 really like altering up the elements on this recipe, too. As an alternative of feta, I’ll use goat cheese or gorgonzola. Rather than romaine, I’ll use child spinach or kale. When avocado is out of season, it’s butternut squash to the rescue. Be at liberty 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 Options
This recent and light-weight 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 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 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?
For the reason that romaine leaves will begin to wilt after some time, this salad with orzo is greatest when it’s eaten straight away. If it is advisable to retailer any extras, refrigerate the salad hermetic and luxuriate in it inside a day or two.
Extra Salad Recipes
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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 supplied as courtesy. Values could range in accordance with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
