Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Say hello to the Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad, a culinary masterpiece that marries the vibrant charm of fresh ingredients with the comfort of perfectly cooked orzo.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
Orzo
- 8 ounces uncooked orzo pasta (Chickpea orzo or regular orzo)
- 6 cups water
- a pinch of salt
Salad
- ½ cup corn drained
- ¼ cup roasted red peppers
- ½ cup artichoke hearts quartered or whole
- ¼ cup English cucumber sliced and quartered
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes diced
- ¼ cup garbanzo chickpeas drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives halved
Dressing
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar substitute with white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the orzo pasta according to the instructions on the box, drain, and set aside to cool.
- Make the dressing so the flavors can infuse and set aside; be sure to stir again right before pouring over the salad.
- In a jar, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh dill, oregano, honey, Dijon Mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper and stir with a spoon.
- In a shallow bowl, add the salad ingredients, corn, jarred roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, red onion, and pitted Kalamata olives.
- Add the cooked and drained chickpea orzo. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and mix very well. Enjoy right away or chilled.
Notes
Use high-quality ingredients, including fresh vegetables, herbs, olives, and feta cheese. The freshness of the ingredients contributes to the overall taste and texture of the salad.
Cook the orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Be sure not to overcook it, as you want the orzo to have a slight chewiness.
After cooking the orzo, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. This also prevents the pasta from sticking together.
Feta cheese is a common choice for Mediterranean salads. Its tangy and creamy texture complements the other ingredients. You can crumble some feta over the salad for an even distribution of flavor.
Allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld and develop.