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Fresh Cold Orzo Salad Recipe Easy Homemade Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

fresh cold orzo salad - featured image
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A refreshing and easy-to-make cold orzo salad featuring cucumber, tomato, and creamy feta cheese, perfect for summer gatherings or quick meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (about 270g) uncooked orzo pasta
  • 1 large English cucumber, diced
  • 1 ½ cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese (about 100g)
  • ¼ medium red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt to taste (start with ½ teaspoon)
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: ¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 ½ cups (270g) of orzo and cook according to package instructions, about 8-9 minutes for al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent clumping.
  2. Drain the orzo in a colander and rinse under cold water to cool quickly. Drain thoroughly and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  3. While the orzo cooks, dice the cucumber, halve the tomatoes, finely dice the red onion, and chop the parsley. If using olives, slice them now.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  5. Add the cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, parsley, and crumbled feta cheese to the cooled orzo. Pour the dressing over everything and gently toss until evenly coated, being careful not to mash the feta.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Stir before serving and adjust salt or lemon juice if needed.

Notes

Rinse the orzo under cold water immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent mushiness. Add feta just before serving or toss gently to keep creamy chunks intact. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Adjust seasoning after chilling.

Nutrition

Keywords: orzo salad, cucumber salad, tomato salad, feta cheese, cold pasta salad, summer salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/fresh-cold-orzo-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-cucumber-tomato-feta-salad/