Rainbow Orzo Salad Recipe
This vibrant Rainbow Orzo Salad is a fresh and colorful dish featuring orzo pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, and red onion, all coated in a zesty homemade dressing and topped with crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil. Perfect for a light lunch, picnic, or a delicious side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion (optional)
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Orzo: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Dressing: While the pasta is cooking, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until well combined. Alternatively, shake all ingredients together in a jar.
- Cool the Pasta: Drain the cooked orzo and rinse under cold water for about one minute to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Drain thoroughly and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the Salad Ingredients: Add the quartered cherry tomatoes, diced orange and yellow bell peppers, diced cucumber, chopped red onion if using, crumbled feta cheese, and sliced fresh basil to the bowl with the cooled orzo.
- Toss with Dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently to combine everything evenly. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve or Store: Serve the salad immediately, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to let flavors meld. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- For best flavor, allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- You can substitute feta cheese with goat cheese for a different creamy texture.
- Adding chopped fresh mint can enhance the freshness of the salad.
- This salad is great for meal prep and travels well to picnics or potlucks.
- If you prefer a vegan option, omit the feta cheese or use a plant-based alternative.
Keywords: orzo salad, rainbow salad, Mediterranean salad, vegetarian pasta salad, summer salad, feta cheese salad
Find it online: https://jedentaglecker.com/rainbow-orzo-salad-recipe/
