Description
Prepare this colorful orzo salad featuring a mix of fresh vegetables tossed in a bright lemon herb dressing. It is simple to make and great for meal prep or serving at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the orzo pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
- While the pasta cools, prepare the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and dried oregano. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, corn, olives, and red onion.
- Pour the prepared vinaigrette over the orzo and vegetable mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Stir in the fresh parsley and basil.
- Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- You can substitute vegetables based on what you have available, such as adding shredded carrots or feta cheese.
- For best results, prepare the salad a few hours ahead of time.
- This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 0