Lemon Orzo Salad
Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that’s delicious when it’s served chilled! This recipe for lemon orzo salad is so quick and easy that you don’t even have to cook the peas. Just draining the hot pasta over them will make the peas green, tender and perfect.
Picking the most flavorful feta cheese you can find will really make a big difference. A feta variety made with sundried tomatoes or herbs like basil and oregano will add even more flavor to this fresh-tasting salad.
Before you serve it, give the salad one last toss to redistribute the lemon dressing and break up any chunks of orzo. Add salt and pepper if needed, and dig in!
Lemon Orzo Salad Recipe
Feta is the star in this lemon orzo salad, so use the best-tasting brand you can find! Try a variety made with herbs or sundried tomatoes for extra flavor!
Ingredients
Yield: 6 -8 servings
- 16 oz box orzo pasta
- 1 cup peas, frozen
- 1/2 zest of lemon
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice, fresh squeezed, about 1 medium lemon
- 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 - 2 Tbsp dill, chopped, packed
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 oz Greek feta cheese, crumbled
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a 5 qt saucepan halfway with water and add a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook the pasta for about 2 minutes less than the box indicates. You want the orzo to be just cooked, but still firm. While the pasta is cooking, add the frozen peas to the bottom of the colander that you will be using to drain the orzo.
- When the pasta is cooked properly, drain it over the frozen peas. This will defrost and cook the peas just slightly. Rinse the pasta and peas under cold water to stop the cooking process then set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, chopped dill and salt. Add the pasta and peas and fold until completely combined.
- Stir in crumbled feta to combine then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour. Before serving, give the salad one last stir to redistribute the dressing and break up any pasta that stuck together. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Serve this salad cold or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
This salad is perfect on its own or when served as a side dish at a barbecue! There is no mayo to spoil!
Calories: 438kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 626mg, Potassium: 61mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g
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