Description
A vibrant and refreshing Lemony Rainbow Orzo Salad packed with colorful vegetables, tangy lemon dressing, and creamy feta cheese. This Mediterranean-inspired salad is perfect as a light meal or a side dish, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures that’s easy to prepare and great for meal prep or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 carrot, grated
- ½ cup chopped cucumber
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Orzo: Cook orzo according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
- Prepare Vegetables: In a large bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced yellow bell pepper, shredded purple cabbage, grated carrot, chopped cucumber, finely diced red onion, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Combine Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Add Feta and Chill: Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese. Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 15 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- This salad is excellent for meal prep and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For added protein, consider adding chickpeas or grilled chicken.
- The salad is best served chilled, allowing the lemon dressing to enhance the freshness of the vegetables.
- Feel free to substitute feta with a dairy-free cheese alternative for a lactose-free version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
