Best 5 Chickpea Feta And Orzo Salad Recipes

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**Discover a delightful balance of flavors and textures in this Chickpea, Feta, and Orzo Salad.**

This vibrant salad is not only delicious but also packed with wholesome ingredients that will nourish your body. The combination of chickpeas, feta, and orzo creates a satisfying and protein-rich meal that's perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a refreshing side dish.

You'll appreciate the contrasting textures of crunchy orzo, creamy feta, and tender chickpeas, all complemented by a medley of fresh herbs, aromatic lemon-tahini dressing, and a hint of sweetness from dried cranberries.

This recipe is easy to customize to your preferences – add some chopped cucumber or bell pepper for extra crunch, or swap out the cranberries for raisins or chopped nuts. The zesty lemon-tahini dressing adds a tangy and creamy element that ties all the flavors together.

With its vibrant colors and tantalizing aromas, this Chickpea, Feta, and Orzo Salad is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. So gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let's embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you feeling satisfied and revitalized.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA AND ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Chickpea and Orzo Salad image

This easy Chickpea and Orzo Salad recipe has all the flavors of the Mediterranean- olives, feta, sun dried tomatoes, and garlic- with an awesome crunch from toasted almonds. It's packed with fiber and nutrients and is great as a side at a potluck or an entire meal.

Provided by Elizabeth Lindemann

Categories     Pasta Salad

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup orzo (regular or whole wheat)
2 teaspoons kosher salt (divided)
2 cups baby arugula (or spinach, or a combination or both, roughly chopped and packed)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (divided, plus more for serving)
juice of one lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
2 cloves garlic (minced (or one large clove))
15 oz. canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
4 oz. feta cheese (chopped or crumbled)
1 cup Kalamata olives (pitted and halved)
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil (minced)
2 tablespoons fresh basil (chopped )
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped )
1/2 cup slivered almonds (toasted)

Steps:

  • Cook orzo (1 cup) in boiling water with 1 teaspoon of the salt until al dente.
  • Drain and return to pot, and stir with 1 tablespoon olive oil and greens. Allow greens to wilt from the heat of the pasta, stirring occasionally. Allow mixture to cool for at least ten minutes.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, minced garlic clove, and lemon juice to make the dressing in the bottom of a large bowl
  • Add the remaining ingredients and cooled orzo mixture, to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat.
  • If you have time, allow salad to sit for at least thirty minutes (or overnight) in the fridge before serving to allow flavors to marry.
  • Serve drizzled with extra olive oil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 588 kcal, Carbohydrate 52 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 36 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 2343 mg, Fiber 10 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

MINTED ORZO SALAD WITH CHICKPEAS AND FETA



Minted Orzo Salad with Chickpeas and Feta image

A deliciously easy orzo salad with bright lemon vinaigrette, fresh mint, basil, and feta cheese that's great served hot or cold! This one is sure to please a crowd!

Provided by Andie Mitchell

Categories     Side Dish

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 medium red onion (finely chopped (about 2/3 cup))
1 large celery stalk (finely chopped (about 1/2 cup))
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Boil the orzo in the chicken broth until tender. Drain and let cool slightly.
  • Combine the orzo with the chickpeas, feta, red onion, celery, basil, and mint in a large bowl.
  • Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a blender and pulse until well combined and emulsified. Pour over the orzo salad and toss to coat. Let stand for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend before serving at room temperature or even chilled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 340 kcal, Carbohydrate 48 g, Protein 11 g, Fat 12 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h35m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
1 clove garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces orzo pasta
One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained.
1 1/2 cups red grape or cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 cups yellow grape or cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 cups kalamata olives, halved
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese, plus more for topping
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, plus more for topping
1 red onion, diced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the dressing: In a jar or bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and some salt and pepper until totally combined.
  • For the salad: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and let cool.
  • Place the orzo, chickpeas, red and yellow tomatoes, olives, feta, parsley and onions in a large mixing bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Stir to combine and taste; add salt and pepper if needed. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
  • Top with more feta and parsley and serve as a main dish salad or with grilled chicken, fish or burgers!

SPEEDY CHICKEN, FETA, AND ORZO SALAD



Speedy Chicken, Feta, and Orzo Salad image

During the hectic workweek, this speedy, delicious cold pasta salad is sure to please! A fresh blend of tomatoes, grilled chicken, herbs, and feta pairs well with warm, rustic bread. Goat cheese (herbed or plain) or buffalo mozzarella work well too.

Provided by Ellie's Mommy

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Chicken Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 ¼ cups uncooked orzo pasta
3 cups chopped grilled chicken breasts
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup chopped red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
¼ cup red wine vinegar, or more to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or more to taste
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives, or to taste
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  • Combine orzo, chicken, tomatoes, red onion, basil, and oregano in a large bowl.
  • Whisk vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl. Drizzle over the pasta mixture. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with olives and feta cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 369 calories, Carbohydrate 34.8 g, Cholesterol 60.9 mg, Fat 13.4 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 26.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 275.3 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

ORZO SALAD WITH PEPPERS AND FETA



Orzo Salad With Peppers and Feta image

Piperade, a classic Basque dish of stewed peppers, onions and tomatoes, becomes a flavorful sauce for this pasta. Colorful bell peppers simmer in olive oil and aromatics until meltingly soft, and juicy tomatoes simmer alongside until they burst, lending both tangy and sweet notes. Briny feta adds salty bites to complement the sweet pepper sauce, but tart aged goat cheese makes a good alternative. This side is even better at room temperature, making it the perfect make-ahead dish for summer picnics or potlucks.

Provided by Kay Chun

Categories     dinner, easy, lunch, pastas, salads and dressings, main course, side dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings (about 10 cups)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound orzo
Kosher salt and pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 large or 4 medium red, yellow or orange bell peppers (about 1 1/4 pounds), cored, seeded and chopped into ½-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
1 fresh thyme sprig
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 medium tomato, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
4 ounces feta cheese, thinly sliced or crumbled

Steps:

  • Cook orzo in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, pressing out excess liquid. Spread out on a baking sheet to cool.
  • Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion, bell peppers and thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato and cook, stirring occasionally, until broken down and juices release, about 8 minutes.
  • Add the reserved pasta water and stir to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the skillet. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl to cool slightly to lukewarm, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to speed up the cooling process. Discard thyme sprig.
  • Add cooled orzo, lemon juice, basil and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well, then transfer to a large serving bowl or platter. Garnish with more basil.

Tips:

  • Prep the Ingredients: Before you start cooking, measure and chop all of your ingredients. This will make the cooking process go much smoother.
  • Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, and thyme, can add a lot of flavor to the salad. If you don't have fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs, but be sure to use less, as they are more concentrated.
  • Don't Overcook the Orzo: Orzo is a small pasta that cooks quickly. Be sure to cook it according to the package directions, or it will become mushy.
  • Let the Salad Cool: Once you have cooked the orzo and assembled the salad, let it cool for a bit before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together.
  • Serve With a Squeeze of Lemon: A squeeze of lemon juice can brighten up the salad and add a touch of acidity.

Conclusion:

This chickpea, feta, and orzo salad is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and it is also a good source of vitamins and minerals. The salad is also very easy to make, and it can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy salad recipe, give this one a try!

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