Best 10 Herb Vegetable Orzo Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our vibrant Herb, Vegetable, and Orzo Salad, a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. This delectable dish combines the goodness of hearty orzo pasta, an array of fresh vegetables, and a burst of herbs, all tossed in a zesty lemon-tahini dressing. Each bite offers a satisfying crunch from the vegetables, a tender chew from the orzo, and a refreshing tang from the dressing. Discover the art of creating this flavorful salad, along with two additional variations that cater to different dietary preferences. Embark on a culinary adventure with our Herb, Vegetable, and Orzo Salad, a versatile and delicious dish that will brighten up any gathering.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ORZO SALAD



Orzo Salad image

This orzo salad recipe is a fresh, delicious side dish or vegetarian lunch! If you make it ahead of time, save the herbs to add at the last minute. I also recommend tossing the salad with a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Provided by Jeanine Donofrio

Categories     Main dish or side dish     Salad

Number Of Ingredients 14

1½ cups dry orzo pasta
1 recipe Greek Salad Dressing
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 Persian cucumbers (halved vertically, and sliced ¼-inch thick)
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup cooked chickpeas (drained, and rinsed)
4 ounces feta cheese (cut into ¼-inch cubes)
⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
1 cup fresh basil and/or mint leaves
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, or until slightly past al dente. Drain the orzo and toss it with a little olive oil, so that it doesn't stick together. Spread onto a baking sheet to cool.
  • Prepare the Greek Salad Dressing and add in the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, and sea salt.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the cooked orzo, cucumbers, tomatoes, chickpeas, feta, red onion, and olives. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, add half the herbs, season with freshly ground black pepper, and toss to coat. Garnish with the remaining herbs and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

You'll love this easy orzo salad loaded with chopped veggies, fresh herbs and other Mediterranean favorites. Tossed in a bold lemony dressing. For the best flavor, dress the Mediterranean orzo salad while the orzo is still a little warm. Pasta that hasn't cooled completely will drink up the dressing really well. And allow the salad to sit for at least a few minutes (or up to an hour in the fridge) for the flavors to meld before serving.

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Salad

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 ½ cup dry orzo pasta
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, (halved)
2 green onions, (trimmed and chopped (both white and green parts))
½ green bell pepper, (seeds removed, chopped)
1 cup packed chopped fresh parsley, (about 1 ½ ounces)
½ cup packed chopped fresh dill, (about 0.5 ounces)
¼ cup sliced pitted kalamata olives, (about 1 ounce)
2 teaspoons capers
Feta cheese, (to your liking)
1 lemon, (zested and juiced)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, (minced)
1 teaspoon oregano

Steps:

  • Cook the orzo pasta according package instructions (mine took about 8 minutes). Drain and cool briefly.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the grape tomatoes, green onions, bell peppers, parsley, dill, olives and capers (hold the feta for now). Add the orzo pasta.
  • Make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, oregano and a good pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well combined and the orzo pasta is well coated with the dressing.
  • Top with pieces of creamy feta cheese. Cover and refrigerate for a bit before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 111.1 kcal, Carbohydrate 6.9 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Cholesterol 0.4 mg, Sodium 39.4 mg, Fiber 2.3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

ORZO WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES



Orzo with Roasted Vegetables image

This recipe is a slight variation of a wonderful summer dish invented by Sarah Leah Chase in her book The Open House Cookbook.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 small eggplant, peeled and 3/4-inch diced
1 red bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 yellow bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 red onion, peeled and 1-inch diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound orzo or rice-shaped pasta
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup pignolis (pine nuts), toasted
3/4 pound good feta, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled)
15 fresh basil leaves, cut into julienne

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Toss the eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.
  • Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.
  • For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the scallions, pignolis, feta, and basil. Check the seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

GARDEN ORZO SALAD WITH HERB DRESSING



Garden Orzo Salad with Herb Dressing image

Provided by Danny Boome

Categories     side-dish

Time 20m

Yield 20 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 lemons, zested and juiced
2 oranges, zested and juiced
1 cup cider vinegar
2 cups fresh parsley leaves
2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups orzo
Salt, for water
5 ears corn, kernels removed
5 stalks celery, diced
1 cucumber, seeded and diced
2 pints cherry tomatoes

Steps:

  • In a food processor add lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice, cider vinegar, parsley, basil. Turn on the processor and slowly add the olive oil until the mixture is blended together. Process until smooth and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
  • Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • To a large mixing bowl add the raw corn kernels, diced celery, seeded and diced cucumber and whole cherry tomatoes.
  • Once orzo is cooked, drain and rinse under cold water; drain well. Add cooled orzo to bowl and toss. Add dressing to salad and toss again. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Serve.

HERBED ORZO WITH FETA



Herbed Orzo with Feta image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Good olive oil
3/4 pound orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts
1 cup chopped fresh dill
1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup medium-diced hothouse cucumber, unpeeled and seeded
1/2 cup small-diced red onion
3/4 pound good feta cheese, large-diced

Steps:

  • Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drain and pour into a large bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.
  • Add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well. Add the feta and stir carefully. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.

GRILLED VEGETABLE ORZO SALAD



Grilled Vegetable Orzo Salad image

Vegetables that are in season make great additions to this orzo salad. It's the perfect side dish for a picnic, it can easily be doubled for a crowd, or you can add grilled chicken to make it a filling entree. -Danielle Miller, Westfield, Indiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 19

1-1/4 cups uncooked orzo pasta
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 medium sweet yellow or red pepper, halved
1 large portobello mushroom, stem removed
1/2 medium red onion, halved
DRESSING:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
SALAD:
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Steps:

  • Cook orzo according to package directions. Place vegetables in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients. Add to vegetables and toss to coat., Remove vegetables, reserving dressing. Grill mushroom, pepper and onion, covered, over medium heat 5-10 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Grill asparagus and zucchini, covered, 3-4 minutes or until desired doneness, turning occasionally., When cool enough to handle, cut vegetables into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, combine cooked orzo, grilled vegetables, tomatoes, parsley, basil, salt, pepper and reserved dressing; toss to combine. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate until cold. Just before serving, stir in cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 352mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

HERBED ORZO



Herbed Orzo image

This simple side goes well with seared or baked fish and roasted vegetables.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup orzo
3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as dill, chives, cilantro, or parsley
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook orzo until al dente. Drain orzo and transfer to a medium bowl. Add herbs and lemon juice. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 169 g, Fat 1 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 6 g

HERBY ORZO & LEMON SALAD



Herby orzo & lemon salad image

Make this summery orzo salad packed with herbs and lemon for a seasonal side. Leftovers make a great lunch the next day

Provided by Esther Clark

Categories     Side dish

Time 40m

Yield Serves 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 red onion , finely chopped
1 garlic clove , finely grated
½ tbsp light brown soft sugar
350g orzo
50ml extra virgin olive oil
1 large lemon , juiced
1 small bunch of basil , finely chopped
1 small bunch parsley , finely chopped
2 tbsp capers , drained and rinsed
50g flaked almonds , lightly toasted

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil and butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, and fry the onion for 10-15 mins, or until golden and caramelised. Add the garlic and sugar and cook for a further 3 mins. Season to taste.
  • Cook the orzo following pack instructions. Drain, then toss with a little of the extra virgin olive oil and leave to cool completely. Whisk the remaining oil with the lemon juice and set aside.
  • Toss the orzo with the sticky onion and garlic, the lemony dressing, herbs and capers, along with half the toasted almonds. Season. Spoon onto a sharing plate and top with the rest of the almonds. Will keep in the fridge for up to three days.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410 calories, Fat 18 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 50 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 12 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium

ORZO VEGETABLE SALAD



Orzo Vegetable Salad image

Heading to a potluck and need something to share? Tangy lemon dressing over cool orzo and vegetables is everything you want in a light side dish. -Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 cup uncooked orzo pasta
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 cup marinated quartered artichoke hearts, chopped
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh spinach
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon capers, drained
DRESSING:
1/3 cup olive oil
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Cook orzo according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, artichokes, spinach, onions, cheese and capers. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients., Drain orzo and rinse in cold water. Add to vegetable mixture., Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Chill until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 259 calories, Fat 19g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 460mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

ORZO SALAD WITH VEGETABLES AND HERBS



Orzo Salad with Vegetables and Herbs image

Categories     Salad     Herb     Pasta     Tomato     Side     Lemon     Mint     Cucumber     Summer     Bon Appétit     Vegan     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added     Kosher

Yield Serves 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

Salad
6 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 2/3 cups orzo (rice-shaped pasta; about 21 ounces)
1 1/4 cups cubed seeded tomatoes
3/4 cup cubed seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon peel
Dressing
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon peel
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3/4 cup olive oil
1 head Boston lettuce

Steps:

  • For Salad:
  • Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add sugar snap peas; cook 1 minute. Using slotted spoon, transfer peas to strainer. Rinse with cold water and drain. Add orzo to same pot. Boil until tender but still firm to bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and cool.
  • Place orzo in large bowl. Mix in sugar snap peas, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, parsley. mint and lemon peel. Season with salt and pepper.
  • For Dressing:
  • Combine lemon juice, lemon peel and garlic in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Pour half of dressing over salad; toss to coat. (Can be Made 6 hours ahead. Cover salad and remaining dressing separately and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Toss salad with enough remaining dressing to coat generously. Season with salt and pepper. Line shallow serving bowl with lettuce. Mount salad in bowl.

Tips:

  • Prep Vegetables Evenly: Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking and a visually appealing salad.
  • Blanch Vegetables: Blanching vegetables briefly in boiling water helps retain their vibrant color and crisp texture.
  • Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and thyme add a burst of flavor and aroma to the salad.
  • Choose Quality Orzo: Opt for a high-quality orzo pasta to ensure it holds its shape well after cooking.
  • Make a Flavourful Dressing: Combine olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and seasonings to create a tangy and flavorful dressing.
  • Chill Before Serving: Allowing the salad to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving enhances the flavors and textures.

Conclusion:

This herb, vegetable, and orzo salad is a delightful dish that combines fresh, vibrant ingredients with a flavorful dressing. It's a perfect side dish for grilled meats, fish, or tofu, or it can be enjoyed as a light and refreshing main course. With its colorful appearance and delicious taste, this salad is sure to impress your family and friends. So gather your ingredients, follow the simple steps, and enjoy this delightful culinary creation!

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