Best 7 Mediterranean Orzo Salad Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean with our delectable Mediterranean Orzo Salad. This vibrant salad is a symphony of flavors and textures, featuring plump and chewy orzo pasta, a medley of crisp vegetables, juicy tomatoes, savory olives, aromatic herbs, and a tangy dressing that brings it all together. Get ready to embark on a delightful adventure with our diverse collection of Mediterranean Orzo Salad recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish. From a vibrant and colorful salad bursting with fresh vegetables to a hearty and satisfying version with grilled chicken or shrimp, we have something to satisfy every palate. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and let's embark on this culinary voyage to the heart of the Mediterranean.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

This light and refreshing cold pasta salad is loaded with the flavors of the Mediterranean, and pairs well with grilled proteins, such as fish, pork, chicken or steak. If you make this in advance, reserve a bit of the dressing to add right before serving, as the pasta has a tendency to soak up the dressing as it sits over time.

Provided by Kim's Cooking Now

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

½ (16 ounce) package uncooked orzo pasta
½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup diced red onion
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup pitted Mediterranean olives, cut in half
1 cup finely diced Asiago cheese
1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh garlic
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain well. Rinse with cold water and drain well again.
  • Combine orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, and Asiago cheese in a large bowl.
  • Whisk garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl to make the vinaigrette. Drizzle over the orzo mixture and toss lightly to combine. Add basil and parsley and mix well. Let sit for 20 minutes for flavors to blend, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 418.2 calories, Carbohydrate 34.7 g, Cholesterol 16.1 mg, Fat 27 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 10.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.3 g, Sodium 819 mg, Sugar 2.6 g

MEDITERRANEAN SHRIMP ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Shrimp Orzo Salad image

This pretty crowd-pleaser always stands out on the buffet table. With plenty of shrimp, artichoke hearts, olives, peppers and a host of herbs, it's a tasty change of pace from pasta salads. I serve it with a from-scratch vinaigrette. -Ginger Johnson, Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 package (16 ounces) orzo pasta
3/4 pound peeled and deveined cooked shrimp (31-40 per pound)
1 can (14 ounces) water-packed quartered artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained
1 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup pitted Greek olives
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1/3 cup chopped fresh dill
3/4 cup Greek vinaigrette

Steps:

  • Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain well., In a large bowl, combine orzo, shrimp, vegetables, olives and herbs. Add vinaigrette; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 397 calories, Fat 12g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 65mg cholesterol, Sodium 574mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO CHICKEN SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Chicken Salad image

On hot days, I pull out this recipe for a cool supper. The lemon dressing is so refreshing. If you have it, used grilled chicken. -Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup crumbled tomato and basil feta cheese
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta; rinse with cold water and drain well., In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, cheese, olives and onion. In a small bowl, whisk remaining ingredients until blended. Drizzle over salad; toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 397 calories, Fat 16g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 47mg cholesterol, Sodium 407mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 10g fiber), Protein 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND ORZO SALAD IN RED PEPPER CUPS



Mediterranean Chicken and Orzo Salad In Red Pepper Cups image

This yummy recipe won my mom a blue ribbon at the Wisconsin State Fair. It is very beautiful and flavorful!

Provided by geranium

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Greek Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 1h1m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

½ pound uncooked orzo pasta
¼ cup olive oil
⅓ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon dried basil
¾ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
¼ cup black olives, cut in half lengthwise
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1 grilled chicken breast half, diced
2 red bell peppers, cut in half lengthwise and seeded
4 sprigs fresh oregano

Steps:

  • Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the orzo, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink, transfer to a bowl, and let cool in the refrigerator.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, oregano, basil, onion powder, salt, and pepper. In a large bowl, stir together the cooked orzo, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and chicken breast meat until thoroughly combined. Pour the dressing over the orzo mixture, lightly mix to coat all ingredients with dressing, and spoon into the red pepper halves. Garnish each serving with an oregano sprig.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 461.9 calories, Carbohydrate 52.3 g, Cholesterol 30.9 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 18 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 579.9 mg, Sugar 4 g

EASY MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Easy Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

This salad is an incorporation of a variety of Mediterranean ingredients with a light lemon sauce to bind it all together. Feel free to substitute ingredients for a more customized salad. Due to many ingredients I've listed having a naturally salty flavor, I've refrained from the addition of salt.

Provided by thedailygourmet

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 55m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 ½ teaspoons lemon-infused olive oil
¼ cup sliced black olives
¼ cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
¼ cup canned chickpeas
¼ cup roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons ricotta salata cheese, crumbled or shaved

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well.
  • Toss orzo with lemon-infused olive oil. Add olives, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, and ricotta salata. Toss to combine. Refrigerate to chill and allow flavors to build.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 183.1 calories, Carbohydrate 25 g, Cholesterol 4.2 mg, Fat 7 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 6.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 255.6 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SPINACH SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Spinach Salad image

A bright, flavorful array of Mediterranean ingredients!

Provided by JULIEP

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Tomato Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 pound ground lamb
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon ground coriander
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped
3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 lemon, zested and juiced
¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
5 green onions, chopped
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo pasta, cook for 5 minutes, or until al dente. Drain.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the lamb and garlic in the skillet. Season lamb with coriander, salt, and pepper. Cook until evenly browned. Remove from heat, and drain.
  • In a large bowl, mix the spinach, tomatoes, lemon juice and zest, mint, parsley, green onions, and remaining olive oil. Toss with the orzo, lamb, and feta cheese to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 461.1 calories, Carbohydrate 34.5 g, Cholesterol 88 mg, Fat 25 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 25.6 g, SaturatedFat 11.3 g, Sodium 535.1 mg, Sugar 4.2 g

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD WITH FETA VINAIGRETTE



MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD WITH FETA VINAIGRETTE image

Categories     Pasta     Side

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta; about 8 ounces)
2 cups bagged prewashed baby spinach, chopped
1/2 cup chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves
3 tablespoons chopped red onion
3 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (6-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, undrained
3/4 cup (3 ounces) feta cheese, crumbled and divided

Steps:

  • Cook the orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; rinse with cold water. Combine orzo, spinach, and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl. Drain artichokes, reserving marinade. Coarsely chop artichokes, and add artichokes, reserved marinade, and 1/2 cup feta cheese to orzo mixture, tossing gently to coat. Sprinkle each serving with remaining feta cheese. Nutritional Information Calories:338 (29% from fat) Fat:11g (sat 3.8g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.5g) Protein:11.9g

Tips:

  • Selecting the right orzo pasta is essential. Look for a high-quality orzo that is made from durum wheat and has a slightly nutty flavor. You can find orzo in the pasta aisle of most grocery stores.
  • To ensure the vegetables retain their vibrant colors and crisp texture, blanch them in boiling water for a short period before adding them to the salad.
  • For a zesty and flavorful dressing, use a combination of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and dried oregano. You can adjust the proportions to suit your taste preferences.
  • To add a touch of sweetness and crunch, consider incorporating dried cranberries or chopped walnuts into the salad. These ingredients provide a delightful contrast to the savory flavors.
  • If you prefer a vegan or dairy-free version, you can replace the feta cheese with crumbled tofu or a vegan cheese alternative. Additionally, you can use a plant-based milk, such as almond or oat milk, in place of the cow's milk.

Conclusion:

The Mediterranean orzo salad is a delightful dish that embodies the vibrant flavors and healthy ingredients of the Mediterranean region. With its combination of tender orzo pasta, crisp vegetables, tangy dressing, and flavorful herbs, this salad offers a satisfying and nutritious meal. Whether you're looking for a refreshing summer lunch, a flavorful side dish, or a healthy potluck contribution, the Mediterranean orzo salad is sure to impress. Experiment with different variations, such as adding grilled chicken or shrimp, to create a main course salad that tantalizes your taste buds.

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