This orzo salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and olives is dressed with a Greek-style lemon vinaigrette for a delicious summer salad loaded with fresh flavors of the Mediterranean.
Prep Time::20 mins
Cook Time::15 mins
Additional Time::20 mins
Total Time::55 mins
Servings::6
Ingredients
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
Vinaigrette:
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
Directions
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.
To make the vinaigrette: Whisk garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl; drizzle over 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.
Cook’s Note
If you make this salad in advance, reserve a bit of the dressing to add right before serving, as the pasta tends to soak up the dressing as it sits over time.
This salad pairs well with grilled lamb or fish.