Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Orzo with tomato, cucumber, feta, and lemon.
Ingredients
- 250 g Orzo
- 200 g Cherry tomatoes
- 1 Cucumber
- 120 g Feta
- 60 g Kalamata olives
- 1 Lemon
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Parsley (optional)
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the orzo until tender.
- Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, then drain well.
- Halve the tomatoes and dice the cucumber.
- Toss the orzo with the vegetables, olives, feta, lemon, oil, parsley, and salt.
- Serve at room temperature.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Mediterranean orzo salad takes the small rice-shaped pasta and treats it the way the eastern Mediterranean treats grains: dressed generously, studded with vegetables, and eaten at room temperature. It sits somewhere between a pasta salad and a Greek village salad, with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives, and feta bringing the familiar salty-sharp profile, and lemon and olive oil pulling it all together. What defines it is balance rather than richness, the tender orzo soaking up the lemony dressing while the raw vegetables keep everything fresh and crunchy.
The eating experience is bright and cooling, with pops of juicy tomato, brine from the olives, and creamy salt from crumbled feta against the soft grains. It comes together in about twenty minutes, and the only real trick is cooling the cooked orzo before dressing it so the pasta stays distinct rather than gummy. Because it holds well and is served at room temperature, it is a natural for picnics, potlucks, and packed lunches, or as a side alongside grilled fish or chicken. A generous hand with the parsley and lemon keeps it from tasting flat after it sits.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Mediterranean Orzo Salad?
A serving has about 477 calories — 13.8g protein, 54.7g carbs, 23.1g fat, 3.6g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Mediterranean Orzo Salad gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Orzo. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Mediterranean Orzo Salad dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Feta. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Mediterranean Orzo Salad take to make?
About 23 minutes start to finish, but only around 10 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Mediterranean Orzo Salad?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out parsley — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Mediterranean Orzo Salad make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.