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Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

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5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Yield 8 ½ cups
Category Side Dish
Cuisine Greek/Mediterranean
Author Lauren Grant

Description

A veggie-filled orzo pasta salad that's bursting with the fresh flavors of cucumber, parsley, and shallot. Salty feta, briny olives, and fresh oregano round out the flavors. 

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces (1 ¼ cups dry) dry orzo pasta
  • Kosher salt
  • 5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, or 1 ½ teaspoons dried
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups chopped spinach or arugula
  • 1 English cucumber, diced (about 2 cups)
  • ¾ cup sliced pitted olives (I like a combo of castelvetrano and kalamata + 2 tablespoons olive brine)
  • 1 bunch parsley, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced (½ cup)
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta

Instructions

  • Cook pasta in a pot of boiling salted water until al dente according to package directions. 
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, oregano, Dijon, honey, and pepper flakes.
    vinaigrette in a large glass bowl with veggies set around
  • Drain pasta well then add to bowl with vinaigrette; toss to coat.
    cooked orzo pasta in a large glass bowl
  • Add spinach, cucumber, olives, olive brine, parsley, and shallot; toss until well combined. Gently stir in feta, reserving some for garnish. Season salad with salt and additional red pepper flakes to taste.
    olives, shallots, cucumber, spinach, and feta piled into a large glass bowl
  • Transfer salad to a large serving bowl and sprinkle reserved feta over top.
    orzo pasta salad in a large glass bowl
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Dairy-free: to make this dairy free leave out the feta. 
Gluten-free: to make this gluten-free, use any shape of gluten-free pasta you prefer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 6.5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 746mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3g
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