Description
A refreshing and creamy pasta salad made with orzo, feta cheese, Greek yogurt, and fresh vegetables. This easy five-step recipe is perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) dry orzo pasta
- Water and salt (for boiling pasta)
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat Greek yogurt
- 6 oz (170g) block feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 lemons (zest of 1, juice of 2)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 large English cucumber, diced
- ½ medium red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook according to package directions (8-10 minutes) until al dente.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and remove excess starch. Shake well to remove water.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained orzo with the dressing. Toss gently to coat the pasta evenly.
- Add crumbled feta, cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, olives, and dill to the bowl. Fold ingredients together gently.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2-4 hours, to allow flavors to meld.
- Before serving, stir the salad. If it appears dry, add a splash of lemon juice or water to loosen the dressing. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
For best results, rinse the orzo after cooking to prevent clumping. Crumble your own feta block for better texture and flavor. The salad improves with time, so make it ahead if possible. If the salad becomes too dry after chilling, add a splash of water or lemon juice before serving. Do not freeze this salad as the dairy dressing will separate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: orzo salad, feta pasta, greek pasta salad, summer salad, meal prep, vegetarian, creamy pasta salad, no mayo salad