Tomato Feta Orzo Salad (Print View)

Mediterranean orzo tossed with juicy tomatoes, creamy feta, fresh herbs, and a tangy dressing.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 1/4 cups orzo

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced

→ Dairy

04 - 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

→ Herbs & Greens

05 - 3 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
09 - 1 garlic clove, minced
10 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Boil orzo in a large pot of salted water following package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper in a large salad bowl.
03 - Add cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, basil, and parsley to the bowl with dressing.
04 - Gently toss all ingredients until evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Taste and modify salt and pepper seasoning as preferred.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to four hours to enhance flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 25 minutes total, making it perfect for when you want something fresh but don't want to spend your evening cooking.
  • The flavors actually improve as it sits, so you can make it hours ahead and let it hang out in the fridge until dinner.
  • It's endlessly forgiving—you can swap in whatever vegetables you have on hand or skip the feta if you need to.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad while the pasta is still warm—the heat will soften everything and make it mushy, so patience on cooling it down actually matters.
  • Red onion can be harsh if you don't expect it, so if you're sensitive to raw onion bite, dice it extra fine and let it sit in the vinegar for a few minutes before tossing.
03 -
  • Make the dressing a little too vinegary at first—as the salad sits, the vinegar mellows out and the flavors settle, so what tasted sharp at first becomes balanced.
  • Use your best olive oil here because it's not being heated, so its quality actually comes through and matters.
Return