Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

Simple ingredients with fresh vegetables and feta tossed with orzo bring the sun-soaked taste of Mediterranean flavors to your table. Start your week with a healthy dish.
Orzo pasta is a type of pasta made in the shape of a rice grain and often rice sized as well. 

This pasta is very versatile because of its size and shape. It can be used in a fairly wide range of dishes both hot and cold sides, soups and salads.  1 cup dry = 3 cups volume cooked. Orzo is usually found in the pasta section of the store rather than the rice section but check both places.  

Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

 

Cook's Notes: The following recipe ingredients were doubled for this photo below.  

Basic recipe serves four.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups dry orzo
• 1 medium English cucumber, diced and patted dry on a paper towel
• 1 (10.5 oz. ) package grape tomatoes, halved and patted dry on a paper towel  
• 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup yellow/orange sweet mini peppers, diced 
• 1/2 tsp. each oregano, basil, parsley   
• 1 cup crumbled feta
• Bottled Light Greek Vinaigrette e.g. Cardini's

Directions:

• Prepare orzo according to directions listed on package/box. Drain and let cool.
• In a large bowl mix cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, peppers and spices. Add in orzo, the dressing 1/4 cup at a time and taste. You do not want to overly saturate the salad ingredients with dressing. Refrigerate a few hours. Just before serving add crumbled feta cheese.   

Some off the wall egg humor

A creative use of speckled eggs in an Easter treat.