, ,

Orzo Salad with Spinach, Feta and Lemon

Look, I have something for you! That’s not baking, nor dessert. Something that can be called into service for barbecues and potlucks all summer long, or hang out in your fridge and wait for you to need a scoop of something real instead of a handful of chips or another piece of raisin toast. I feel like I’ve been shortchanging you lately, and when I was reminded of this salad – and how delicious it is – I got all tingly (as W said this morning when he woke up with his hand asleep for the first time: “it feels all sparkly, like a fuzzy peach”) – and wanted to rush home and tell you about it immediately.

This is a salad my mom and I came up with years ago – decades – to bring to a baby shower, and we’ve been making it ever since. It has orzo, and spinach, and purple onion, and lemon… we tossed things in without measuring, and when it disappeared and people asked for the recipe we figured we had better remember how we made it. The next time we used rice, and it quickly became that go-to recipe we used any time we had to bring something somewhere.

Orzo – tiny rice-shaped pasta – is perfect for salads, slipping into the nooks and crannies between veggies, and never getting soggy. I highly recommend it – especially with lots of fresh spinach (it’s back in my garden already!), lemon and feta. And if you have juniors, pick up the salad bowl and bring it to the park with as many forks as there are people.

Orzo Salad with Spinach, Feta and Lemon

AuthorJulie

Yields1 Serving

1 1/2 cups orzo (small rice-shaped pasta)
1 small bunch fresh spinach or half a bag of prewashed spinach
half a purple onion, finely chopped
1/2 – 1 cup crumbled feta
grated zest and juice of a lemon (about 3 Tbsp.)
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
2 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1

Cook the orzo according to the package directions; drain well, running under cool water to cool it down, then dump into a bowl.

2

Thinly slice your spinach: tack a bunch of leaves, roll them up tightly and slice through the whole bunch – or just tear it in with your hands. The method you choose will likely depend on the salad's final destination. Add the onion, feta and lemon zest.

3

Squeeze the lemon juice over the salad, and drizzle with the rice vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat well. Taste it and adjust the seasonings if it needs it. Serve right away or refrigerate until you’re ready for it.

Ingredients

 1 1/2 cups orzo (small rice-shaped pasta)
 1 small bunch fresh spinach or half a bag of prewashed spinach
 half a purple onion, finely chopped
 1/2 – 1 cup crumbled feta
 grated zest and juice of a lemon (about 3 Tbsp.)
 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
 2 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
 Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1

Cook the orzo according to the package directions; drain well, running under cool water to cool it down, then dump into a bowl.

2

Thinly slice your spinach: tack a bunch of leaves, roll them up tightly and slice through the whole bunch – or just tear it in with your hands. The method you choose will likely depend on the salad's final destination. Add the onion, feta and lemon zest.

3

Squeeze the lemon juice over the salad, and drizzle with the rice vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat well. Taste it and adjust the seasonings if it needs it. Serve right away or refrigerate until you’re ready for it.

Orzo Salad with Spinach, Feta and Lemon
Share

About Julie

You May Also Like

30 comments on “Orzo Salad with Spinach, Feta and Lemon

  1. Angie
    May 22, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    Mmmm… looks yummy! I love orzo and use it often, both warm and cold. Thanks for this – my family loves feta and lemon – it will be perfect with dinner tomorrow night!

  2. Cathy N
    May 22, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    Funny thing – we had orzo with peas, caramelized onions and parmesan cheese to go along with our grilled chicken breasts and corn on the cob just last night. It was the first time my husband had ever had it and although he would have preferred rice (his motto “To have a good day all you have to do is eat rice.” …something he picked up while in India) this came in as a very strong second. I love orzo and will definitely do this one! Thanks for the inspiration!

  3. Carolyn
    May 23, 2012 at 5:24 am

    I’m lovin all of the salad recipes you’re posting. I’ve made every single salad recipe you’ve posted in the last 2 months, and everyone is a winner. I’m going to get the ingredients for this one on my way home, and this will be on the table tonight.

  4. Anonymous
    May 23, 2012 at 7:30 am

    I ,too, invented that recipe a few summers ago. What to make to go along some grilled chicken with what is already in the fridge/pantry. It is a family favourite and we make it on a regular basis.
    Thanks for your posts. I read them every morning 🙂

  5. Barb
    May 23, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Sounds very light and fresh!

  6. Kate
    May 23, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    Julie,
    Long time reader, first time commenter 😉 I made this salad last weekend out of Spilling the Beans – it was a HUGE hit, and inspired my sister in law to go hunting for dried beans, grains, Tupperware to hold them all, and of course the cookbook! I am a huge fan of the book (I have made over half of the recipes already), and it has really changed the way we eat at home. Thanks!

  7. Jennifer B.
    May 24, 2012 at 7:20 am

    As a side note, try adding toasted pine nuts next time … it really elevates the whole salad. If you’re planning to have it sit for a while, keep the pine nuts in a different container and throw a handful or two in just before serving.

  8. rose
    May 24, 2012 at 9:27 am

    Hi Julie

    Made this salad last night using brown rice. Perfect! And it will be a ‘go-to’ recipe now as well. I too, love the salad posts. They’re often easy and quick and healthy!
    Are you coming out to the Vancouver eats event at the beginning of June?

    Rose

  9. gwendolyn
    May 24, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    I love orzo for pasta salads, as well as Israeli couscous. I chop up the veggies into bite-sized bits as well and then I can eat it all easily with a spoon.

    This looks great!

  10. jake
    May 24, 2012 at 1:42 pm

    thnx,

    The spinach is up in the garden. Sounds like a great summer dish for lunch, or a side with BBQ. Definitely going to make it.

    Any favorite rhubarb recipes? – my plant is enormous this year, and perfect crimson red. I need time to make a pie.

    cheers

  11. stacey snacks
    May 26, 2012 at 8:15 am

    I have a ton of spinach in my garden, so made this simple recipe last night to go with cedar plank salmon.
    I was so tempted to throw in olives and tomatoes, but resisted and stuck to the spinach only! Delish!
    I will post it next week. Thanks Julie!

  12. Elizabeth
    May 28, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    Made this tonight with brown rice…. soooo tempted to add some olives, but the bright lemon flavour might be overwhelmed.

  13. Shauna
    June 8, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    I just made this and could not stop eating big “tastes” from the spoon. So delicious!
    I’m curious, have you ever made it with couscous?

  14. Brandy
    June 12, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    I love the idea of adding cheese, but I’m just not a fan of feta. Any ideas on another cheese that would be a comparable replacement?

  15. hostgator vps discount coupon
    February 7, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It really useful & it helped me out much. I’m hoping to present something back
    and aid others such as you aided me.

  16. Josephine
    November 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    That is very fascinating, You are an excessively skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your feed and look ahead to seeking more of your

    wonderful post. Additionally, I’ve shared your web site in

    my social networks!

    Feel free to surf to my blog Costa Blanca Spain weather forecast;
    Josephine,

  17. I have not checked in here for a while because I thought
    it was getting boring, but the

    last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you
    back to my daily bloglist.

    You deserve it my friend 🙂

    Here is my web blog; http://hayleyjasper.blogmonster.de/2013/10/17/lees-over-costa-blanca-spanje/

  18. Dena
    November 22, 2013 at 11:21 am

    you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible.
    It seems that

    you’re doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are
    masterpiece. you’ve done a great job on this topic!

    Here is my homepage: Spanish property (Dena)

  19. Funny Quotes App
    August 20, 2014 at 3:21 am

    Thanks to my father who told me regarding this web site, this weblog is really awesome.

    Here is my web-site – Funny Quotes App

  20. ProBux
    August 23, 2014 at 11:43 am

    Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog
    posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds
    and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.

  21. natural remedies for herpes virus in cats
    September 4, 2014 at 7:11 am

    certainly like your web site however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts.
    Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality
    however I will surely come back again.

    Check out my web blog natural remedies for herpes virus in cats

  22. Visio Professional 2013 Download
    September 5, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization?
    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m
    not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share.
    Cheers!

  23. best skincare products for acne australia
    September 6, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    you are really a just right webmaster. The website loading
    speed is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any unique trick.
    Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a great task in this subject!

  24. Carol Aubee Girard
    February 5, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    Soooo tasty thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.