Servings: Eating the rainbow just got easier with this DELICIOUS Summer Orzo Salad! It's perfect as a sharable side dish for your next backyard party or as a tasty pasta salad to serve with lunch or dinner. COURSE SIDE DISH CUISINE AMERICAN, MEDITERRANEAN KEYWORD SUMMER ORZO SALAD PREP TIME 17 MINUTES COOK TIME 8 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 25 MINUTES SERVINGS 8 SERVINGS CALORIES 215 KCAL AUTHOR JENN LAUGHLIN - PEAS AND CRAYONS

1 ½ cups dry orzo pasta 1 ½ cups dry orzo pasta
1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed) approx. 15 oz 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed) approx. 15 oz
2 cups chopped bell pepper or sweet mini peppers (any colors) 2 cups chopped bell pepper or sweet mini peppers (any colors)
1-2 cups chopped tomatoes 1 to 2 cups chopped tomatoes
½ cup thinly sliced red onion ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
½ cup crumbled feta cheese plus extra to taste ½ cup crumbled feta cheese plus extra to taste
optional fresh parsley or dill to garnish optional fresh parsley or dill to garnish
EASY HOMEMADE DRESSING EASY HOMEMADE DRESSING
¼ cup avocado oil ¼ cup avocado oil
1 lemon (juiced) 1 lemon (juiced)
2 TBSP red wine vinegar , to taste 2 TBSP red wine vinegar , to taste
½ tsp fresh minced or pressed garlic ½ tsp fresh minced or pressed garlic
1/4 tsp dried oregano ¼ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp dried basil and/or dried oregano ¼ tsp dried basil and/or dried oregano
½ tsp salt ½ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper ⅛ tsp black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add dry orzo pasta and a pinch of salt and cook for 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse in a fine colander or sieve with cold water to halt the cooking process. Add pasta to a large bowl and set aside.
To speed things up while your noodles cook, chop your veggies and make the dressing.
For the dressing, combine ingredients in a lidded jar and shake vigorously to combine. Allow to sit while you toss together your salad, then shake again before serving. Alternatively you can whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.
Add all your veggies to the orzo. Re-mix dressing and add to the salad. mix well and top with crumbled feta and optional fresh herbs.
This salad may be enjoyed right away (room temperature) or chilled briefly before serving. Both options are delicious!
See notes below for more tasty veggie options to mix and match as well as make ahead tips.

Making this salad ahead of time? It’s great the next day and fabulous in packed lunches for work, school, or picnics.  Making this salad ahead of time? It’s great the next day and fabulous in packed lunches for work, school, or picnics.
If you plan on adding extra veggies or keeping it for a few days in the fridge, simply make a little extra dressing to drizzle over the salad the next day, as the pasta will soak up a some of the dressing while it chills. SO GOOD!  If you plan on adding extra veggies or keeping it for a few days in the fridge, simply make a little extra dressing to drizzle over the salad the next day, as the pasta will soak up a some of the dressing while it chills. SO GOOD!
Other tasty mix-in options include pickled banana peppers, olives, white or green onion in place of red onion, sweet corn, cucumber, kale, and spinach. Mix and match your favorite veggies to make an orzo salad that’s deliciously custom!  Other tasty mix-in options include pickled banana peppers, olives, white or green onion in place of red onion, sweet corn, cucumber, kale, and spinach. Mix and match your favorite veggies to make an orzo salad that’s deliciously custom!