Go Back
–+ servings
White bowl with close up of Lemon Orzo With feta and almonds.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Lemon Orzo With Feta

Lemon orzo with feta is a delightful 30 minute side dish or light meal. Full of crunch from veggies and almonds. So tasty.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 6
Author: Bailey Rhatigan

Equipment

  • pot for boiling
  • sharp knife
  • bowls for mixing

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can chickpeas *or garbanzo beans
  • 1¾ cup orzo *uncooked, cook according to the package
  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup cucumber, chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, chopped
  • ½ cup shaved almonds
  • ½ cup feta, crumbled

Lemon Herb Dressing

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2-3 Tbsp lemon zest
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice *2 lemons
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 Tbsp parsley
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme

Instructions

  • Start the orzo according to package. I cook mine al dente, so I follow the package for that cook. (about 12-15 minutes light boil). Gather and chop garlic, pepper, tomatoes. onions, cucumber and herbs. Zest the lemon. 
  • Blitz the dressing ingredients in a small food processor. salt, pepper, honey, garlic, oil, lemon, herbs.
  • Once the orzo is finished, let it cool and rinse it with cold water. Let the water drain completely. Add the orzo and all veggies, chickpeas and almonds to a large salad bowl. 
  • Add the dressing over the the ingredients and mix well, add the crumbled feta to the top and lightly mix. Serve and enjoy. This salad is meant to be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled. 

Notes

  • Do not overcook the orzo. This is meant to be enjoyed al dente. If it's over cooked it can get mushy.
  • Be sure to rinse the orzo with ice cold water before mixing everything together. 
  • The cheese adds a nice saltiness. If you want to make this without cheese, sub olive in place of the cheese.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.   

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75cup | Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 345mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1057IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2mg