Orzo Salad with Cucumber (Printable Version)

Light Mediterranean orzo with crisp cucumber, feta and zesty lemon dressing — ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 cup (200 g) orzo
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 large cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/4 cup (10 g) fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped (optional)

→ Cheese

08 - 3/4 cup (100 g) feta cheese, crumbled

→ Lemon Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
10 - Zest of 1 lemon
11 - Juice of 1 1/2 lemons (about 3 tbsp)
12 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
13 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
14 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
15 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Salt, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package instructions (usually 8–10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together all lemon dressing ingredients: olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, honey, oregano, pepper, and salt. Adjust seasoning to taste.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine cooked orzo, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and mint.
04 - Drizzle the lemon dressing over the salad and toss well to combine.
05 - Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese.
06 - Chill in the refrigerator for 15–30 minutes to allow flavors to meld, or serve immediately. Garnish with extra parsley or feta if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This salad tastes even better the next day after the flavors mingle—so make extra for tomorrow.
  • The lemon dressing is so versatile, I've started using it on roasted veggies and even as a dip for pita bread.
02 -
  • The first time I made this, I forgot to rinse the orzo after draining and ended up with a sticky clump—don’t skip that step.
  • Letting the dressed salad sit for even 15 minutes makes a much more flavorful bite.
03 -
  • Slicing the cucumber and onion evenly makes for a more balanced forkful every time.
  • Double the dressing and keep it in the fridge—future you will thank you for instant flavor.
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