Description
Ina Garten’s lemon orzo salad blends Mediterranean flavors with fresh ingredients. Herb-kissed orzo, crisp vegetables, and zesty lemon create a light, refreshing dish you’ll crave at summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup orzo (200 grams)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1 cup small-diced feta, preferably Greek (4 oz / 115g)
- 1 tbsp minced fresh dill
- 2 tsp grated lemon zest
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Fill a large saucepan with water, salt generously, and bring to a vigorous boil.
- Pasta Cooking: Introduce orzo into boiling water, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, and cook uncovered for 9-11 minutes, stirring occasionally until al dente.
- Pasta Draining and Mixing: Drain orzo in a colander, transfer to a mixing bowl, and immediately incorporate lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, dill, salt, and black pepper.
- Cheese Integration: Cube feta cheese into small, uniform pieces and gently fold into the warm orzo, allowing the cheese to slightly soften without fully melting.
- Serving: Present the orzo salad warm, showcasing its vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients, perfect as a side dish or light meal.
Notes
- Pasta Precision: Cook orzo exactly 9-11 minutes for perfect al dente texture, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping.
- Zest Technique: Use only bright yellow lemon surface when zesting, avoiding bitter white pith underneath.
- Temperature Timing: Add feta when orzo is warm to slightly soften cheese without complete melting, maintaining delightful texture.
- Flavor Layering: Combine lemon zest, juice, olive oil, and fresh dill immediately while pasta is warm to maximize taste absorption.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 20mg