Asparagus Orzo Salad is an easy and delicious salad that is made with whole grain orzo, fresh lemon, crisp asparagus, and feta. It makes the perfect summer dish!
Growing up, my dad owned the town tavern. He was gone most of my day and only had Sunday’s off. On Sundays, we often went fishing in nearby ponds.
My mother always prepared a picnic lunch. She often made fried chicken and potato salad. I get hungry for it could just thinking of it. I think about those dirty little hands handling worms and who knows what, and I cringe. Oh well, none of us ever got sick.
I still love potato salad, but John isn’t crazy about it (maybe he’s just crazy?) I also limit myself to salads that contain mayonnaise because of the fat. There are a lot of delicious salads that we do like, such as this Asparagus Orzo Salad, that is a bit better for us.
This Asparagus Orzo Salad is chock full of great healthy ingredients. I used whole grain wheat orzo, fresh lemon, crisp asparagus and crumbled feta. This salad is cool, fresh and delicious. It is perfect as a side at dinner or a picnic lunch, and it makes a huge bowl so make sure you have plenty of hungry people to feed. It also lasted for an entire week, and I never tired of it.
Asparagus Orzo Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of asparagus cut into one-inch pieces
- 16 ounces cooked whole wheat orzo cooked
- 1 cup crumbled feta
- 2/3 cup flat Italian parsley chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon about 1 tablespoon
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
- 11/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add asparagus and blanch for two minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a sieve or colander and run under cold water to stop cooking. Return the water to a boil, salt the water and add orzo. Cook for suggested time, approximately 9 minutes. Drain and run under cool water.
- In a large serving bowl. add orzo, asparagus, feta, parsley and lemon zest.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and yogurt. Whisk to combine and add to orzo combination.
- Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Are you still looking for a couple other amazing salad ideas? Here are a few of our favorites!
Asian Cabbage Salad
Cherry Chipotle Salad
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Sonal says
July 13, 2017 at 9:24 pmOrzo is one kind I have never tried before.. the recipe sounds so summerish and delicious!!
Julie Menghini says
July 14, 2017 at 8:49 amThank you Sonal! Give it a try it’s really yummy!
Roberta Briffa says
July 13, 2017 at 8:13 amWonderful recipe Julie! Orzo is my favourite type of pasta adding lemon to it just screams summer! Can you believe it when I tell you that I had an orzo pasta salad for the first time on my very first visit to Michigan when we were thinking of moving there for a while from Malta! I ordered it at a restaurant because I wasn’t that hungry. So, you know, I ordered a salad, as one does when you just want to nibble on something. In Europe, you only get a small plate of side salad usually. Instead I got a large bowlful of a gorgeous pasta salad – full of nuts and greens coated with a delicious vinaigrette. I took leftovers home. It was seriously gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this with us! xx
Julie Menghini says
July 13, 2017 at 3:16 pmThank you, Roberta! Malta is on my bucket list and that dish you had sounds absolutely amazing. Have you remade it? I would love to dig into it myself. I love all those goodies on a salad.
Roberta Briffa says
July 21, 2017 at 8:10 amNo I haven’t unfortunately. It’s been always on my list but I never got round to it. Now I have yours though which I will make very soon. I’m hosting a BBQ very soon with friends and I’m sure this lovely recipe will be an instant hit!
Julie Menghini says
July 21, 2017 at 9:50 amThank you Roberta! Enjoy your weekend and have fun at your BBQ. I love hosting them too.
Mimi says
July 12, 2017 at 7:32 pmOrzo is so wonderful, but I don’t use it often enough! Maybe this will get me to cook the orzo I have in my pantry! Although I haven’t seen asparagus in weeks. Fabulous salad!
Julie Menghini says
July 13, 2017 at 3:19 pmI love it, especially in cold salads. I’m with you though I don’t think to use it more often. I’ve been way to lazy this summer!
Shari says
June 23, 2015 at 1:21 pmI love this recipe, Julie! Orzo is one of my favorites, I think because of the texture, and my husband and I both enjoy asparagus. And feta makes everything better as far as I’m concerned. Yummy recipe – thank you! Pinned to make soon.
Julie Menghini says
June 23, 2015 at 1:31 pmThank you Shari! It will be a repeat at our table too! Perfect for warm weather. I hope you will let me know if your enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by!
Stephanie says
June 22, 2015 at 8:12 pmWhat a beautiful dish! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
June 21, 2015 at 9:25 amThis salad looks so yummy Julie, perfect for summer – I definitely need to try it, I’m a bit of an asparagus fiend haha!
I think we worry way too much about germs these days, a little is good for ya!
Thanks for bringing this yummy salad to Fiesta Friday 😀
Julie Menghini says
June 21, 2015 at 9:28 amThank you Michelle! I remember when kids eating dirt was normal. Ha!
breakfastdramaqueen says
June 21, 2015 at 1:54 amThis looks and sounds delicious! Healthy too 😀 And I LOVE that this salad doesn’t involve vinegar (although I think I’m the only one I know who dislikes vinegar).
Julie Menghini says
June 21, 2015 at 8:57 amThank you! My husband can’t stand vinegar either!
Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons says
June 21, 2015 at 12:50 amWhat wonderful memories! Fried chicken, potato salad, a fishing pole and time with your Dad. Perfect.
Recipe sounds great and wonderful summer food.
Julie Menghini says
June 21, 2015 at 8:58 amThank you Liz! I have a lot of those old fashioned memories. A time that kids ate dirt and it was normal. 🙂 Enjoy your day!
Jhuls says
June 20, 2015 at 8:09 amYour photos are awesome, Julie and so do the salad. 🙂 Happy FF! x
Julie Menghini says
June 20, 2015 at 10:29 amThank you Jhuls! It is a keeper in my book. Happy FF to you too!
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
June 19, 2015 at 2:28 pmWhat a refreshing salad Julie. Love the orzo with the lemon and feta – might have to substitute the asparagus but I am sure that would be easy to do. Gene always preferred orzo over rice and even pasta – it just has such great flavor and can absorb so many different dressings. Thanks so much for bringing a yummy salad to Fiesta Friday 🙂
Julie Menghini says
June 19, 2015 at 6:20 pmThanks Judi for hosting us this week. I signed up for my first hosting job. I’ve never done it so hope it isn’t too time consuming? This salad is so good. It’s going to my go to for pot luck since it makes so much.
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
June 20, 2015 at 8:35 amYou will enjoy co-hosting Julie. It’s a matter of reading as many recipes as you want and commenting; some only do half – like you would take the odd numbers and the other co-host would take the even numbers. Others, like myself, comment on all of the posts. The hard part is choosing as there are so many good ones. You pick 4 or 5 favorites and tell Angie why you like them and then she makes the final decision and includes your reasons. You are very into the social aspect of blogging so you will make a great co-host.
Julie Menghini says
June 20, 2015 at 10:26 amThank you Judi! My husband would kill me if it was something that tied me down all weekend :).
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
June 20, 2015 at 10:29 amYou can spend as much time as you have Julie – shorter comments, not comment on all of them, etc. Don’t want to take away any prime time with hubby 🙂
Quinn Caudill says
June 18, 2015 at 9:45 pmHey Julie! What a great looking summer salad. I love orzo and the lemon and asparagus is a great pairing. Great story about your family. A little worm guts and dirt never hurt anyone. Have a great weekend. :)).
Julie Menghini says
June 18, 2015 at 9:48 pmHa! Thank you!
Lili says
June 18, 2015 at 3:01 pmNot sure about Orzo, but love asparagus.
Julie Menghini says
June 18, 2015 at 4:47 pmThank you Lili! Not sure what it is or if you like it? Orzo is just a small pasta. You could use another pasta or even a seed like quinoa or a grain like farro?
Traditionally Modern Food says
June 18, 2015 at 9:43 amHelathy and tasty sald .. Yum yk.
Charanya says
June 17, 2015 at 7:51 pmAm checking your blog out after a while. Looks terrific <3
Loretta says
June 17, 2015 at 1:18 pmYour pictures turned out awesome here Julie, it really shows the freshness in the pasta salad, the crispiness in the asparagus, and that orzo does look pretty long. Is it just regular orzo? I’d say this was a really good heart healthy dish and so satisfying! I have a couple of questions to ask you on WP, but I’ll send you an email later on. 🙂
Julie Menghini says
June 17, 2015 at 5:13 pmThank you Loretta! I used whole grain wheat orzo so it is a little bigger than traditional orzo. I was also very happy with these pictures. It was the perfect time of day which doesn’t happen all that often as we know. I look forward to your email!
Sarah 'n Spice says
June 17, 2015 at 11:08 amThis salad sounds so fresh and wonderful, absolutely perfect for summer. I’m adding it to my summer entertaining list! Thank you 🙂
Julie Menghini says
June 17, 2015 at 5:13 pmThank you Sarah! I hope you will be as pleased as we were.
Angie says
June 16, 2015 at 10:09 pmThis looks awesome, Julie! Who doesn’t like pasta salad? 🙂 I’d like to go fishing, even though I’m not sure I can handle the worms, lol!! But it’s such a relaxing activity. I’ve done it a couple of times and even caught some fish! But there was always someone else to do the worm & clean the fish part, haha…
Julie Menghini says
June 17, 2015 at 8:34 amThank you Angie! I had to pretend I liked it so my brother wouldn’t tease me. I’m all over the worm and fish cleaning thing. Commercial fish is now my favorite fishing hole! 🙂
apuginthekitchen says
June 16, 2015 at 5:52 pmGreat salad Julie, I love orzo, it is just as good served hot as cold and when mixed with the asparagus and cheese makes for a wonderful side or meal for that matter. Your memories of childhood are sweet, I used to go fishing with my Dad also and foraging in the forest for mushrooms. My Dad loved the outdoors. Such lovely memories.
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 6:01 pmThank you Suzanne! As children, we preferred to be outdoors. It always amazes me how food and the social aspects of it form our memories. Good ones for me!
Sandhya says
June 16, 2015 at 4:49 pmJulie,
What a perfect summer salad. I love the tender crisp asparagus too and your recipe brings so many favorite flavors together. Thanks for sharing it.
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 5:12 pmThank you Sandhya! I just can’t get enough of the wonderful asparagus that’s available right now.
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks says
June 16, 2015 at 1:59 pmThis looks so fresh and delicious! My boyfriend would love all of the flavors!
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 4:37 pmThank you Dani! It is all of that, and we really enjoyed it. I’ll make it for a summer potluck next time because it makes so much. I appreciate your stopping by!
skd says
June 16, 2015 at 1:47 pmHealthy delicious looking salad Julie. And beautiful memories of days gone by☺
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 4:37 pmThank you skd!
Johanne Lamarche says
June 16, 2015 at 9:11 amThis looks like a perfect summer salad filled with everything l love! Great new graphics too Julie!
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 10:10 amThank you Johanne! It really is a light flavorful side. I just love al dente asparagus!
Jewels says
June 16, 2015 at 8:39 amMmm…
cleaneatingveggiegirl says
June 16, 2015 at 8:23 amThis sounds super delicious. I am OBSESSED with asparagus right now, so I pretty much enjoy eating it with anything and everything.
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 10:11 amThank you Hannah! I am with you! As soon as new produce arrives, I can’t get enough of it. I am crazy for al dente asparagus in everything.
Debbie Spivey says
June 16, 2015 at 7:44 amI can relate on so many levels. I miss those childhood days of taking my daddy fried chicken, potato salad and sweet tea to the fields when he was working. I cannot relate to not liking potato salad…lol! This orzo recipe looks great! I pinned for later use. 🙂
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 8:06 amThanks Debbie for pinning! I just love potato salad too. John doesn’t like mayonnaise or ketchup! He’s lucky he has a few other attributes I’ll tell ya.
Celebrating Sunshine says
June 16, 2015 at 7:02 amI love orzo and this recipe is perfect for summer! 🙂
Julie Menghini says
June 16, 2015 at 8:07 amThank you Ana! It is definitely a winner. Makes a ton so make sure your son is home. 🙂