Lemon Orzo Asparagus Salad with Feta Recipe
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Our beautiful Lemon Orzo Asparagus Salad Recipe is made with whole-grain orzo, fresh lemon, crisp asparagus, and feta. Easy to throw together and elegant on the palate, it’s a savory summer lunch or side dish everyone loves.
Growing up, my dad owned the town tavern. He was gone most of my day and only had Sundays off. On Sundays, we often went fishing in nearby ponds.
My mother always prepared a picnic lunch, usually fried chicken and potato salad. I get hungry for it 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 of salads that contain mayonnaise because of the fat. There are a lot of delicious salads that we do like, such as this Lemon Orzo Salad, that are a bit better for us.
Why You’ll Love This Orzo Salad with Feta
Good for you. This Orzo Asparagus Salad is chock full of great healthy ingredients. I used whole grain wheat orzo, fresh lemon, crisp asparagus, and crumbled feta.
So tasty. This salad is cool, fresh, and delicious. It is perfect as a side at dinner or a picnic lunch. Serve it cold for a Summer Orzo Salad.
Make as much or as little as you need. You can make a huge bowl to feed a crowd of hungry people or make a small amount for two people. This recipe is easy to scale.
Make it ahead of time. This delicious lemon orzo salad with feta keeps for one week in the fridge. It also lasts for an entire week, and I never get tired of it.
Minimal prep. You don’t have to do a lot of chopping and rinsing to throw your salad together.
Easy variations. Change this one up to suit your tastes! It can be loaded with as many or as few of your favorite ingredients as you want.
Equipment Needed to Make Orzo Asparagus Salad
Large Pot. You’ll need to boil pasta and asparagus.
Strainer. To strain the water off the pasta.
Large Serving Bowl. If you’re making enough for a crowd, you’ll need a bowl.
Small Mixing Bowl. To mix up the dressing.
Whisk. This handy tool is a must-have in my kitchen.
Ingredients for the Lemon Orzo Salad Recipe
- Asparagus. Fresh Spring asparagus is best.
- Whole Wheat Orzo. The whole wheat orzo that I buy comes in a 16 oz package so I use half of it and save the rest for other whole wheat orzo recipes.
- I’ve actually used the whole package for a larger salad.
- Crumbled Feta Cheese. The perfect cheese for this dish whether served hot or cold!
- Flat Italian Parsley. The curly variety is fine too.
- Lemon Dressing. See the recipe below for homemade lemon orzo pasta salad dressing.
Ingredients for the Lemon Dressing
- Lemon Juice & Zest. One lemon was zested and juiced for this recipe.
- Plain Yogurt. Because this brings its own tartness to the recipe, plain yogurt is the perfect choice to form the body of the lemon dressing.
- Sugar. A slight counterbalance to the sourness of lemon.
- Salt and Black Pepper. To taste.
- Olive Oil. Thins the dressing a bit.
How to Make Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta
I show you how to make this Orzo Salad with Lemon using a minimum number of bowls and pans by cooking the asparagus in the water before cooking the pasta in the same water.
Step 1: To begin, bring a large pot of water to boil and you will use that to cook both the asparagus and the orzo pasta. First, blanch the asparagus for two minutes and then remove it from the boiling water using a slotted spoon. Put it in a colander to drain and spray it with cold water so that it stops cooking.
Step 2: Next, bring the water back to a boil and add salt. Then put the orzo in the boiling water. Cook the orzo for one to two minutes less than the recommended time so that you have the right consistency for a salad. Run it under cold water after straining to stop it from getting too soft.
Step 3: In a large bowl, add orzo, asparagus, feta, and parsley. Mix the dressing separately and then toss to combine. Refrigerate the salad for a couple of hours if you want to serve it cold. It can be served hot as soon as you finish making it if you prefer.
How To Cook Orzo for Pasta Salad
Cook for 1 or 2 minutes under the recommended cooking time. You want the whole wheat orzo to have a chewy texture, not hard or mushy. This is described as “al dente” Run the cooked orzo under cold water to stop the cooking.
How to cook Asparagus
Add chopped Asparagus to a pot of boiling water and cook it for two minutes or until bright green. This is called blanching. Remove with a slotted spoon to a sieve or colander and run under cold water to stop cooking.
Blanching keeps the asparagus crisp and bright green without tasting raw.
What to Serve with Your Orzo Salad with Feta
- Serve chilled for a summer salad.
- Serve warm with sliced grilled chicken or shrimp or salmon over the top for added protein.
Substitutions and Additions
- Use brown rice, quinoa, or couscous for a delicious option.
- Make this a Mediterranean Orzo Salad by adding olives, red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh spinach.
- Add marinated artichokes or pepperoncini.
- Fresh Herbs or a spice blend such as Herbes de Provence, or fresh basil.
- Substitute the asparagus for fresh peas or snap peas.
- Add a finely minced garlic clove and stir it into the dressing.
- If pressed for time, you can replace the lemony dressing with a prepared salad dressing. I recommend an Italian or simple balsamic dressing.
Don’t forget to pin this Whole-Wheat Orzo Recipe
How To Store Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta
Best Way To Store Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
Covered in the refrigerator. A sealed plastic container or sealed plastic baggy works best.
How long does Orzo Salad with Lemon last in the fridge?
5 days covered.
Can I Freeze/Thaw Orzo Asparagus Salad
Yes, you can freeze leftover orzo salad. Freeze for up to three months in an airtight container. Thaw it at room temperature to serve cold. Microwave thawed Lemon Orzo Salad with a small amount of olive oil to serve warm.
How To Reheat Orzo Salad with Feta
If you want to serve it warm, you can reheat it in the microwave for a minute at a time until it reaches your desired warmth for the dish.
Orzo Salad with Lemon FAQs
Yes. Freeze for up to three months in a sealed plastic container or freezer-quality plastic bag.
One or two days in advance will work perfectly if you plan to serve the pasta dish cold. Add the feta and parsley at the table for best results.
Orzo salad is any salad made with orzo pasta and a salad dressing of some kind. Our lemon orzo salad has a homemade dressing that is divine.
No. Orzo is a form of pasta made from wheat flour.
We use Whole-wheat orzo which is higher in fiber and protein than regular orzo, which makes it the healthier choice. It’s still high in calories and is bout 50% more calories than an equal serving of white rice.
Tips to Make the Perfect Lemon Orzo Salad
You can make this salad a day or 2 in advance. I recommend that you add the fresh parsley and crumbled feta right before serving to maintain its bright fresh flavor.
Cut the fresh asparagus into 1-inch-sized pieces before blanching. This will assure that the asparagus cooks evenly and can be easily strained from the boiling water.
If the salad isn’t fluffy after chilling, add a little olive oil and toss.
Other Dishes You Will Love
Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How Your Orzo Salad with Lemon Turned Out!
Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of asparagus cut into one-inch pieces
- 8 ounces cooked whole wheat orzo cooked
- 1 cup crumbled feta
- 2/3 cup flat Italian parsley chopped
Lemon Dressing
- Zest of 1 lemon about 1 tablespoon
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbs plain yogurt
- 1½ tbs sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 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 the asparagus 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 the orzo. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes under the suggested time, approximately 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain off the pasta water and run it under cool water to stop cooking.
- In a large serving bowl, add orzo, asparagus, feta, and parsley.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and yogurt. Whisk to combine and add to orzo pasta salad.
- Refrigerate to chill for 1 to 2 hours or serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
Wonderful 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
Thank 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.
No 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!
Thank you Roberta! Enjoy your weekend and have fun at your BBQ. I love hosting them too.
Orzo 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!
I 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!
I 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.
Thank 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!
What 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!
This 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 😀
Thank you Michelle! I remember when kids eating dirt was normal. Ha!
This 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).
Thank you! My husband can’t stand vinegar either!
What wonderful memories! Fried chicken, potato salad, a fishing pole and time with your Dad. Perfect.
Recipe sounds great and wonderful summer food.
Thank you Liz! I have a lot of those old fashioned memories. A time that kids ate dirt and it was normal. 🙂 Enjoy your day!
Your photos are awesome, Julie and so do the salad. 🙂 Happy FF! x
Thank you Jhuls! It is a keeper in my book. Happy FF to you too!
What 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 🙂
Thanks 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.
You 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.
Thank you Judi! My husband would kill me if it was something that tied me down all weekend :).
You 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 🙂
Hey 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. :)).
Ha! Thank you!
Not sure about Orzo, but love asparagus.
Thank 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?
Helathy and tasty sald .. Yum yk.
Am checking your blog out after a while. Looks terrific <3
Your 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. 🙂
Thank 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!
This salad sounds so fresh and wonderful, absolutely perfect for summer. I’m adding it to my summer entertaining list! Thank you 🙂
Thank you Sarah! I hope you will be as pleased as we were.
This 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…
Thank 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! 🙂
Great 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.
Thank 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!
Julie,
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.
Thank you Sandhya! I just can’t get enough of the wonderful asparagus that’s available right now.
This looks so fresh and delicious! My boyfriend would love all of the flavors!
Thank 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!
Healthy delicious looking salad Julie. And beautiful memories of days gone by☺
Thank you skd!
This looks like a perfect summer salad filled with everything l love! Great new graphics too Julie!
Thank you Johanne! It really is a light flavorful side. I just love al dente asparagus!
Mmm…
This sounds super delicious. I am OBSESSED with asparagus right now, so I pretty much enjoy eating it with anything and everything.
Thank 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.
I 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. 🙂
Thanks 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.
I love orzo and this recipe is perfect for summer! 🙂
Thank you Ana! It is definitely a winner. Makes a ton so make sure your son is home. 🙂