Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Summer Salads: Greek Orzo

I love cooking, but like all other things in the summer, I get lazy with it. I like to make up a pasta or potato salad on the weekend and have it for a side during the week. This is one of my favorites.

Ingredients
1 lb orzo
1/2 jar kalamata olives, sliced
small container of grape tomatoes, sliced
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 cup feta cheese (I also use goat cheese if I'm not in the mood for feta)
salt to taste

dressing:

1 cup olive oil

1 cup red wine vinegar

2.5 tsp. garlic powder

2.5 tsp. dried oregano

2.5 tsp. dried basil

2 tsp. white pepper

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

or just, you know...a bottle of greek dressing


Mix together and shake well. Store at room temperature tightly covered until ready to use. 


Directions
Boil orzo to package directions and drain. Chop all veggies and put in a large bowl with pasta. Add cheese and olives.

Mix dressing ingredients together in a bowl and whisk well. Pour half over salad, mix well. Add more if parts are uncoated.
Cover salad and store in fridge, cover leftover dressing and store on counter top for up to two hours. Before serving, add more dressing if desired, then store in fridge.

The dressing really makes this - I used to use bottled and now I use this and it's delicious. It pairs well with grilled chicken and veggies or baked tilapia.

***********************
Haikuesday
No whisking for you?
You could use bottled dressing, 
you weinerwhistle.
**********************
 








24 comments:

  1. Haha weinerwhistle!! This looks delicious, orzo is so good! Pinning!

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  2. That's the first time I've ever seen 'weinerwhistle' used in poetry. Shakespeare would be proud!

    That looks delicious. 20 days til I can have orzo… made it through day 1 sugar detox. sigh

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  3. Greek anything is my jam!!! I love a good pasta salad, potato salad, broccoli salad....basically give me all the salads!

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  4. I love any and all Greek flavors! I love by trusty cruet (sp?) but lost the lid. So right now I'm using a mason jar, which of course works but man, it's just not the same.

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  5. The dressing looks great. I do not think I ever made risotto before and I am almost 58!
    Haikuesday
    June-summer is young
    I won't be stung
    I am allergic

    Love your MOMMA

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  6. Thank goodness I am not a weinerwhistle. I definitely enjoy making my own dressing! What's the deal with storing it at room temp? Does it change if it's chilled?

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  7. Put that in my mouth. Right now.

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  8. Love salad dressing
    I make my own quite often
    for better salads.

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  9. Oh yum that sounds DELISH! I make a pretty boring pasta salad regularly (pasta, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions + Italian dressing) so I think I'll be making this one and mixing up my summer snacking ;)

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  10. Orzo salads are my favorite. I love them for leftovers too!

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  11. I am obsessed with Greek food right now. Cucumbers and olives and feta and tomatoes? YES.

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  12. Love me some Orzo. Love me some Steph. Looks delicious.

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  13. Orzo is magical. I make a similar one: http://iowagirleats.com/2013/03/27/mediterranean-orzo-salad/ (minus the capers and served cold). I could eat a whole bowl of it in one sitting.

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  14. YUM!! I love Orzo...and Greek food....hell, all food. Who am I kidding!?

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  15. That seriously made my mouth water! Definitely making that this weekend!

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  16. Yummy! I make a very similar salad, but add in sun-dried tomatoes. I'm obsessed with anything that has feta in it. I have a certain feta that is my go to and will eat on anything :)

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  17. Looks good! But I'd have to leave out the olives, as I feel they taste like feet.

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  18. "weinerwhistle" Bahahahahahahahhaahahahhahaha!
    You had me at Feta. :)

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  19. This looks AMAZING! I'd also leave out the olives, but the rest is making my mouth water. Perfect for summer!

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  20. Wow that looks so good! The combination of ingredients for the dressing sounds like it would be super delicious!

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  21. One of my favorites. I pull the ultimate lazy move and just buy the dressing from the Greek Islands restaurant in Greek Town here. It's way better than what I can do!

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  22. Oooh girl, I HAD to pin this. I love Orzo, anything Greek, and the dressing sounds amazing for any salad!

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