Lemony Chickpea Orzo Salad (Printable)

Fresh orzo tossed with chickpeas, vegetables, and herbs in bright lemon dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 1 cup orzo pasta
02 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
08 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tsp lemon zest
12 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - Prepare orzo according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to halt cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled orzo, chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, mint, and feta if using. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified and thickened.
04 - Pour vinaigrette over salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The orzo absorbs all that bright lemon dressing, so every bite is perfectly seasoned
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours, making it ideal for meal prep or make-ahead parties
02 -
  • The orzo will continue absorbing the dressing as it sits, so always reserve a little extra vinaigrette to refresh leftovers the next day
  • Mint loses its potency quickly when chopped, so add it last and toss it in just before serving
03 -
  • Cook the orzo in well-salted water, since the pasta itself needs seasoning before the dressing is added
  • Let the red onion soak in ice water for ten minutes while prepping other ingredients to remove any harsh sulfur flavor
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