• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Shop

Planted in the Kitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
×
Home » Appetizers & Sides » Orzo Lemon Salad

Published: Jan 28, 2022 · Modified: Sep 6, 2022 by Kelsey· This post may contain affiliate links ·

Orzo Lemon Salad

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This bright and refreshing lemony orzo salad is packed full of fresh vegetables and fresh flavors!

A picture of a white bowl with orzo pasta salad inside. Garnished with green basil leaves.

Why you'll love this recipe

  • This orzo pasta salad is incredibly easy to make and is super simple to follow.
  • There are a variety of different vegetables in this dish to help you hit your daily veggie quota.
  • Storage and meal prepping are a breeze with this lemon orzo pasta salad. This dish holds up well in the fridge for up to five days when stored in an airtight container.

If you're looking for other delicious orzo recipes, be sure to try my Vegan Orzo Soup and my Greek Orzo Salad next!

Ingredient Notes

Labeled ingredients including: onion, agave nectar, shallot, cucumber, salt, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil, orzo, tomatoes, and lemon.

I try to use organic and locally sourced produce whenever possible. If you want a little more information on what makes organic produce different, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic about organic food.

Orzo: Cook the orzo according to package instructions. Option to sub a gluten-free orzo to make this a gluten-free dish.

Lemon: I love the fresh and bright flavors that the lemon brings to this lemony orzo pasta salad. Orzo salad with lemon is one of the best combinations in my opinion.

Try to use freshly squeezed lemon in this recipe for the best and freshest results.

Vegetables: I used a combination a tomato, cucumber, onion, and asparagus to add fresh flavor and textures into this dish.

Fresh Herbs: Adding fresh herbs to this recipe makes the entire dish pop with fresh flavors! I used a combination of basil and fresh rosemary.

Homemade Vinaigrette: I make a homemade lemon vinaigrette to toss the vegan orzo salad in. It is made using a combination of olive oil, freshly minced garlic (to make this delicious lemon garlic orzo, yum!)

Step-by-Step Instructions

An overhead picture of a bowl of fresh pasta salad filled with fresh vegetables and with a bunch of basil leaves on top.

I like to start out by making the vinaigrette and then setting it aside. Doing this first will allow plenty of time for the flavors to meld while you prepare the rest of the dish.

Next you'll cook the orzo according to the package instructions. Once it's cooked to your preference, drain and rinse under cool water.

Wash and prep all other veggies and ingredients according to the ingredient list.

Once everything is prepared and ready, combine everything into a large bowl and gently mix it all together.

For best results, wait about 30 minutes after mixing everything together. This lets the flavors do their thing and you'll have the most delicious orzo pasta salad!

A coconut bowl filled with fresh orzo pasta salad

Substitutions and Variations

You can swap out any of the vegetables in this recipe for ones that you have on hand. I do highly recommend for any veggie you take out, you put a new one in its place. This helps maintain a variety of flavors and textures.

Lemon Spinach Orzo: Add two cups of fresh baby spinach to this recipe for more of a true salad feel.

Lemon Asparagus Orzo: I love adding a cup of grilled, roasted, or blanched asparagus to this recipe.

Check out this recipe about how to blanch asparagus if you're unsure of how to do this.

Make it Gluten-Free: Simply swap the orzo for a gluten-free option instead to make this a gluten free orzo salad.

Make it More of a Salad: Add fresh salad greens to give this vegan orzo salad more of a "salad" feel!

A close-up picture of a bowl filled with orzo salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and herbs.

Be sure to try some of my other delicious plant based recipes:

  • A round white tray filled with a variety of fresh foods including: hummus, tzatziki, strawberries, grapes, figs, cucumbers, pickles, olives, peppers, crackers.
    Mediterranean Charcuterie Board
  • Air Fryer Crispy Crowns
  • A bowl of mixed chickpeas, quinoa, onion, olives, tomatoes, and fresh basil.
    Mediterranean Grain Bowl
  • Pumpkin overnight oats in a glass jar topped with a layer of vanilla yogurt and granola.
    Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
An overhead picture of a bowl of fresh pasta salad filled with fresh vegetables and with a bunch of basil leaves on top.

Lemon Orzo Salad

Kelsey Riley
This bright and refreshing orzo salad is made with orzo, fresh vegetables and herbs, and tossed in a savory vinaigrette.
5 from 20 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 205 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup orzo uncooked
  • 1 cup cucumbers diced
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes diced
  • ½ cup red onion diced
  • ½ cup asparagus blanched, roasted, or grilled.
  • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped

Lemon Vinaigrette

  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Wash and prep all produce according to the ingredient list.
  • Cook the orzo according to the package instructions. After cooking drain and set aside.
  • Mix together all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette and set aside.
  • Combine all ingredients for the orzo salad in a large bowl. Pour the vinaigrette on top and toss the orzo salad until full coated in the dressing.

Notes

This dish can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal
Tried this recipe?Tag @plantedinthekitchen or tag #plantedinthekitchen!

More Vegan & Plant-Based Appetizers & Sides

  • Tater tots on a plate with a white dish filled with ranch dressing and fresh basil.
    Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots
  • sweet potato fries and a small dish of ranch dressing.
    Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer
  • A bowl filled with fresh broccoli, apple slices, dried cranberries, and red onion.
    Broccoli Crunch Salad
  • A bowl of orzo with pesto sauce, tomatoes, and fresh basil.
    Orzo Pesto Salad

About Kelsey

Planted in the Kitchen is a plant based food blog. Here you will find healthy and delicious vegan recipes!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Magdalena Maslowski says

    August 19, 2023 at 7:41 pm

    MY ORZO IS STICKY NOT KNOWING WHY 🙁 pasta is not separated

    Reply
    • Kelsey says

      September 14, 2023 at 7:53 am

      Hi, I am so sorry that is happening! I stir my pastas (orzo especially) often while cooking according to the package instructions. This will help prevent them from sticking together. Once I drain the cooked orzo I rinse it in the strainer with cool water which will also help. When you add the dressing to the orzo in the recipe it should not be sticking together after that. I hope those troubleshooting tips in the cooking process help in the future 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Picture of Kelsey Riley, author of Planted in the Kitchen.

Hi, I'm Kelsey!

Welcome to Planted in the Kitchen

On my blog you will find delicious and easy vegan recipes. I'm a registered nurse turned blogger with a passion for plant based food.

More about me

As Seen In

Pictures of logos that Planted in the Kitchen has been featured in, Allrecipes Homemade Podcast, Thrive, Yahoo News, Plant Based News, Better Homes and Gardens, Plant Based, Vegan Food and Living, Fox News, Vegan Life.

Sign up for my email list!

Popular Posts

  • A mason jar filled with overnight oatmeal and topped with blueberries and fresh mint
    Chia Seed Overnight Oats
  • A white bowl filled with creamy peanut butter noodles. They are garnished with green onions and white sesame seeds.
    Spicy Peanut Noodles
  • A creamy orange salad dressing in a white bowl. There are supporting ingredients around the bowl including: cilantro, cashews, red pepper flakes, a sliced lime, and salt
    Spicy Cashew Dressing
  • A glass filled with a layer of purple yogurt, chia pudding, blue yogurt, and blueberries on top.
    Chia Seed Parfait
  • A white bowl filled with chia seed pudding. There are blackberries, blueberries, and fresh mint leave on top.
    Chia Seed Pudding
  • A fruit platter with fresh berries, melon, and dragon fruit with a homemade fruit dip in the center.
    Vegan Fruit Dip Recipe

Thanksgiving Recipes

  • Orange mashed potatoes in a white bowl, garnished with fresh green herbs.
    Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • A kale salad in a white serving bowl topped with apples, pears, nuts, pomegranate
    Fall Harvest Salad
  • Golden yellow mini cooked baby potatoes in a white bowl with fresh herbs and seasoning on them.
    Garlic Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
  • A white bowl filled with orange soup. The soup is garnished with a drizzle of white coconut milk, croutons, and chopped green herbs.
    Butternut Squash Apple Soup
  • A plate filled with bright green beans that look crispy.
    Air Fryer Green Beans
  • Two white stacked bowls holding pumpkin pasta.
    Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Footer

Back to top

© 2023 Planted in the Kitchen • Privacy Policy • Disclosure Policy • Terms & Conditions • Accessibility Policy