Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad

This cucumber lemon orzo salad is chock full of fresh summer veggies and coated with a tangy lemon dressing. It’s perfect for picnics and barbecues, as a healthy side or a light lunch. You can have it ready in 20 minutes, and keep it in the fridge for up to four days.

5 Reasons to Love This Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad

This is more than just your typical pasta salad. Here’s what you’ll love most about it:

1. It calls for only nine easy-to-find ingredients.
2. The tangy lemon dressing gives it a light and refreshing feel.
3. It’s dairy free, soy free, nut free and vegan.
4. It can easily sit out for a little while, making it perfect for summer picnics.
5. Can easily be made ahead of time.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad

Orzo pasta – because you can’t have an orzo pasta salad without the pasta.

Cucumber – made up of about 96% water, cucumbers are low in calories yet super filling, and packed with that refreshing summer feel.

Cherry tomatoes – they have a fresh, tangy flavour that goes great with pasta, and I just love the bright red colour they bring to the table.

Green olives – simply a must in any Mediterranean dish. Not to mention they’re incredibly healthy and one of the key components of a balanced diet.

Fresh basil – perfect for pairing with pasta, tomatoes and green olives.

Tangy lemon dressing – the tangy dressing is what ties the whole dish together.

How to Make This Healthy Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad

Step One – Cook the orzo pasta

For best results, always follow the instructions on the package. Make sure you don’t overcook it.

Step Two – Make Lemon Dressing

Mix olive oil, lemon juice and zest, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper for a light salad dressing that is perfect for summer.

Step Three – Add the Veggies

This pasta salad is loaded with seasonal veggies and fresh basil that make the dish extra flavourful.

Make a big batch!

As this salad stays fresh for days, you can easily make a big batch ahead of time and keep it in the fridge as a healthy lunch option for the week ahead.

What Is Orzo?

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly orzo is, why it looks so much like rice, what it’s made of and how to cook it, read on to find your answers.

Is orzo rice or pasta?

The word orzo is actually Italian for barley, because of the its resemblance to this grain.

However, although it looks a lot like rice, orzo is actually a type of pasta, or more accurately pastina, which essentially means tiny pasta. Traditionally, it’s used in soups and broths, but also works well as a side dish and in pasta salads.

What is orzo made of?

Orzo pasta is made with semolina flour, which is made of durum wheat. It’s important to note here that despite its visual resemblance to rice, traditional orzo is most definitely not gluten free.

You can find orzo in multiple colours, but the flavour remains more or less the same.

How do I cook orzo?

You can prepare orzo in much the same way as any other type of pasta. Boil a pot of salted water, add the pasta and cook to al dente for about 8 to 10 minutes. To make sure you don’t overcook the pasta, it’s always best to check package instructions.

Is orzo healthy?

Orzo pasta has a very similar nutrition profile than other types of pasta. Whole-wheat orzo is slightly higher in fibre and protein than regular orzo, but it’s still fairly high in calories and carbohydrates.

If we compare it to rice, orzo has about 50% more calories than an equal serving of white rice.

Where can I buy orzo?

You should be able to find orzo in any grocery store, usually in the dry pasta aisle. If you’re not seeing it right away, look near specialty pasta. However, sometimes it could also be hiding in the grain aisle.

How long does this salad keep?

Properly stored, this lemon orzo salad will last for three to four days in the refrigerator. I don’t recommend keeping it at room temperature for more than two hours.

More Vegan Salads

If you love this lemon orzo salad, try this pesto pasta salad, this green beans and cherry tomatoes salad, or this quinoa salad with black beans.

Click here for a complete listing of vegan salads.

More Lemon Recipes

I’m a huge fan of lemons, and if you share my love for this magical citrus that can make everything from tap water to cake taste delicious, make sure to check out my other lemon recipes, including:

• Vegan Lemon Drizzle Cake
• Healthy Lemon Blueberry Muffins
• Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie