This colorful Greek-style orzo pasta salad is loaded with plenty of herbed sweet cherry tomatoes, lots of other garden goodness, and is tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette for one stunning summer salad!
Salad daaaays! It’s going down, guys.
Did you know that August is like a super-short month as far as summer dining is concerned? Seriously! There’s still so much stuff that we all want to eat before summer says see-ya later suckers. And meanwhile the days blow by and no matter how much we stuff our faces with sweet corn and heirloom tomatoes, there’s STILL more!
That’s not just me by the way. Just admit it.
My point here being: we’ve still got LOTS of summer salad’n that needs to happen around here, folks.
Gentlemen and gentleladies, start your lettuce engines!
Or today….your pasta engines. Aw heck yaaa!
Have I ever mentioned my deep, unconditional, slightly-ridiculous love for all things Mediterranean/Greek style to you guys before?
Okaaaay, chances are that you figured that out yourself….
I’m definitely not one to make my obsessions unknown to the rest of the world.
My obsessions soon become YOUR obsessions. I like to think I’m such a trend-setter, cool kid.
*cricket cricket*
Anyway. This salad, guys!! For serious Greek-food lovers ONLY.
That would be me. So uh, gimme the whole bowl please, guys.
Lunch hour, get ready: you have NO idea what is about to hit ‘ya.
Can we talk super-briefly about cherry tomatoes? They are literally EVERYWHERE. My life right now revolves around these sweet little balls of summer perfection.
Right up there with peaches, zucchini and just about every other summer delicacy. Aheem. A girl can have multiple summer obsessions right??
Today is all about the cherry tomatoes and the fact that I have about 10 million of them rolling all over my kitchen counter.
And the fact that I sautéed a ton of ’em in some herby-olive oil goodness. And tossed said perfection into my Greek orzo salad.
With just a touch of feta cheese.
Okay, more or less 5 overflowing truckloads.
And the stars aligned, the angels sang, and life was made complete.
Hello. —>
This Greek heaven right here is just exactly what I want in my face every single day of the remaining summer.
It shall fill my plate as well as my every dream. ♥
Beyond August? I think I can do that too. 🙂
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Sauteed Herbed Cherry Tomatoes
This colorful Greek-style orzo pasta salad is loaded with plenty of herbed sweet cherry tomatoes and is tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette for one stunning summer salad!
Servings 6 -8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 tablespoon each fresh oregano parsley, and basil. (minced)
- 1 16 oz box orzo pasta, cooked according to package instructions
- 1 large sweet pepper diced
- 1 can 15 oz black olives, drained and sliced
- 1 small cucumber thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- DRESSING:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add tomatoes, oregano, parsley, and basil to saucepan and stir occasionally until tomatoes are close to bursting, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked orzo, pepper, olives, cucumber, sauteed cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese. Set aside for a moment while you prepare the dressing.
- Whisk all dressing ingredients until smooth, season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour dressing over salad and gently toss to coat. Season salad with additional salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Store salad in refrigerator up to 3 days.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below. Feel free to share a picture on Instagram and tag @wholeandheavenlyoven or hashtag it #wholeandheavenlyoven
Salad for daaaaaays! —>
Mediterranean Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ranch Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad
See more salads here!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
I haven’t have orzo in such a long time. <3 I really need to change that. 😀
Sarah says
You should get back into the orzo groove with this salad ‘fo sure, Erin! 😉
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
This salad has all my favorite things in it! Delicious- pinning 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks for pinning, Medha!!
Joanne says
I’m pretty much crying every day over how little time there is until summer is over. GIVE ME ALL THE TOMATOES! And SALADS! Especially if there is pasta involved. Loving this.
Sarah says
Right?? It’s totally depressing that the summer produce is slowly going away, but at the same time exciting that fall stuff is coming back into season, y’know??
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Oh, how I love a summer salad! This looks so fabulous!
Sarah says
This salad totally screams SUMMER! 😉