Greek-Style Orzo with Lemon and Herbs

Ingredients

• 1 cup grain orzo
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 cloves garlic
• 0.25 cup parsley
• 0.25 cup dill
• 0.25 cup mint
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup cucumber
• 0.5 cup red onion
• 0.5 cup kalamata olives
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. 1Cook whole grain orzo according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
2. 2In a large bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
3. 3Chop the fresh parsley, dill, and mint finely.
4. 4Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and thinly slice the red onion.
5. 5Add the cooked orzo to the dressing in the large bowl. Toss well to ensure the orzo is evenly coated.
6. 6Add the prepared herbs, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and kalamata olives to the bowl with the orzo.
7. 7Gently mix all the ingredients until well combined.
8. 8Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
9. 9Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
10. 10Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with additional fresh herbs.
11. 11Enjoy this refreshing and nutritious Mediterranean dish as a fulfilling main course.