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Home » all recipes » Orzo salad with feta, asparagus and chickpeas

Orzo salad with feta, asparagus and chickpeas

Posted May 24, 2017 | Updated Nov 23, 2022 by Helen | 17 Comments |

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Orzo salad with feta, asparagus and chickpeas

This delicious but simple orzo salad with feta, asparagus and chickpeas goes perfectly as a side with chicken, fish, or steak.

Closeup of an Asparagus, tomato and feta orzo salad in a blue patterned dish and with a patterned serving spoon.

The perfect recipe for lonely cans of chickpeas!

If you’re anything like me you have random cans of things hiding at the back of your cupboard.

They may have been there for a few months, or a few years! (don’t worry, we all do it!)

This is a perfect salad for using up any random cans of chickpeas you have hiding out there.

Asparagus, tomato and feta orzo salad in a blue patterned bowl and with a patterned spoon in it.

My usual solution for using up chickpeas is hummus of course, with some delicious and quick homemade flatbread. But if I’m looking for party style food, or a different kind of side to go with meat or fish, this Mediterranean style orzo salad with feta and a few other lovelies is perfect.

Ingredients in this orzo salad

I keep this salad fairly simple, making the star of the show some lovely griddled asparagus. If asparagus isn’t in season then feel free to substitute with something else: fresh sweet peas, broccoli, snow peas, or something else lovely, sweet and green.

I also like to add some sweet cherry tomatoes, halved, cubes of feta cheese, those back-of-the-cupboard chickpeas, loads of fresh basil leaves, and finally the cooked orzo pasta.

Erm… wait a minute… what the heck is orzo?

If you’re not familiar with orzo, it’s like rice-shaped pasta and available from big supermarkets here in the UK. In the US it’s sometimes called risoni.

Bowl of asparagus, tomato and feta orzo salad with a spoon in it and with bread in the background.

What about the dressing?

The icing on the cake is of course the dressing. Again I keep it simple, combining just:

  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • a little bit of Dijon mustard
  • pepper

I don’t add any extra salt because there’s plenty of that in the feta.

I add about half the dressing to the orzo salad (enough for about 6 as a side dish with chicken, fish or steak, for example).

Another option would be to take this along to a pot luck. It would definitely serve a crowd if everyone was just having a little bit.

Then I leave the rest of the dressing for everyone i.e. just me and Mr. Scrummy to drizzle over their own portion.

P.S. If you like the sound of this salad, you may also enjoy this spinach, pesto and parmesan orzo salad. It makes an excellent spring or summer side dish!

More quick and easy party food

  • Greek filo parcels with tzatziki
  • crispy mushroom filo triangles
  • supermarket copycat pesto and cheese twists
  • 10-minute fresh tomato salsa
  • mini feta cheese triangles
  • The best easy zucchini fries!

Or see all my easy party food here

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A closeup of a blue bowl of asparagus, tomato and chickpea orzo salad with a spoon across the top.

Asparagus, tomato and chickpea orzo salad

Looking for something refreshing, simple, and healthy to go with your chicken, fish, or steak main? Look no further! This orzo salad with feta, asparagus and chickpeas is the perfect choice!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings (click to change) 6 as a side
Author Helen

Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)

cups/ounces – grams/ml

for the salad

  • 7 ounces orzo pasta (sometimes called risoni)
  • 1 bunch asparagus woody ends removed
  • 7 ounces cherry tomatoes cut into halves or thirds
  • 7 ounces feta cheese chopped into small cubes
  • 1 bunch basil roughly chopped
  • 14 ounces chickpeas drained (1 x 14-ounce / 400 gram can)

for the dressing

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • black pepper a few grinds
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Instructions
 

  • Cook the orzo according to the packet instructions. Drain and rinse in cold water, then add to a large bowl.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the asparagus. Griddle or pan fry in a tiny bit of olive oil until tender and slightly charred (about 10 minutes). Chop into small lengths (a few centimetres each). Let cool for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
  • Add the tomatoes, feta, asparagus pieces and basil to the large bowl of orzo with the drained chickpeas / garbanzo beans.
  • Whisk the dressing ingredients together, then pour over the salad (to taste – you might like to start with just half and see how you like it*)
  • Serve with chicken, fish, steak, or whatever you like, and fresh crusty bread. Delicious!

Notes

*I like to pour about half to two thirds of the dressing over the salad, then let everyone add a bit more to their own portion if they like. Mr. Scrummy doesn’t like too much balsamic dressing on his salads, but I like a bit more!
This salad keeps quite well in the fridge for two or at a push three days (I polished off the leftovers on day 3 and it still tasted really good!).

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 16gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 391mgPotassium: 510mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 955IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 226mgIron: 4.5mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know if you liked it!

Comments

  1. Paula Gittins says

    13 Mar 21 at 3:47 am

    Made this tonight with tuna steak and new potatoes
    Really nice fresh flavours, will definitely be added to the family menus

    Reply
    • Helen says

      15 Mar 21 at 9:58 am

      Thank you so much for the review, Paula. The way you served it sounds delicious!

      Reply
  2. Dana DeVolk says

    21 Mar 18 at 9:14 pm

    5 stars
    I LOVE Orzo, can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      22 Mar 18 at 11:50 am

      So pleased you’re keen to try it, Dana. Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Joanie Zisk says

    21 Mar 18 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    I absolutely love orzo salads and the flavors in this dish are incredible! It’s healthy, delicious and was the perfect main dish meal.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      22 Mar 18 at 11:51 am

      Hi Joanie! I’m so happy you enjoyed this. It makes such a great Spring side, doesn’t it?

      Reply
  4. Lorraine @Not Quite Nigella says

    03 Jun 17 at 11:45 am

    Wow 4 months already? And how exciting that you are coming back to Australia! 😀

    Reply
    • Helen says

      04 Jun 17 at 7:31 pm

      I know!!! (on both counts!) 🙂

      Reply
  5. mira says

    29 May 17 at 4:39 am

    I love orzo, I prefer it to any other pasta. This looks so delicious. Love the vegetables that you added, Pinning to try it!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      04 Jun 17 at 7:34 pm

      Thanks Mira. There’s something about the texture of the orzo that I really like (al dente of course). Glad you like it!

      Reply
  6. [email protected] says

    25 May 17 at 4:19 pm

    I made an orzo salad too this week, It is so good in salads. This salad is the perfect use of orzo and wonderful spring vegetables. Good luck with the move, thats a big one.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      04 Jun 17 at 7:36 pm

      Great minds…!
      And thanks so much for the good wishes on the move. It would be a challenge anyway of course, but it’s extremely interesting, let’s say, with a 4-month-old!

      Reply
  7. ann says

    25 May 17 at 6:52 am

    Sounds like a great salad…all of the ingredients are lurking in the cupboard/fridge so could be on my table real soon. Thank you.
    Good luck with your move to Oz, what a very wise Ping Pong Pom.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      04 Jun 17 at 7:39 pm

      Thanks, Ann! It’s certainly been a challenge packing up with a 4-month-old in the house.
      I really hope you do get around to trying the salad some time. It’s my current favourite!

      Reply
  8. Marissa says

    24 May 17 at 6:40 pm

    How can Benjamin be 4 months old!? So happy for you and Mr. Scrummy, Helen…

    This weekend is a 3-day Memorial Day celebration in the US and this is perfect for picnics. What a gorgeous combination of flavors and hearty enough to be a meal on its own.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      04 Jun 17 at 7:40 pm

      Thanks so much, Marissa. We’re thrilled with our little man, even though life is forever changed!!

      Reply

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