How to Make Easy Feta Pasta Salad | Julia at Home

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: goat cheese

💰Cheaper: cottage cheese

Goat cheese offers a similar tang with fewer calories.

pasta

🥗Healthier: whole wheat pasta

💰Cheaper: penne

Whole wheat pasta adds fiber and nutrients.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Avocado oil has a higher smoke point and is heart-healthy.

black olives

🥗Healthier: green olives

💰Cheaper: no olives

Green olives provide a different flavor profile.

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a pot.

Add 1.5 teaspoons of salt to the boiling water.

Add 0.5 pounds of orzo to the pot and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.

In a serving bowl, combine 0.25 cups of fresh lemon juice, 2 cloves of grated garlic, and 0.5 teaspoons of salt and pepper each.

Whisk in 5 tablespoons of olive oil into the vinaigrette mixture.

Chop half of a red onion finely and add it to the vinaigrette.

Take half of an English cucumber, remove the seeds, and slice it thinly before adding it to the bowl.

Chop about 0.25 cups of scallion and add it to the mixture.

Chop half a cup of fresh mint and add it to the bowl.

Crumble half a cup of feta cheese over the top of the salad ingredients.

Once the orzo is cooked, drain it and spread it out on a baking sheet to cool quickly, adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking.

After about 15 minutes, combine the cooled orzo with the salad ingredients in the bowl and gently toss everything together.

Let the salad sit for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens