Orzo Salad with Asparagus, Artichoke Hearts and Feta

Teeming with fresh herbs, bright lemon, tangy feta, crunchy salted pistachios, artichoke hearts, and tender asparagus, this orzo salad is the perfect spring side dish.

Salads of all kinds are my jam. From grain salads like my healthy quinoa salad and potato salads like my Greek potato salad to pasta varieties like this Nicoise pasta salad, I love them all. This orzo salad is a prime example of my favorite kind of salad because it has everything—fresh veggies with bright herby zings alongside the salty crunch of roasted pistachios, and tangy feta cheese. And it couldn’t be simpler to make.

The orzo is cooked al dente with a quick blanch of the asparagus so it’s tender but still has a firm bite and keeps its pretty bright green color. Lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil make up the salad’s bright and zingy vinaigrette that doubles as a marinade for the canned artichoke hearts. Plenty of fresh dill and mint brings an herbaceous punch, feta cheese adds a creamy tang, and roasted, salted pistachios knock it out of the park with an addictive crunch. I love how quickly and easily this vegetarian salad comes together, and how you can eat it at room temp, or chill it for a while and let those flavors meld. It’s super delicious either way and makes for an awesome picnic or potluck side or a lovely lunch.

What’s in This Orzo Salad

This orzo salad is teeming with fresh, vibrant flavor thanks to lemon zest and juice, herbaceous dill and mint, tangy feta, and salty, crunchy pistachios. It’s the perfect way to put fresh spring asparagus to great use. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Orzo
• Kosher salt
• Asparagus
• Lemon (both zest and juice)
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Canned artichoke hearts (I choose quartered artichoke hearts then cut then in half again)
• Fresh dill
• Fresh mint
• Roasted, salted pistachios
• Feta cheese—choose the kind sold as a block kept fresh in water

How to Make Orzo Salad

This orzo salad can be whipped up quickly and easily and enjoyed at room temperature or chilled. If making it ahead of time, that’s great! The flavors get even better after they’ve had time to mingle for an hour or up to two days ahead of serving.

Here’s how to make it:

Chop the asparagus and slice the artichoke hearts. In this salad, I like to use thin asparagus cut into ½ to 1-inch pieces. If using thick asparagus, make the pieces a little smaller so they’re bite size. For the most flavor, keep the bulb part of the artichoke heart intact so the leaves don’t separate and disappear into the salad.

Cook the orzo and blanche the asparagus. This step is a two-fer. Fill a medium-sized pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt the water. Add the orzo and cook for about 8 minutes or until tender and al dente. Add the chopped asparagus to the orzo and cook for 1-2 minutes then drain. This keeps the asparagus bright and green while eliminating that raw taste.

Make the zesty vinaigrette. While the orzo cooks, add the lemon zest, juice, olive oil, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt to a large serving bowl and whisk to emulsify. Add the artichoke hearts to the dressing and stir to coat so they absorb the flavor.

Assemble the salad. Once the orzo and asparagus are ready, drain them then add them to a serving bowl. Add the artichoke hearts and toss to combine. Wait a few minutes to let everything cool down, then stir in the dill, mint, and feta. Top with chopped pistachios just before serving.

Is Orzo a Pasta or Rice?

Orzo is a pasta and its petite size lends itself well to salads like this one. It’s one of my favorites to use in recipes like my Mediterranean Orzo Salad and even as a substitute for rice in this Lemony Orzo Faux Risotto.

More Asparagus Recipes to Try

• Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise
• Asparagus Risotto with Leeks and Peas
• Creamy Asparagus and Salmon Pasta
• Asparagus and Mushroom Frittata with Goat Cheese
• Puff Pastry Chicken Pot Pie with Asparagus and Mushrooms

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

5 from 24 votes

Orzo Salad with Asparagus, Artichoke Hearts and Feta

Teeming with fresh herbs, bright lemon, tangy feta, crunchy pistachios, artichoke hearts, and tender asparagus, this orzo salad is the perfect spring side dish.

Print SaveSaved!

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword orzo salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6 1-cup servings

Calories 202kcal

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• 1 cup dry orzo
• ½ pound asparagus , about ½ a bunch
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 garlic clove , minced or pressed
• 1 15-ounce can quartered artichoke hearts in water , drained then sliced in half again
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill , chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint , chopped
• ¼ cup roasted , salted pistachios, chopped
• ⅓ cup crumbled feta

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Fill a medium-sized pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt the water. Add the orzo and cook for about 8 minutes or until al dente. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 minute more then drain.
• While the orzo is cooking, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper to a bowl and whisk to emulsify. Add the chopped artichokes and stir to coat. Once the orzo and asparagus are ready, drain them then add them to the serving bowl. Toss to combine. Wait a few minutes to let everything cool down, then stir in the dill, mint, and feta. Top with chopped pistachios and more feta if you'd like just before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg

More Pasta Salads You’ll Love

• Nicoise Pasta Salad
• Pesto Pasta Salad
• Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
• Mediterranean Orzo Salad
• Green Goddess Pasta Salad
• Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad

We send good emails. Subscribe to FoodieCrush and have each post plus exclusive content only for our subscribers delivered straight to your e-mail box.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more FoodieCrush inspiration.

As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.