This light lemon orzo salad comes together in a breeze! Cooked orzo is tossed with a simple lemon vinaigrette, grilled corn, creamy feta and lots of fresh basil. Easy, quick, light and fresh is what I look for in the perfect pasta salad.
Easy Lemon Orzo Salad
Today, I am whipping up an easy and light lemon orzo salad with grilled corn, fresh basil and creamy feta. This simple pasta salad is fantastic alongside grilled chicken shawarma skewers and grilled salmon or tossed with a few spoonfuls of basil almond pesto.
This recipe comes together in a breeze. Orzo cooks incredibly fast and once that's done, all you have to do is mix everything together and done, you have a light and fresh orzo pasta salad to enjoy all summer long!
And what ties the orzo salad together is the quick lemon vinaigrette. At the bottom of your mixing bowl, whisk lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and then toss everything else in.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Because this is a main part in the dressing, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. I am loving this Organic Argentinian olive oil.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is ideal.
- Cooked Orzo: Found in the pasta aisle of grocery stores. or any other small shaped pasta.
- Grilled Corn: If you don't have whole ears of corn to grill, you can use 1 cup of frozen corn kernels and saute in a skillet with a bit of olive oil until caramelized.
- Fresh Basil: And a good amount of it, roughly torn or sliced into thin ribbons.
- Feta Cheese: Buy a whole block of feta in the brine if you can and crumble the feta yourself. Blocks of feta are much creamier than the pre crumbled options.
How to Make this Easy Orzo Salad
- Grill ears of corn until charred on all sides. Use a sharp knife to cut kernels off and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and whisk to combine.
- Add cooked orzo, grilled corn kernels, a handful of shredded fresh basil and crumbled feta cheese and stir everything to combine so the dressing coats everything.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
Some Tips and Substitutions
- If you don't' have whole ears of corn, you can substitute frozen corn kernels.Defrost corn kernels (I like to run it under warm water) and dry well. Then add corn to a skillet with olive oil and saute until caramelized.
- Instead of crumbled feta cheese, creamy goat cheese would be delicious as well as small mozzarella balls.
- This lemon orzo salad stores very well and can be made ahead up to 2 days in advance. If making ahead, add basil right before serving.
- Other mix-in options: chopped castelveltrano olives, sun dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or grilled zucchini.
More Great Salads to Try
Lemon Orzo Salad with Corn and Basil
LittleFerraroKitchen.com
Ingredients
- 8 ounce dry orzo
- 2 ears of corn about 1 cup of kernels
- 1 garlic clove grated
- ½ cup olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon about ¼ cup
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 6 ounce crumbled feta
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves roughly torn or shredded
Instructions
- Cook orzo according to package directions and run under cold water once cooked. Set aside.
- Grill ears of corn until charred on all sides. Use a sharp knife to cut kernels off and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, the grated garlic, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and whisk to combine.
- Add cooked orzo, grilled corn kernels, a handful of shredded fresh basil and crumbled feta cheese and stir everything to combine so the dressing coats everything.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
Video
Notes
- If you don't' have whole ears of corn, you can substitute frozen corn kernels.Defrost corn kernels (I like to run it under warm water) and dry well. Then add corn to a skillet with olive oil and saute until caramelized.
- Instead of crumbled feta cheese, creamy goat cheese would be delicious as well as small mozzarella balls.
- This lemon orzo salad stores very well and can be made ahead up to 2 days in advance. If making ahead, add basil right before serving.
- Other mix-in options: chopped castelveltrano olives, sun dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or grilled zucchini.
Samantha says
Thanks Cheri! I agree...great flavors!
Samantha says
Thanks girl 😉
Samantha says
Please do..and so easy :))
Cindys Recipes says
Corn and feta sound great together!
Samantha says
Thank you so much!! Happy #SundaySupper
Amy Kim says
So simple! And I love the addition of feta cheese. I bet cojita could work too!
Samantha says
ooohhh thats a great idea!! cojita..yummm
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious says
What a pretty salad!
Samantha says
Thank you so much, Dorothy!
Laura @ Family Spice says
Oh I'm sure your corn was extra sweet from the grillin' - just beautiful!
Samantha says
Yes!! Grilled Summer corn is oh sooo sweet :))
Nicole says
Samantha, this salad is so pretty. It sounds just lovely and would be perfect for beating the heat! Your photographs are stunning!
Samantha says
Thank you so much Nicole...that means a lot, really 🙂 This salad was so easy and you're right..perfect for our theme 🙂
diabeticFoodie says
I'm not sure I've ever had fresh corn with feta, but it sounds amazing! Time to fire up the grill.
Samantha says
Yess you must try it!! Happy SundaySupper!
Baker Street says
LOVE feta! So perfectly paired with corn. This salad needs to be in my tummy for lunch!
Samantha says
Haha...I have leftovers...so lunch for me as well!
Renee says
Grilled corn is the best! I like it being used in a salad. Add cheese and onion and I am in heaven.
Family Foodie says
I love corn and I love Feta.... this recipe is now on my "Must make" list! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe during #SundaySupper !
sunithi says
Love corn & Feta so this will go on my 'To Make " salad list ! Pics looks gorgeous Sam !! I feel like making it now, but sadly am on detox today. When I finish 🙂 will make it. thanks for sharing !
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
It's the feta that is making my mouth water! Thank you for participating in this week's #SundaySupper!
Liz says
Corn salads are one of my favorite treats of the summer! I love that you charred your corn...I'm definitely going to try that soonr. Love your addition to today's #SundaySupper!!!