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A bowl of chilled orzo pasta salad with asparagus and feta cheese.
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Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad with Asparagus

Chilled orzo pasta salad with a fresh lemon vinaigrette dressing, asparagus, fresh dill and feta cheese.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon vinaigrete, orzo pasta salad
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 259kcal
Author: Erin
Cost: $5

Ingredients

  • 8 oz orzo pasta cooked according to package directions
  • 1 pound asparagus trimmed into 1 inch pieces
  • cup light olive oil plus more for sautéing
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1 large lemon juice of
  • 1 teaspoon honey or agave
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt more or less to taste
  • coarse ground black pepper to taste
  • 4 oz feta cheese crumbled
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh dill minced

Instructions

  • Boil orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until no longer hot.
  • In the same pan sauté the asparagus with a bit of olive oil until bright green and slightly tender. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Whisk the minced shallot, ⅛ cup olive oil, teaspoon of agave or honey, juice of one lemon, a teaspoon of coarse salt and coarse black pepper until blended.
  • Toss the cooked orzo pasta, asparagus, and half of the whisked lemon vinaigrette in a large bowl with the minced dill until combined.
  • Add crumbled feta cheese, and more dressing if desired. Season with salt and pepper, toss lightly and chill for at least 30 minutes.
  • Store and serve the orzo pasta salad chilled.

Notes

Use a light olive oil or other neutral-flavored oil of choice. 
You can use agave or honey interchangeably. 
Add salt and pepper to taste, in addition to the salt and pepper in the lemon vinaigrette. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 608mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 661IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 2mg