Cranberry Orzo Salad with Spinach and Feta

cranberry orzo pasta salad recipe with spinach and feta cheese and tomatoes

5 from 2 votes

Cranberry Orzo Salad with Spinach and Feta

The cranberry orzo salad is made with sweet dried cranberries, fresh vegetables and herbs, tangy feta cheese, and a simple homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing! Great for parties, BBQs, or potlucks - this is one crowd-pleaser recipe everyone will love.

Cook Time30

Total Time30

Course: Pasta, Salad

Cuisine: American, Greek

Servings:

Calories: 430kcal

Author: Kelly Jensen

Cost: $2

Equipment

Pot
Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

16 ounces orzo
4 cups fresh spinach chopped
8 ounces cherry tomatoes sliced
1 cup cucumber sliced
1/2 cup artichoke hearts chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
1/4 cup kalamata olives pitted
1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled

Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 cloves garlic pressed
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoons each sea salt and black pepper

Instructions

In a large pot, cook the orzo according to package directions. Drain and set aside to cool (or rinse under cold water).
Prep the vegetables: chop the tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, artichoke hearts, and pit olives if necessary.
In a large serving bowl add the spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and parsley. Add the drained and cooled orzo to the vegetables in the mixing bowl.
In a small bowl, add all the dressing ingredients and stir well for 30 seconds to mix.
Toss in the dried cranberries into the salad, save a few extra for garnish if desired.
Toss dressing in with pasta and vegetables, and stir to coat well to combine. Serve at room temperature, or chill and serve cold. Garnish with extra cranberries before serving.

Notes

Additions and Substitutions

If you don't have orzo, you can use a different pasta shape instead. Small pastas like ditalini, macaroni, or small shells would be great. Or try a medium shaped pasta too: rotini, penne, or farfalle pasta would be great substitutes.

Instead of feta you can use another sharp cheese: shaved parmesan cheese, goat cheese, or a marinated mozzarella would be delicious.

Add your favorite vegetables - you can add or substitute any of the fresh vegetables in this salad to suit your tastes. Other great additions would be fresh or roasted bell peppers, chopped broccoli, sliced carrots, or roasted zucchini.

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