• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tara's Multicultural Table

  • Index
  • International Recipes
  • Travel
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Policies

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad

14 June, 2021 by Tara 5 Comments

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

A recipe for Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad! This refreshing pasta salad is packed with watermelon, feta, red onion, and fresh mint.

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad in a large blue rimmed bowl on a round wooden board.

This Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad is a great summer side dish to accompany seasonal grilling and/or picnics. It is also a fantastic way to use up leftover watermelon!

The flavors in the pasta salad were inspired by my recipe for Karpouzi me Feta (Greek Watermelon with Feta). Tender orzo pasta is coated in a light lemony dressing, then tossed with watermelon, feta, red onion, and fresh mint. It is best served at room temperature, but will keep up to two days in the refrigerator.

Aerial view of Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad in a large bowl next to slices of watermelon, feta, and fresh mint.

Orzo is a short cut pasta that looks like over-sized rice with its tapered ends. The name translates to barley in Italian and is sometimes referred to as rosa marina (slightly thinner than orzo) and manestra. Orzo is common in many cuisines throughout the Mediterranean. This dense little pasta is perfect for pilafs, salads, and soups/stews.

A Few Tips

Stir the orzo often as it boils, especially at the bottom. It tends to stick to the pan more than other types of pasta.

I added about 4 cups (600 grams) of cubed watermelon to the orzo salad and it was the perfect amount for me with a focus on the orzo. Bump the amount up to 5 cups if desired for a closer ratio of watermelon to pasta. Cut the watermelon into 1/2-3/4 inch (1.25-2 cm) cubes. You don’t want the pieces so large that they overwhelm the small orzo pasta.

Soaking the thinly sliced red onion in lemon juice is optional, but it helps take away some of the bite and adds a boost of citrus flavor throughout the salad. The thinly sliced red onions are combined in a non-reactive bowl with lemon juice, zest, and a pinch of salt. Allow to sit at room temperature, stirring every 5-10 minutes to make sure all the onions come in contact with the juice. I usually soak them for at least 15-30 minutes. If not using after 30 minutes, refrigerate until needed.

Not a fan of mint? You can swap it for equal amounts of fresh basil.

Want to add more vegetables? Arugula or diced cucumber would also be delicious.

Looking for more recipes with orzo?

Try my

  • Chicken and Mushroom Orzo
  • Parmesan Basil Orzo
  • Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki (Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo)

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad in a white bowl next to slices of watermelon, feta, and fresh mint.

This recipe was originally published in July 2015 and updated June 2021.

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad Recipe

Adapted from Cooking Classy

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad in a large blue bowl on a round wooden board.
Print Pin
5 from 5 votes

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad

A recipe for Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad! This refreshing pasta salad is packed with watermelon, feta, red onion, and fresh mint.
Course Salad
Cuisine N/A
Keyword mint, orzo, pasta, pasta salad, summer, watermelon
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients

Lemon Dressing:

  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons (15 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) honey
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad:

  • 1/3 cup (40 grams) thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
  • Zest from 1 lemon
  • Pinch salt
  • 10 ounces (280 grams) dried orzo pasta
  • 4 cups (600 grams) cubed seedless watermelon
  • 8 ounces (227 grams) feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup (10 grams) fresh mint leaves thinly sliced

Instructions

To make the dressing:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice, honey, and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to allow the flavors to blend as you prepare the remaining salad ingredients.

To make the Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad:

  • In a small non-reactive bowl, toss the thinly sliced red onion with the 1/3 cup (80 ml) lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Allow to sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook, stirring often, until al dente, just tender. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with half of the dressing and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Once the orzo has cooled to room temperature, toss in the watermelon, feta cheese, and fresh mint. Remove the soaked red onions from the juice and add to the salad along with the remaining lemon dressing, tossing lightly to combine. Adjust salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Pasta and Rice, Soups/Salads Tagged With: feta, lemon, orzo, pasta, salad, watermelon

Previous Post: « Silver Dollar Pancakes and Hermosa Beach, California
Next Post: Roti Canai and Penang Local »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam

    15 June, 2021 at 10:39 am

    5 stars
    We have always loved watermelon and feta but never thought of adding orzo. That’s going to make it a bit heartier salad/side! Great idea.

    Reply
  2. Meenakshi Thakur

    15 June, 2021 at 11:04 am

    5 stars
    What a perfect recipe to enjoy on a hot summer day. Looks so vibrant and delicious. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  3. Anjali

    15 June, 2021 at 11:08 am

    5 stars
    Watermelon and feta is one of my favorite combinations!! This recipe looks like such an easy summer salad – can’t wait to try it soon!

    Reply
  4. Sharon

    15 June, 2021 at 11:32 am

    5 stars
    I love this sweet and slightly savory salad. A perfect side dish to go with grilled beef or chicken.

    Reply
  5. AISilva

    15 June, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    5 stars
    My kids and husband love orzo by default. I can’t imagine the love if I add watermelon to it as well. What a creative dish. I can’t wait to surprise the family with this meal, they will love it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About Me

tarasmctable (1 of 1)

Hello and welcome to Tara's Multicultural Table! Check out the index to find recipes from around the world and learn more about me here.

Subscribe to Tara's Multicultural Table via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,154 other subscribers
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Amazon

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program and earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Tara's Multicultural Table via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,154 other subscribers

Featured Recipes:

Seven Unicorn Cupcakes on a white pedestal.
Loco Moco Pizza on a round wooden board.
Prosciutto Toast on a rectangular white plate with a balsamic glaze.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Tara's Multicultural Table on the Foodie Pro Theme