Corn Orzo Salad
Get ready to savor this laid-back, fun, and oh-so-delicious Corn Orzo Salad. This colorful medley is like sunshine in a bowl, featuring orzo pasta, crisp lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber, sweet corn, and zesty lemon vinaigrette. It’s the perfect recipe to kick back and keep things simple and fresh.
Ingredients:
For the Corn Orzo Salad:
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups mixed lettuce (pick your favorites)
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and sliced
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
For the Lemon Vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Step 1: Cook the Orzo (10 minutes)
- Boil a pot of salted water, toss in the orzo, and cook it according to the package instructions, usually about 7-9 minutes until it’s just right. Don’t forget to give it a little stir now and then to keep things from getting clumpy.
- Drain the orzo in a colander and rinse it under cold water to cool it down. Set it aside while we work on the rest of the salad.
Step 2: Whip Up the Lemon Vinaigrette (5 minutes)
- In a small bowl, whip together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. This tangy vinaigrette is going to make your salad zing.
Step 3: Toss It All Together (10 minutes)
- Grab a big mixing bowl and toss in the cooked and cooled orzo, mixed lettuce, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, and sweet corn kernels.
- Pour the lemon vinaigrette all over the salad and give it a gentle toss to make sure everything’s getting that tangy goodness evenly spread around.
Step 4: Chill and Get Ready (Immediate Gratification!)
- Pop your salad in the fridge for around 30 minutes to let all those amazing flavors mix and mingle.
- Just before serving, you can add an extra sprinkling of black pepper or a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil for that final touch of deliciousness.
Step 5: Dive In (Immediate Gratification!)
- Dish out heaping helpings of this vibrant Corn Orzo Salad. Each bite is like a little taste of summer, with the cool crunch of cucumber, the juiciness of cherry tomatoes, and that zesty lemon vinaigrette dancing around.
- It’s a wonderful dish for any summer occasion, whether it’s a relaxed dinner on the patio, a picnic in the park, or a simple side for a barbecue.
- So, kick back, dig in, and celebrate the season with this easy-breezy salad. It’s all about enjoying the moment and savoring the flavors of summer. Happy eating!