Greek orzo salad with meatballs recipe

Orzo is a versatile base for a full-meal salad. Photo / Fresh Media

Take a break from traditional pasta salads with a bright and breezy orzo salad.

Based on the flavours of a Greek salad, with salty feta, olives and fresh vegetables, this single-bowl salad includes orzo and juicy meatballs to turn it into a full meal. It’s an easy way to feed the family on a hot evening or for casual al fresco dining with friends.

Greek orzo salad with meatballs

Serves 6

Ingredients

500g premade meatballs

400g orzo

200g cherry tomatoes, halved

150g stoned black olives

150g feta, diced

2 snacking cucumbers, diced

1 capsicum, cut into strips

1 medium red onion, quartered and sliced finely

For the orzo dressing

1 tsp grated lemon zest

3 Tbsp lemon juice

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

½ tsp sugar

½ tsp salt

Black pepper to taste

Minted yoghurt sauce

1 cup plain Greek yoghurt

½ cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 garlic clove, minced

½ tsp salt

black pepper to taste

Extra fresh mint, to garnish

Method

1. Preheat a grill pan or the grill section of a barbecue to a medium heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the orzo according to the packet instructions.
3. While the orzo is cooking, combine all the orzo dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake well.
4. When the orzo is cooked, drain and rinse with cold water, drain again and toss the lemony dressing and all the other salad ingredients through it.
5. Place the frozen meatballs on the hot grill and cook for 15 minutes, turning every few minutes. When they are well-coloured and cooked through, set them aside.
6. Whisk all the ingredients for the yoghurt sauce together.
7. Place the orzo salad into a large shallow bowl and place the meatballs over the top. Drizzle generously with the yoghurt sauce and finish with a sprinkling of fresh chopped mint.

Afterword

If you find the taste of raw onion too strong, soak the sliced onion in ice-cold water for 10 minutes and drain before using. This removes some of the pungency but leaves all the flavour.

– fresh.co.nz