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Home » Side Dish » Salad » Orzo, Grape, Feta Salad

Orzo, Grape, Feta Salad

By Valerie · June 30, 2020 10 Comments

SD Side Dish H Holidays
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A white serving bowl filled with Orzo Grape Feta Salad with text overlay.

There is great texture and big flavor in this Orzo, Grape, Feta Salad with spinach and balsamic. This pretty orzo pasta salad is great side dish choice for any summer meal.

A serving bowl filled with the orzo pasta salad with lemons and grapes set around it.

I’ve been making this light, breezy, and beautiful Orzo, Grape, Feta Salad going on 7 years now and I love it just as much today as the first time I made it. It is delicious year round but I especially love it in the summer and serve it with pretty much anything that comes off our grill.

Cooked orzo is cooled and combined with baby spinach, red grapes, toasted walnuts, and crumbled feta and the whole thing is tossed with a simple balsamic dressing. This texture and flavor combo has me craving this orzo spinach salad on a regular basis.

A closeup of Orzo Grape Feta Salad in a white bowl.

I highly recommend making it ahead of time and letting it sit in the fridge for a hour or more since the flavor and texture only improve with a little chilling time (more on this below). In fact, the leftovers will be just as tasty since the salad holds up incredibly well in the fridge overnight. Try topping it with some sliced, grilled chicken for lunch or an easy dinner the next day. Heaven.

Ingredients

The ingredients to make Orzo Grape Feta Salad on a white surface shot from over the top.

For the Orzo Spinach Salad

  • orzo
  • red grapes
  • fresh baby spinach
  • diced red onion
  • crumbled feta cheese

Even though orzo looks like rice it is actually pasta and you’ll find it in the dry pasta section of your grocery store. For the full scoop on orzo check this article on Good Housekeeping.

For the Balsamic Dressing

  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • lemon
  • minced garlic
  • garlic powder
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • walnuts
A top down shot of a scoop full of the orzo spinach salad being lifted from the serving bowl by a wooden spoon.

Instructions

  • Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Rinse it with cold water and then drain it very well and set it aside while you prep the other ingredients.
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and toast the walnuts in a small oven-proof dish for about 5 minutes. Remove them from the oven, coarsely chop them and set them aside.
  • Cut the grapes in half and mince up your red onion.
  • Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Combine the well drained and cooled orzo, onion, baby spinach, the dressing, and about half of the grapes and feta, reserving the rest to garnish the top of the salad so it will be beau-tee-ful!
  • Toss the salad and then top it with the remaining grapes, feta, and the toasted walnuts.
The orzo pasta salad in a white serving bowl with grapes and lemons placed around it.

Make-Ahead Instructions

To make this salad ahead of time, follow the directions as written above, adding everything except the walnuts, then cover and chill it up to 24 hours. Add the toasted walnuts just before serving.

A small white bowl filled with the orzo pasta salad with a larger bowl behind it.

More delicious things to do with orzo:

  • Orzo Salad with Roasted Red Peppers, Spinach, and Feta
  • One-Pot Lemon Chicken with Orzo
  • Creamy Orzo with Mushrooms and Parmesan
  • Almond Rice Pilaf
Orzo Grape Feta Salad in a white serving bowl with grapes set around it.

This recipe was originally published on August 31, 2013 and has been updated with new text and images.

The orzo pasta salad in a white serving bowl with grapes and lemons placed around it.

Orzo, Grape, Feta Salad

There is great texture and big flavor in this Orzo, Grape, Feta Salad. This pretty orzo pasta salad is great side dish choice for any summer meal.
0 from 0 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10 to 12 servings
Calories: 276kcal
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

  • 1 pound orzo pasta
  • 2 cups red grapes halved
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup walnuts

Instructions

  • Cook orzo according to package directions. Rinse with cool water and drain well. Transfer to a large serving bowl and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place walnuts in a small dish and bake for 5 minutes or until warm and lightly toasted. Remove from the oven, coarsely chop, and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, garlic powder, and salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
  • Add the half of the grapes, all of the baby spinach, and all of the red onion to the serving bowl with the orzo. Add the dressing and half of the feta and toss well to distribute the dressing. Top with remaining grapes, feta, and chopped walnuts. Serve.

Make-Ahead Instructions

  • Follow as directed above but don't add the walnuts. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Top with walnuts just before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 177mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 646IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg
LOVE MY RECIPES? GET THE COOKBOOK!
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Adapted from a recipe by ValSoCal.

A white serving bowl filled with Orzo Grape Feta Salad with text overlay.

Categories: Easter, Fourth of July, Holidays, Recipe, Rice/Pasta, Salad, Side Dish

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Reader Interactions

Latest Comments
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  1. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says

    September 4, 2013 at 8:22 am

    Valerie, I just love the flavors you combine in your dishes. There’s something about all of your recipes that just SPEAKS to me… at the risk of sounding weird. This recipe is no exception. Absolutely love!

    Reply
    • Valerie says

      September 4, 2013 at 8:51 am

      Right back atcha Georgia. I love your stuff!

      Reply
  2. Michele says

    September 1, 2013 at 9:38 am

    This salad looks beautiful, healthy, and delicious. Very mediterranean style. I will definitely be saving this to try in the future.

    Reply
    • Valerie says

      September 2, 2013 at 5:34 pm

      Thanks Michele! Be sure to let me know what you think if you try it 🙂

      Reply
  3. val says

    August 31, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    This salad has never looked better. Wow, I want some right now. Thanks Val, you made my day!

    Reply
    • Valerie says

      September 2, 2013 at 5:35 pm

      It is a wonderful salad Val. Thank you for inspiring me!

      Reply
  4. Valerie says

    August 31, 2013 at 9:54 am

    Thank you Cathy! Have a fantastic weekend 🙂

    Reply
  5. Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says

    August 31, 2013 at 8:18 am

    I love a salad like this with grapes and feta, you’re right, the perfect weekend take-to-a-party dish. The dressing also sounds delish with the right amounts of light spice. Pinning!

    Reply

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