Cranberry & Goat Cheese Orzo Salad Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful Cranberry & Goat Cheese Orzo Salad featuring tender orzo pasta tossed with sweet dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, crunchy toasted walnuts, and fresh greens, all dressed in a light and tangy olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing. Perfect as a refreshing side dish or a light meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Tossing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Orzo
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- Salt, for boiling water
For the Salad
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 100 g goat cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped
- ½ cup baby spinach or arugula, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
For the Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Orzo: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orzo according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop cooking.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper until the dressing is emulsified and well combined.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked orzo, dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, toasted nuts, chopped baby spinach or arugula, and finely chopped parsley.
- Dress & Toss: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature as a delightful side or light main dish.
Notes
- Use gluten-free orzo if you need the dish to be gluten-free.
- For a vegan version, substitute goat cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative and honey with maple syrup.
- To add extra protein, consider mixing in some grilled chicken or chickpeas.
- Salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and refrigerated to enhance flavors.
- Adjust the level of sweetness and acidity in the dressing according to taste preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx.)
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: cranberry salad, goat cheese salad, orzo salad, Mediterranean salad, vegetarian salad, healthy side dish
Find it online: https://maicook.com/cranberry-and-goat-cheese-orzo-salad-recipe/