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Orzo Kale Salad

Orzo Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette for Fresh Flavor Bliss

This Orzo Kale Salad is vibrant, customizable, and packed with flavors, making it a perfect fresh dish for lunch.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 1 cup Dry Orzo Feel free to substitute with quinoa for a gluten-free option.
  • 2 cups Spinach (packed) Both fresh and frozen spinach work beautifully.
  • 2 cups Kale (packed) Any leafy greens can substitute.
  • ½ cup Shaved Parmesan Omit or replace with nutritional yeast for a vegan alternative.
  • cup Pumpkin Seeds Sunflower seeds also make a great alternative.
  • cup Marinated Olives Use your favorite olives or omit for a milder taste.
For the Lemon Vinaigrette
  • ¼ cup Olive Oil Avocado oil can offer a different flavor profile.
  • 3 tbsp Lemon Juice Always opt for fresh juice if possible.
  • 1 tsp Lemon Zest Feel free to omit if you don’t have it on hand.
  • 1 clove Garlic (crushed) Garlic powder can serve as a substitute.
  • 1 tsp Honey Maple syrup works well for a vegan option.
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard Whole grain mustard is a good alternative.
  • Salt & Pepper Season to taste.

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • pot
  • strainer

Method
 

How to Make Orzo Kale Salad
  1. Bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil, add the dry orzo, and cook until al dente, which typically takes 8-12 minutes. Drain and let it cool completely.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the chopped kale and spinach. Toss them gently to mix.
  3. Add the cooled orzo, pumpkin seeds, marinated olives, and shaved Parmesan to the greens. Stir everything together until well combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, crushed garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
  5. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to combine all the ingredients.
  6. Garnish with extra lemon zest and Parmesan if desired. Enjoy this salad cold, warm, or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 10gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 200mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2000IUVitamin C: 60mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 3mg

Notes

This salad is meal prep friendly and can be customized with your favorite proteins or veggies.

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