Orzo salad

Tantalize your taste buds with this flavorful orzo salad. Packed with vibrant colors and a harmonious mix of textures, it's a true culinary delight.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons lemon zest (1 lemon)
• 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 to 3 lemons) 
• 1 medium clove garlic, grated 
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed 
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt 
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 large red, yellow or orange bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 large seedless English cucumber, watery pulp scooped out and discarded, diced (about 1 1/2 cups) 
• 1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup) 
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained 
• 1 cup pitted and halved Kalamata olives 
• 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts 
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint 
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley 
• 3 tablespoon kosher salt 
• 450g dried orzo 
• 170g brine-packed Greek feta, crumbled (optional) 

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dressing by whisking together the lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, 1/2 cup of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper in a small mixing bowl. Set it aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the diced bell pepper, sliced cucumber, chopped onion, cooked chickpeas, sliced olives, chopped walnuts, fresh mint, and parsley to make the salad mixture.
3. In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 3 tablespoons of salt and a small amount of olive oil. Cook the orzo following the instructions on the package, usually around 7 to 9 minutes. Drain the cooked orzo in a colander, combine it with the vegetable mixture while still hot. Immediately pour the prepared dressing over the orzo and vegetables, mix well. The hot orzo will absorb the flavorful dressing quickly. If the salad appears dry, drizzle a little more olive oil. Let the salad cool to room temperature, optionally add crumbled feta, cover, and chill in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Mix the salad once more, taste it, and adjust the seasoning if necessary before serving.

Summary:

• Calories: 4769 kcal
• Fat: 256 g
• Protein: 138 g
• Carbs: 505 g
• Potassium: 3170 mg
• Magnesium: 655 mg