• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Monica Nedeff
  • Breakfast
  • Main Meals
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad With Arugula

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    watermelon arugula salad with feta cheese pin
    watermelon feta salad with orzo and arugula pin
    watermelon feta orzo salad with arugula pin

    Serve up this colorful and flavorful side dish this summer! Made with juicy watermelon, feta cheese, arugula and orzo dressed in a zesty vinaigrette.

    close up of chopped watermelon, orzo and arugula in a salad bowl

    Oh watermelon! One of my favorite summer foods. It's so sweet, refreshing and hydrating. The easiest summer cookout food. I think we all have fond memories of biting into a slice of watermelon as a kid at a picnic or cookout.

    Fun fact: Did you know watermelons are 92% water? Isn't that incredible!

    During those hot summer months, watermelons are perfect for satisfying our sweet tooth and also quenching our thirst. However, they don't have much protein or fiber to help keep us full.

    This watermelon pasta salad's base is orzo. I threw in feta and arugula to complete it so that it's a side dish that has substance to help keep us full.

    Jump to:
    What is Orzo?
    Is Orzo Gluten-Free?
    Recipe Steps
    Serving Suggestions
    Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad With Arugula

    What is Orzo?

    Ever wonder what this small, oval shaped noddle looking thing really is? A grain or maybe pasta? Well, if you guessed pasta, you're right! Orzo is made from semolina flour, which is formed from ground durum wheat.

    Orzo is used in a lot of Mediterranean meals like salads, soups, casseroles and other pasta dishes!

    Is Orzo Gluten-Free?

    You'll find gluten in wheat, barley and malt. Since orzo is derived from wheat (durum wheat), orzo isn't gluten-free.

    If you are unable to eat gluten, you could substitute pasta noodles made from beans, peas, corn, lentils or potatoes for the closest texture of orzo. Other gluten-free options include quinoa and amaranth.

    Recipe Steps

    This orzo salad is easy to make! Start by cooking the orzo according to the package's instructions. Drain the pasta well after cooking and allow it to cool before adding the lemon juice and oil. Then chill the lemony orzo in the refrigerator while you get the other fixings ready!

    Chop up the watermelon! I like to do small bite size squares so the salad doesn't need a knife. Measure out your arugula and pack it into the measuring cup to make sure you get enough.

    Add the watermelon, arugula and feta cheese to the chilled orzo and mix well. The longer this salad sits, the more flavorful it gets!

    spoon in a bowl of orzo salad with chunks of watermelon

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve the orzo salad cold. I leave it in the refrigerator after I'm done mixing it all together so that the flavors get stronger.

    It's like an orzo fruit salad! You'll notice the pasta will get a bit of a pink tint the longer it sits from the juice of the watermelon......how cool is that? Pink pasta, I'm in!

    The peppery arugula and zesty lemon along with the sweet melon make this a tasty side dish to serve at a picnic, cookout or BBQ.

    For main dish recommendations, I suggest doing a traditional cookout style menu....burgers, baked beans, corn on the cob and other favorite side dishes!

    If you're looking for a Mediterranean inspired burger recipe, since this salad has Mediterranean flavors from the orzo and feta cheese, try my spinach feta and turkey burgers with tzatziki. It's a favorite on the blog and never gets old in our house!

    white bowl of orzo mixed with watermelon, feta cheese and arugula

    Watermelon Feta Orzo Salad With Arugula

    Who doesn't love juicy watermelon in the summertime? Get creative by making this watermelon salad with feta cheese, orzo and arugula. It'll become your new go-to summer side dish!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Author: Monica Nedeff
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric
     

    • 1 cup dry orzo
    • 3 cups chopped seedless watermelon
    • 2 cups arugula
    • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Cook 1 cup orzo according to package instructions. Once done cooking, drain and allow to cool.
    • Add the olive oil and lemon juice to the cooled orzo.
    • Add the chopped watermelon, arugula and feta cheese to the orzo.
    • Mix well, salt to taste if desired and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. The salad is best enjoyed within 1-2 days. 
    2. The orzo will turn pink the longer it sits from the watermelon.
    3. I don't add additional salt because the cooking instructions for the orzo required heavily salted water. However, if your orzo didn't require salted water, salt to taste. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 227mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 591IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

    (Nutrition values are calculated by third-party software and an estimate that can vary based on product brands and cooking methods.)

    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
    Keyword: watermelon salad, summertime salad
    Tried this recipe? I love seeing your creations!Mention @monicanedeff.rdn or tag #monicanedeff so I can share them with the community!
    « Za'atar Pizza - Mediterranean Flatbread
    Maple Glazed Salmon Buddha Bowl »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! I'm Monica - a registered dietitian nutritionist, solo female traveler and recipe developer helping you eat healthy on the go while empowering you to nourish your body, mind and soul!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • chocolate sea salt granola on a baking sheet
      Chocolate Sea Salt Granola
    • Hand holding a turkey burger with tzatziki dripping down the bun
      Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers With Tzatziki
    • ground turkey sweet potato skillet
      Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet with Brussels Sprouts & Apples
    • lemon lavender cookies stacked
      Glazed Lemon Lavender Cookies

    Winter Favorites

    • mediterranean lasagna slice
      Easy Mediterranean Lasagna
    • mediterranean farro salad on a plate
      Mediterranean Farro Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
    • chicken salad sandwich with cranberries and walnuts
      Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
    • mugs of cacao powder hot chocolate
      Cacao Powder Hot Chocolate

    Need Help Cooking?

    grocery bag of healthy food

    Grab my Grocery List + Cooking Tips + Meal Prep Guide for free to put the joy back into cooking and ease into preparing nourishing meals.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Privacy Policy

    Mission

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and freebies

    Contact

    Email

    Copyright © 2022 Monica Nedeff | All Rights Reserved