Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Greek Mosaic Salad
• Greek Mosaic Salad Recipe Ingredients
• How to Make It
• Tips for Success

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

Have you seen mosaic salads? They’re so pretty! So far I’ve seen melon mosaic salad (or “Tetris salad”) like this, this and this, and that presentation is just *chefskiss* perfect. Love.

I knew I wanted to bring that mosaic concept to a different type of salad. I originally wanted to do something that was fall-inspired, like apple, pear, and cheddar (and that’s still swirling in my brain), but when I was eating a Greek salad at a restaurant recently, it all clicked for me. The ingredients in horiatiki-style Greek salad would be PERFECT arranged mosaic-style!

So I got to work, settling pretty quickly on cherry tomatoes nestled into squares secured by feta, cucumber, and green bell pepper squares.

Then I scattered on some Kalamata olives, red onions, fresh herbs, and a simple oregano olive oil dressing. Gah, love at first sight (and then more love at first bite!)

Why You’ll Love Greek Mosaic Salad

• Crowd-pleaser: There’s no way this mosaic Greek salad won’t impress!
• Unique spin on a classic horiatiki-style Greek salad: Horiatiki Greek Salad is made simply with veggies and a straightforward dressing; no lettuce involved. It’s the perfect style of salad for the mosaic treatment!
• Surprisingly easy: This Greek salad isn’t just easy to put together, it’s really not fussy. No need to be precious about it and get the squares exact; it’s going to look amazing no matter what!

Greek Mosaic Salad Recipe Ingredients

• Red onion – You won’t need much onion; just enough to thinly slice and arrange over the top. I like to soak the onion in ice water to help mellow it out.
• Cucumber – I use one large English cucumber for this mosaic Greek salad. You can use different types of cucumber if you prefer, just make sure it’s large enough to cut into cubes.
• Green bell pepper – One large one with flat, even sides if you can find it.
• Feta cheese – You’ll want a block of solid feta. Blot it with a paper towel to help sop up some of the moisture.
• Cherry tomatoes – Try to find some cherry tomatoes that are smaller in size, or you can cut them in half.
• Kalamata olives – Just a few, halved and scattered across the top.
• Dressing – Just olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and kosher salt.
• Fresh oregano and/or or mint leaves – Arrange on top to make it extra pretty.
• Bonus: I don’t have these in pics or ingredients but a few capers scattered along the top will never hurt!

Tips for Success

• Cut everything into roughly the same size cubes. I go for about 3/4-inch.
• To prep ahead, cut up your feta and veggies then store them separately in an airtight container in the fridge (bell pepper and onion can flavor the other ingredients if stored together). Assemble right before serving.

I hope you love this fun spin on Greek salad! It’s one of my favorite recipes I’ve created lately. I’ve always loved a horiatiki Greek salad, and I think the mosaic presentation brings it to the next level!

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Greek Mosaic Salad Recipe

Sweet cherry tomatoes are nestled in between squares of cool cucumbers, crisp green bell peppers, and creamy feta cheese. Drizzle with a simple red wine viniagrette, top with red onion, Kalamata olives, and fresh herbs and dazzle your guests!

Keyword greek mosaic salad, horiatiki greek salad

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 209kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced soaked in ice water for 15 minutes
• 1 English cucumber
• 1/2 large green bell pepper
• 4 ounces feta cheese in block form; drained
• 1 cup small cherry tomatoes if large, you can cut them in half
• 10-12 kalamata olives halved
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 10-15 fresh oregano or mint leaves optional

Instructions

Soak the onions

• Thinly slice the onion and place it in bowl. Submerge it in ice water. Let it soak for 15 minutes. (This helps mellow out the flavor and makes them nice and crisp.)

Cut the veggies & feta

• Meanwhile, cut the four sides off of the cucumber to square it off, leaving some green peel on the corners for color. Cut into roughly 3/4-inch cubes.
• Cut the sides off of the green pepper, as large as possible. Square the edges then cut each piece into 3/4-inch wide squares.
• Cut the feta into approximately 3/4-inch squares.

Arrange the salad

• On a large rimmed platter, arrange the cucumber, feta, and bell peppers, leaving room for a cherry tomato here and there.
• Plop the cherry tomatoes into the blank spaces.

Top with onion and olives

• Drain the red onion slices and arrange over the top. Scatter the Kalamata olive halves over the top, too.

Add the dressing

• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Drizzle dressing over the top of the salad.

Garnish

• Sprinkle with a pinch of coarse salt. Decorate with fresh oregano or fresh mint if desired.
• To serve, use a flat server or large serving spoon and scoop salad pieces onto a plate or into bowls.

Notes

Serves 4 as a side or 2 as a main dish.

To store leftovers, wrap the platter tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. I’ve also simply moved the ingredients into a storage bowl for easier storing (even if the mosaic presentation is lost!)

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 583IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 173mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Greek Mosaic Salad appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

If you’re looking for an easy recipe for cucumber sandwiches, this is it!

Cut your cucumber sandwiches into triangles for an easy and elegant presentation, or go to town and cut them into shapes with cookie cutters. Grab your flower cookie cutter and make them super cute, Megan Markle (or is it Sussex?) style!

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Cucumber Sandwiches
• Ingredients
• Adaptations/Variations
• How to Make Cucumber Sandwiches
• Tips for Success
• More Tea-Party-Worthy Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

I’ve been making cucumber cream cheese sandwiches for years, but it wasn’t until I whipped up a batch for a teacher appreciation event that I realized I should share the recipe here on Kitchen Treaty!

I’ve made them a few ways over the years – sometimes just a swipe of plain cream cheese on some bread, and some slices of cucumber. And sometimes, I jazz up the cream cheese with herbs to take them over the top. The herbs really do take these cucumber sandwiches to the next level, so that’s the recipe I’m sharing here today!

Cucumber sandwiches are such a simple, delicious, versatile sandwich – and it’s naturally vegetarian! Huzzah!

Why You’ll Love Cucumber Sandwiches

• Perfect for afternoon tea, baby or bridal showers, or poetry teatime (if you’re a homeschooling family, you know what I’m talking about!).
• Portable! Cucumber cream cheese sandwiches are super easy to prep, pack, and carry along.
• Kid-friendly. The simple ingredients – soft white bread, herby cream cheese, cool cucumbers – makes a sandwich kids will love.

Ingredients

• Bread – I like a soft white bread for cucumber sandwiches. They’re easy to cut the crusts off of and cut into shapes, and there’s just something so nice about the soft bread with the cream cheese and crisp cubes.
• Cucumber – I really like English cucumbers for my cucumber tea sandwiches. The peel is very thin, so it can stay on, and they’re nice, crisp, and mild tasting. You can go with any cucumber, though. Persian cucumbers are small but tasty. Traditional cucumber are great, too, but I suggest peeling off their thick skin before slicing and placing them in your sandwiches.
• Garlic and herb cream cheese – Made with cream cheese, mayo, dill, chives, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Adaptations/Variations

• Cucumber Veggie Tea Sandwiches – Add shredded carrots, creamy avocado, roasted red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes … whatever combo sounds good to you at the moment! This cucumber sandwich recipe is endlessly customizable.
• Vegan/Dairy-Free Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches – For dairy-free sandwiches, swap the cream cheese for dairy-free cream cheese. If you want to go fully vegan, make sure to swap out the mayo, too, for an egg-free version like vegenaise.

Tips for Success

• Use room temp/softened cream cheese. It will be really hard to blend the cream cheese if it’s super cold/hard.
• Use an electric mixer to blend the garlic herb cream cheese. That makes it super quick and very smooth.

I hope these Cucumber Tea Sandwiches were exactly what you were looking for to enhance your afternoon tea time, add to the bridal shower table, or serve up on a pretty platter for Mother’s Day! They’re super easy, a classic for a reason – and just dang delicious, too.

More Tea-Party-Worthy Recipes

• Cucumber Cream Cheese Canapes
• Cucumber Slices with Smoky Sunflower Seed Pate
• Marinated Cheese & Olive Skewers
• London Fog Latte
• Slow-Roasted Tomato Bruschetta

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Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe

An elegant, easy sandwich that's perfect for tea time! With garlic-herb cream cheese and crisp cucumbers on soft bread – classic cucumber cream cheese sandwiches are simple, refreshing, and hit the spot.

Keyword garlic and herb cream cheese

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 16 sandwiches

Calories 123kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

For the garlic-herb cream cheese

• 4 ounces cream cheese softened a bit at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder finely minced or grated
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste

For the sandwiches

• 1 English cucumber sliced into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 batch garlic-herb cream cheese
• 8 slices soft white bread

Instructions

• Add the garlic-herb cream cheese ingredients to a medium-size bowl. Affix your hand blender with the beater attachments and beat on low speed until all of the ingredients are completely combined together and smooth.
• Lay out four slices of the bread. Divide the cream cheese between the four slices, spreading evenly across the bread.
• Lay the cucumber slices over the top, overlapping as needed.
• Place the second slice of bread on top. Using a large chef’s knife, cut off the crust then cut each sandwich into two triangles, then cut each triangle into two smaller triangles if desired.
• Garlic herb cream cheese can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

Vegan option: Use a dairy-free/vegan cream cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 3sandwiches | Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 398IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.1mg

The post Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

This green juice recipe is full of nutrients and Martha swears by a glass of it every morning. I’ll admit, this is the first time I’ve shared a recipe I’m not absolutely crazy about, but I’ve made a few tweaks that make it much more drinkable for a green juice newb like myself.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Martha Stewart’s Green Juice
• Ingredients
  • Martha’s Green Juice:
  • My … Wimpier Adapted Green Juice Recipe:
• How to Make Martha Stewart’s Green Juice
  • Green Juice with a Juicer:
  • Green Juice with a Blender:
• Tips for Success
• More Veg- and Fruit-Forward Green Drink Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

Queen Martha mentioned in both the recent documentary about her and in her 100th cookbook (affiliate link) that her green juice recipe is basically her fountain of youth. She attributes her glowing skin and vibrancy to the green juice she drinks every morning. And as an aging woman myself, I couldn’t NOT give it a try!

My husband and I made a big production of running everything in Martha Stewart’s green juice recipe from her cookbook through the juicer (we’re new to juicing).

And I’ll be honest. We took cautious sips and … it … wasn’t our favorite.

I suspect that for those who have been juicing for awhile, they might be able to drink it no prob. Me, I learned quickly that there are steps to juicing, and as a novice, I need more of an … intro juice.

Luckily, with a bit of adaptation, I created a version of green juice that I can happily drink every morning (my husband, on the other hand, I think will remain scarred for the foreseeable future, so I’m the only one still on the green juice train).

Today, I’m sharing the green juice recipe from Martha Stewart, plus my tweaks to make it more drinkable (in my opinion).

There are a number of versions of Martha’s green juice out on the web as she’s changed it up over the years. Her most recent version, in her newest cookbook, is optimized for max nutrition without a lot of sugars. As someone who has to watch her sugars for health reasons, I respect that!

But I had to add some sweetness to my version, and the ginger had to go completely.

Martha Stewart’s Green Juice

Martha Stewart’s Green Juice is SO full of nutrients! We’re talking loads of potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and even some calcium and iron. (Here’s more info about the health benefits of green juice.)

It just feels good to start the day with a nutritional powerhouse of a drink.

Ingredients

Martha’s Green Juice:

• Spinach – Martha suggests one bunch, washed super well. She grows hers in her garden because she’s Martha Stewart. I use the baby spinach found in the prepared section of the grocery store.
• Celery – Two stalks; Martha prefers hers with the leaves
• Cucumber – Martha suggests the Kirby variety, but that’s not something I’ve seen, so I just use 1/2 an English cucumber
• Parsley – One bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Mint – One small bunch
• Ginger – A one-inch piece, and the peel can stay on.
• Orange wedges, peel on

My … Wimpier Adapted Green Juice Recipe:

• Baby spinach
• Celery – Two stalks
• Cucumber – I generally use half an English cucumber. No need to peel.
• Parsley – I reduce the parsley to a few sprigs instead of the full bunch.
• Mint – A few sprigs.
• Pineapple – I like the sweetness a bit of pineapple adds.
• Orange wedges
• Granny Smith apple – I like the sweet/sour element the Granny Smith provides

I can’t do the ginger. It’s too strong of a taste. Maybe someday when I’m more of a hardcore juicer (I aspire to juice greatness!)

How to Make Martha Stewart’s Green Juice

Green Juice with a Juicer:

Just run all of the ingredients through the juicer and serve!

Green Juice with a Blender:

You can also use your blender if you don’t have a juicer. Puree all of the ingredients then strain them through a nut milk bag or through a cheesecloth lined sieve. Discard the solids and enjoy the juice.

Tips for Success

• Don’t be afraid to cut your green juice with water. If the taste is too strong, it’s okay to add water! I prefer water AND ice. It stretches the juice and also makes it more drinkable in my opinion.

I hope this green juice recipe is a winner for you! I’m curious to hear what you think of it – and if, like me, you have to make a few adaptations to really be able to drink it! 😅

More Veg- and Fruit-Forward Green Drink Recipes

• Tropical Green Smoothie
• Mango Green Smoothie
• Green Lime Smoothie
• Toasted Coconut Green Smoothie
• Shamrock Shake Smoothie
• Ginger Peach Green Smoothie

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Martha Stewart’s Green Juice

Health in a glass! Martha says her green juice is her key to aging gracefully. I'm listening! This green juice recipe is lower in sugar compared to some out there, and loaded with nutrients. I'm sharing her original recipe from her 100th cookbook + my adaptations to make it a bit (in my opinion) more tasty for green juice newbies such as myself.

Keyword green juice recipe, low sugar green juice, martha stewart green juice, martha stewart’s green juice

Servings 2

Calories 162kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 1 bunch spinach washed well; or 3-4 cups baby spinach
• 2 stalks celery Martha prefers hers with the leaves
• 1 cucumber Martha suggests the Kirby variety, but that's not something I've seen, so I just use 1/2 an English cucumber
• 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 small bunch fresh mint
• 1 one-inch piece fresh ginger with the peel on*
• 2 unpeeled orange wedges

Instructions

Juicer Instructions

• Run the ingredients through a juicer. Stir and serve.

Blender Instructions

• Puree all of the ingredients in a blender, adding a splash of water if needed. Pour the juice through a cheesecloth-lined sieve or into a nut milk bag and press as much juice as possible out. Discard the pulp, stir the juice, and serve.

Notes

Because I like to serve this green juice over ice and cut it with water, I usually drink about half of it and save the other half for the next morning. 

My version:

*For my version, I leave out the fresh ginger entirely. The taste is just so strong. I’m sure it can become an acquired taste, but I’m not there yet. I also reduce the parsley and mint and change the cucumber and spinach to more easily accessible varieties. Finally, I’ve added a Granny Smith apple and fresh pineapple for some sweetness. I prefer to serve this Green Juice over ice and like to cut it with a generous splash of water. 

• 1 Granny Smith apple, core & seeds removed
• 2-inch slice or 4-5 chunks fresh pineapple
• 3-4 cups (packed) baby spinach
• 1/2 English cucumber
• 2 stalks celery
• 2-3 sprigs fresh parsley
• 1-2 sprigs fresh mint
• 2 unpeeled orange wedges

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 372mg | Potassium: 2903mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 37487IU | Vitamin C: 199mg | Calcium: 510mg | Iron: 14mg

The post Martha Stewart’s Green Juice Recipe (+ How I Modify It So I Can Actually Drink It) appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Fresh slices of cucumbers, topped with cool garlic-herb cream cheese and garnished with sprigs of dill (or whatever else you want to garnish ’em with!) They’re perfect for parties or even a quick snack at home when you’re feeling fancy. Or just famished.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Cucumber Cream Cheese Canapés
• Ingredients
• How to Make Cucumber Canapés
• Tip for Success
• More Appetizer Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

I created these cute cucumber appetizers when I was developing the recipe for garlic and herb cream cheese. I wanted to use my cream cheese for cucumber sandwiches (recipe coming this spring!) but then I was thinking that it would be delicious and easy to pipe the cream cheese onto cucumber rounds, just like my cucumber sunflower seed pate appetizers. Voila! A new cucumber appetizer was born.

Why You’ll Love Cucumber Cream Cheese Canapés

I mean, what’s not to love?! They’re easy, super tasty, and a great way to work in a veggie appetizer.

They’re super easy to make in advance, too. I like to slice my cucumbers and whip up the cream cheese up to two days ahead of time then just arrange the cucumbers on the serving dish, pipe on the herb cream cheese, and done!

Ingredients

• Cucumber – I like to use English cucumbers because you can leave the thin, edible peel on for more color.
• Cream cheese – Make sure it’s been out of the fridge for a bit so that it’s easy to mix the cream cheese with the other ingredients.
• Mayo – This adds some creaminess and a bit of tangy flavor.
• Dill – I like to use fresh dill (found in the produce section of most grocery stores). The dill goes into the cream cheese and also makes a pretty garnish on top of your cucumber canapés.
• Garlic powder & onion powder – You can use fresh garlic and finely minced onion or scallions if you prefer. I like to use garlic powder and onion powder because they both add tons of flavor but requires less chopping.
• Salt & pepper

How to Make Cucumber Canapés

First, slice up your cucumbers and line them up on your serving plate or platter. Then, mix up your garlic and herb cream cheese.

Put the cream cheese into a bag affixed with a piping tip (I like a star tip).

Pipe the cream cheese mixture onto your cucumber slices.

Garnish with some extra dill. Done!

Tip for Success

• Make sure your cream cheese is softened a bit before starting. Pull it out of the fridge about an hour before you want to mix it up – this way it’s not super hard and impossible to mix.
• Dab the cucumber slices with a paper towel. If your cucumber slices are sweating a bit and the cream cheese starts to slide off, dab them with a paper towel to dry off the slices before adding the cream cheese mixture.

More Appetizer Recipes

• Marinated Cheese & Olive Skewers
• Cucumber Slices with Sunflower Seed Pate (vegan/dairy-free)
• Classic Hummus
• Olive Hummus

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Cucumber Cream Cheese Canapés Recipe

A super easy cucumber appetizer with cucumber slices and a delicious herb and garlic cream cheese piped on top. Elegant yet delicious!

Keyword cucumber appetizer, cucumber canapes, cucumber cream cheese appetizer, cucumber cream cheese canapes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 48 canapés

Calories 21kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 1 large English cucumber sliced 1/4-inch thick; about 48 slices
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened a bit at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill plus more for garnish
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder finely minced or grated
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste

Instructions

• Slice the cucumber and line the slices on a platter.
• Add the cream cheese, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pinch ground pepper. If your cream cheese is soft enough, you should be able to mix it together with a fork; if not or if it's not working well with a fork, I suggest using the beater attachments on your hand mixer to blend it all together.
• Transfer the cream cheese to a plastic storage bag or piping bag affixed with your tip of choice (I like to use a star tip). Pipe the cream cheese onto the cucumber slices. Garnish with fresh dill sprigs and serve.

Notes

Vegan option: Use a dairy-free/vegan cream cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 0.05g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 69IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.02mg

The post Cucumber Cream Cheese Canapés Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

This fresh and easy Greek pasta salad brings orzo pasta, veggies, olives, and feta together with a Greek vinaigrette, and it’s absolutely divine. One of my fave pasta salad recipes yet!

I love this fresh and easy pasta salad so much. It’s packed with fresh veggies – crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy red bell peppers. Fresh mint and parsley add bright flavor. Then there’s the full-of-flavor, Greek-salad inspired vinaigrette with oregano and Dijon mustard.

Oh, and can’t forget the Kalamata olives and salty feta. And tender orzo. Basically this salad is a conglomeration of everything I love. Except the word “conglomeration” is not the tastiest-sounding word, but I’m sure you catch my drift. It’s DELISH.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Greek Orzo Salad
• Ingredients
• Adaptations/Variations
• How to Make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
• Tips for Success
• More Pasta Salad Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

I’m a huge fan of pasta salad, and especially orzo pasta salad. There’s just something about that rice-sized pasta that works so well in a pasta salad, soaking up the flavors around it, adding amazing texture, yet letting the veggies shine.

In the past, I’ve created an orzo chickpea olive salad, an orzo chickpea cherry tomato salad, and an orzo pasta salad with hazelnuts and cherries.

But I’ve been on a massive Greek salad kick this year, so it was time to combine the classic elements of Greek salad with pasta salad, and here we are: Greek Orzo Pasta Salad.

Why You’ll Love Greek Orzo Salad

Well, for one, this salad tastes amazing! It’s so fresh and lively.

It’s also super meal-prep friendly: It’s one of those refrigerator-friendly salads that you can make ahead of time and enjoy all week long as a side dish or easy lunch salad.

It’s also the perfect potluck or BBQ salad. Be prepared for recipe requests!

Ingredients

• Orzo pasta: You’ll want about half a box, or 8 ounces, of orzo.
• Cherry tomatoes: Grape tomatoes will work, too. Cut them in half, or, if they’re large, go ahead and quarter them.
• English cucumber: I love English cucumbers because you don’t have to peel them and they’re always crisp and full of flavor. If you use a standard cuke, you’ll want to peel it first. Persian cucumbers are great in this, too!
• Red bell pepper: Feel free to substitute orange or yellow if you like. Bonus: An even MORE colorful Greek pasta salad!
• Feta: I love the salty and creamy notes feta adds to the mix. It also doesn’t get more Greek than that!
• Kalamata olives: Grab the already-pitted ones to make it easier on yourself.
• Parsley & mint: Fresh herbs add so much flavor and pretty color.

For the dressing:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar: White wine vinegar or champagne vinegar will also work.
• Dijon mustard: Adds flavor and emulsifies the dressing.
• Garlic: Finely mince it, or use a Microplane zester to get it extra fine.
• Oregano, salt, & pepper

Adaptations/Variations

• Add 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (shown in the ingredients photo but not strictly necessary) for a bonus boost of flavor.
• Swap the orzo for a straight-up Greek pasta salad: You don’t have to use orzo if you can’t find it or don’t want to! Any small or medium pasta shape will do. Small shells or rotini are especially good.
• Vegan option: Omit the feta cheese. This salad is still delicious without it! You might want to add a pinch or two extra of salt, or some extra olives, to compensate for it. 
• Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free orzo pasta. 

How to Make Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

First, you’ll want to cook the orzo so that it has time to cool.

Next, mix together the vinaigrette. I love the shortcut of mixing the vinaigrette right in the bottom of the salad bowl. Less dishes!

Then, add the veggies, feta, olives, and herbs to the bowl along with the cooled orzo.

From there, toss everything together. You’re done!

Tips for Success

• For the flavors to really meld, place your Greek orzo pasta salad in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.
• You can make this salad up to 4 days ahead of time. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge and give it a quick stir to freshen it up before serving. I might sprinkle a few extra fresh herbs on top right before serving too, just to make it look extra pretty.

More Pasta Salad Recipes

• Classic Creamy Macaroni Salad
• Chickpea Orzo Salad with Olives & Capers
• Cherry Tomato Chickpea Orzo Salad
• Pea Pesto Pasta Salad
• Cherry Hazelnut Orzo Salad

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Greek Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

The perfect combo of pasta salad + Greek salad! Fresh, crisp veggies pair up with tender pasta, fresh herbs, salty Kalamata olives, and creamy feta plus a full-of-flavor Greek vinaigrette.

Keyword greek orzo salad, greek pasta salad

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 207kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 8 ounces orzo pasta about 1 1/3 cups
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 1/2 English cucumber chopped; about 1 cup
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced; about 1 cup
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup Kalamata olives sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint minced

For the Greek vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 small garlic clove minced or finely grated
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

• Cook the orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and let cool. If you're in a hurry, you can rinse it with cold water to cool it, but I prefer not to rinse if it I can avoid it.
• Make the Greek vinaigrette right in your salad bowl. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a large bowl until emulsified.
• Add the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, feta, olives, parsley, and mint to the bowl.
• Add the cooled orzo to the bowl.
• Stir gently but thoroughly, coating all of the ingredients with the vinaigrette.
• Serve immediately, or, for best flavor, chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to melt together.

Notes

Vegan option: 

Omit the feta cheese. This salad is still delicious without it! You might want to add a pinch or two extra of salt, or some extra olives, to compensate for it. 

Gluten-free option:

Use gluten-free orzo pasta. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Greek Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

I’m not Italian. So, totally, not even close. Even if one of my ancestors contributed a teensy amount of Italy to my melting-pot blood, I’m thinking it turned out to be a recessive thing.

Which is kind of a bummer, really. I’m so white bread. I don’t have the first clue how to say “mozzarella” or “biscotti” like Giada does. Eating that stuff, though, is a different story. I am pretty good at that.

Italian food. I don’t think there’s any cuisine I love more. Espresso, cheese, wine, pasta, pesto, olives, basil, tomatoes tomatoes everywhere.

And Panzanella, also known as Italian bread salad. I’m sure my version – based on the Ina Garten version and the version I personally think is the most perfect salad ever – is Americanized to the nth degree. It’s also insanely delicious.

The bread is more like big, beautiful croutons than limp mounds of soggy stuff (which, I admit, the first time I heard of bread salad, this is what I imagined). Olive-oil-toasted bread hunks along with rustic chops of green and red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet onions, green olives, and basil plucked fresh from the garden, then tossed with a nice olive oil and balsamic dressing kissed with Dijon mustard. This stuff makes me want to write run-on sentences.

Here in Seattle, we’re finally seeing a few tomatoes ripen. Why not find a use for that half loaf of stale bread you’ve got laying around, and a couple of those amazing tomatoes? Oh, and here’s the audio file of how to pronounce “Panzanella” so you don’t have to go around saying “Panzaneeya” or “Panz… [mumble, trailing off].” Not that I ever did such a thing.

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Perfect Panzanella Salad Recipe

Olive-oil-toasted bread hunks, rustic chops of green and red peppers, tomatoes, and more – plus basil plucked fresh from the garden. Perfect panzanella indeed.

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 3-4 cups bread cubes from a one, two, or even three day old loaf of rustic, crusty bread. This is the perfect use for half that leftover baguette, I think.
• 5-6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 medium green bell pepper cut into bite-size chunks
• 1/2 medium red bell pepper cut into bite-size chunks
• 2 medium tomatoes cut into wedges
• 1/2 medium cucumber peeled and cut bite-size chunks
• 1/2 medium sweet onion red works too, if you like, sliced
• 15 leaves fresh basil chiffonaded
• 15 or so green olives cut in half if they’re big

Vinaigrette dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar I’m sure regular ol’ balsamic would be equally tasty
• 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saute pan. Medium heat.
• Keeping the heat on medium, add the bread cubes and the salt, and toss.
• Stir frequently, for about 10 minutes, until the cubes are nice and toasty and brown. Add more olive oil as you go – 1 tablespoon at a time – when the pan starts looking too dry. I usually end up using about 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Remove bread cubes from heat.
• Add the veggies, basil, and olives to the bowl.
• Make the viniagrette: In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients.
• Add the bread to all of those good-looking veggies, pour in the vinaigrette, and toss well.
• Top with a sprinkling of more kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste. Serve.

Notes

Adapted from Ina Garten

Originally published July 16, 2010

The post Panzanella Salad appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

This Summer Chickpea Curry is a super simple way to enjoy summer produce while also ushering in cooler fall days. Perhaps begrudgingly. But at least deliciously.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• About this Summer Chickpea Curry Recipe
• More Chickpea & Bean Curry Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Reviews & Comments

The Story Behind the Recipe

So how’s your garden doing? Mine is happy in some places, sad in others. It’s been a cool summer here in the Pacific Northwest, so my pea crop was glorious. My zucchini, on the other hand, is still puny and sad.

Yesterday was Sneak Some Zucchini On Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (have you heard of it? Totally a thing). Sadly, as I went out to my garden and gazed upon my struggling zucchini seedling, I resigned that I wouldn’t be able to participate. Okay, so I’ve never participated. But I’d like to think I could if I wanted to!

Did your neighbor sneak some zucchini onto your porch yesterday? Lucky! I’ve got the perfect recipe for a couple of those bad boys: This Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry with Sweet Corn & Zucchini. This is the ultimate August recipe – fresh yet comforting, summery yet alllllmost fall-ish. But not quite. Because we ARE NOT ready to go there yet.

About this Summer Chickpea Curry Recipe

This Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry starts with a base of onion, garlic, ginger, and mild curry powder. You can adjust the heat by adding cayenne or using a hotter curry powder, but I like mine pretty mild. Then, saute the zucchini, add that glorious fresh corn, chickpeas, and VERY GENTLY simmer in an incredible coconut milk-tahini-brown sugar-lemon juice situation.

I originally adapted this recipe from the blog Half Baked Harvest. I know tahini is an unusual ingredient in curry, and I’m not sure where the idea first originated, but I definitely recommend this non-conventional addition. It adds a creamy, nutty backbone to this flavorful chickpea curry.

But the best part? Quite possibly the Persian cucumber garnish. It seems odd at first, but that crunchy, cool counterpoint to the creamy, spicy curry is on point. Did I just use “on point” correctly? If I have to ask, I shouldn’t use it, but there it is.

More Chickpea & Bean Curry Recipes

• These Curried Baked Beans are the perfect summer BBQ side.
• Chickpea & Tomato Curry comes together so quickly and easily. I love this one.
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil & Pumpkin Curry is perfect for fall.
• This Crock Pot Lentil & Chickpea Curry with Potatoes & Peas is super easy – just dump, go, come back, and enjoy!

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Summer Chickpea Curry

This summery curry is quite possibly my favorite, no matter the season! Chickpeas, zucchini, and corn swimming in a warmly spiced, creamy coconut milk sauce. The cool, crunchy Persian cucumber garnish is a welcome counterpoint.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Indian

Keyword curry

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 546kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

For the curry:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 1/2 medium yellow onion diced
• 2 medium cloves garlic minced
• 1 thumb-sized piece ginger peeled and minced
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon mild curry powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper + more to taste optional – for a bit of heat if your curry powder is extra mild
• 2 medium zucchini quartered and sliced
• 2 cobs of corn kernels cut off
• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained
• 1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice from about half a small lemon
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

For serving:

• 2 cups cooked white Basmati rice
• 2-3 Persian cucumbers sliced
• 2 scallions sliced
• Chopped cilantro
• Black & white sesame seeds

Instructions

• Start your rice first thing so that it’s ready when your curry’s ready.
• Set a large saute pan over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. When warm, add the onion along with a pinch of salt. Cook, continuing over low heat, stirring occasionally, to sweat the onions (make them tender but not browned), about 8 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium. Add 1 more tablespoon of oil along with the garlic, curry powder, and cayenne if using. Stir frequently until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the ginger and zucchini along with another pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini begins to get tender, about 3 minutes.
• Add the chickpeas and corn and cook, stirring, until warmed through, about 2 more minutes.
• Reduce heat to low. Add the coconut milk, tahini, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir to combine. The tahini might appear to be clumpy, but it will meld in with the ingredients when warm.
• Bring to BARELY a simmer – do not let boil! If you let the curry boil, the coconut milk gets too hot and the curry will have a grainy appearance. Cook low and slow, stirring occasionally, until warmed through and the zucchini and corn are tender, 6-8 minutes.
• Stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Taste and add more salt if desired (it will probably need another 1/4 teaspoon at least – I intentionally call for a small amount of salt so that you can adjust to your tastes at the end). At this point, you can also stir in more cayenne if you’d like a bit more heat.
• To serve, divide rice between bowls, then spoon curry over the top. Garnish with cucumbers, scallions, cilantro, and sesame seeds.

Notes

Adapted from Half Baked Harvest

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 850mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 5mg

The post Summer Chickpea Curry appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

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Forever and a day ago, I was chatting over a bowl of restaurant gazpacho with a good friend of mine. She had spent some college time in Spain, and it was there she learned that authentic gazpacho has stale bread in it. “Bread!” I thought. “Gross!” I thought. “Uncool,” I also thought.

Okay, so I had a lot of one-word thoughts about this whole thing. I was not a fan of this hare-brained idea, hmmph, soggy bread in cold tomato soup. No freakin’ thanks. But I convinced myself (quite easily, I admit) that I was not eating an authentic, bread-logged version, and polished off my bowl.

Gazpacho is a refreshing chilled summer soup made with garden tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, and other tasty veggies. If you’ve never been inclined to try cold soup, I beg you to try gazpacho. You’ll never look back.

And honestly, I now know that you probably won’t be able to tell if yours has bread in it. It’s used to add thickness and body to the soup. And I can totally appreciate that it does that.

But if I’m making soup at home, bread is going to be a dipping mechanism only, thanks. And up until a few days ago, I was fine with enjoying my own homemade gazpacho on the breadless, thinner side. Until. Until! I had an idea. What if. What if!!! I blended a few chickpeas into the mix to add that thickness and body back into the mix? And even better? What if I added other classic hummus ingredients, too?! Some creamy tahini; lemon juice. Garlic. Cumin. And a few roasted chickpeas on top for good measure.

Creamy Chickpea Gazpacho was born.

To give credit where credit is due, I was inspired by this stunning soup from Andrea, the wonderful farmer-blogger over at Dishing Up the Dirt. It wasn’t much of a leap to take her blended-in tahini and chickpea topper over to gazpacho land. Thank you, Andrea, for inspiring me to chickpea-up some cold soup!

I think this soup is pretty wonderful, and it’s not just because I’m biased and semi-blissed-out by its breadlessness.

The chickpeas and tahini lend a creaminess that makes this soup pretty dang addicting. A shallot adds a bit of heat, garlic lends its signature bite, and lemon makes it zing.

Creamy Chickpea Gazpacho Soup is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh-off-the-vine summer tomatoes, and that time is now, my friends! My gosh, I love tomato season. Bring ’em on. In every color of the rainbow, please.

And then I’ll whir them into chilled summer bliss, piled high with salty-crisp roasted chickpeas, diced tomatoes, and crisp cucumbers. This soup will be happening a lot this summer. Bread on the side.

(more…)

The post Creamy Chickpea Gazpacho appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

So it pleases me to no end when I have a lunch all ready-made, just waiting in the fridge. These Tabbouleh Hummus Mason Jar Salads aren’t just a convenient lunch. They say I’ve got my stuff together, man. And now I’m ready for fall.

I adore mason jar salads, not only because I love mason jar everything, but because they really are a truly awesome way to make ahead and transport a super healthy lunch. This version is almost like a mini grain bowl on the move. It’s got a healthy scoop of tabbouleh at its base, followed by a schmear of hummus. Lord, I hate the word schmear, but I felt I had to use it here. Apologies.

Then, we’ve got some spinach and romaine and finally, just because we deserve it because we are so TOGETHER, we get some toasted pine nuts tossed on the top for good measure.

I use my Quinoa Tabbouleh and Classic Hummus for these mason jar salads, but you can use whichever tabbouleh and hummus you like. Mix and match for your very own fresh start!

More Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes

• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Quinoa Salad with Colorful Veggies
• Lemony Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Fresh Dill
• Quinoa Berry Salad

If you try and love this recipe for Tabbouleh Hummus Mason Jar Salads, please leave a review! Even if you don’t absolutely love it, I welcome any and all feedback and I share all legit reviews. I test my recipes multiple times in my home kitchen, but I really appreciate knowing how they’re working for others; your reviews help me make tweaks until my recipes are just right! And they’re so valuable for other readers, too. Thank you! ❤️

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Mason Jar Tabbouleh Hummus Salad

Like a mini grain bowl on the move, these hearty, protein-packed mason jar salads are layered with tabbouleh, hummus, greens, and toasted pine nuts. So easy and, frankly, darn cute!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 mason jar salads

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 1 cup tabbouleh
• 1/4 cup hummus
• 1 cup shredded romaine
• 1 cup shredded baby spinach
• 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts optional*

Equipment:

• Two pint-size 16-ounce mason jars with lids and bands

Instructions

• Divide the tabbouleh between the mason jars. Top each with the hummus. On the cutting board, quickly toss the romaine and spinach together and add to the jars, pressing down gently to get it all to fit in if needed. Top with pine nuts. Add lids and bands and seal.
• Salads keep refrigerated for 3-4 days.

Notes

* To toast pine nuts, place them in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat before they get too brown as they will continue cooking a bit after you’ve removed them from the heat.

Gluten-Free Note

The salad should be gluten-free if you use quinoa tabbouleh. Traditional tabbouleh made with bulgur is NOT gluten-free.

The post Tabbouleh Hummus Mason Jar Salads appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Tabbouleh is a popular salad with Arabic roots. Traditionally made with bulgur, tomatoes, cucumber, loads of parsley, maybe a little mint, and dressed with fresh lemon juice and olive oil, it’s a refreshing and easy lunch or dinner side (I’m happy with it as a main, actually). As a certified parsley fiend, so I’ve been a fan of the salad for many years.

This version takes a detour from the classic and subs in quinoa for the bulgur. As most of us know by now, quinoa is a terrific power food, and a vegetarian’s best friend. It’s got protein. It’s got fiber. It’s got the kind of amino acids you’re looking for. It acts and looks like a grain, but it’s really a seed. And it’s delicious in place of the traditional bulgur in tabbouleh.

I love how tri-color quinoa looks in this salad, but feel free to use whichever variety you like.

Oh, and bonus: tabbouleh with quinoa instead of bulgur means it’s gluten-free!

More Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes

• Lemony Quinoa Chickpea Salad
• Tabbouleh Hummus Mason Jar Salads
• Quinoa Vegetable Salad
• Quinoa Berry Salad

If you try and love this recipe for quinoa tabbouleh, please leave a review! Even if you don’t absolutely love it, I welcome any and all feedback and I share all legit reviews. I test my recipes multiple times in my home kitchen, but I really appreciate knowing how they’re working for others; your reviews help me make tweaks until my recipes are just right! And they’re so valuable for other readers, too. Thank you! ❤️

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Quinoa Tabbouleh

An easy, refreshing, satisfying salad that’s perfect grab-and-go fridge fare. I love this one for potlucks – it’s vegan and gluten-free, so it works for most everyone.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 1 cup tri-color quinoa rinsed in cold water
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 medium cucumber peeled and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 medium tomatoes seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
• 3 scallions chopped, some green parts included (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 cup fresh parsley chopped finely
• 1/4 cup fresh mint chopped finely
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice from about 1 large lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste

Instructions

• Set a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the water. Bring to a boil. Add the quinoa, stir, and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until all of the water has absorbed, 10-15 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Let cool for a few minutes.
• Add the cucumber, tomatoes, scallions, parsley, and mint to a large bowl. Add the cooled quinoa. Toss together gently.
• In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Pour over the veggies and quinoa. Mix well.
• Taste and add additional salt if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for awhile before serving (I think it’s best fully chilled). Keeps for 3-4 days in the fridge.

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