My Greek parents tried Ina Garten's Greek orzo salad, and now they can't stop making it

"When the pandemic hit and the US went into lockdown, Garten inspired me to finally improve my skills in the kitchen. And when I briefly moved back in with my parents, they were more than happy to sample my creations. It's since become a tradition, and now I whip up new "Barefoot Contessa" dishes for my parents every time I visit."

"My parents immigrated to the US from Greece in the 1980s, and they made sure to teach me about Greek culture through food. My dad made his delicious pastitsio (like lasagna, but better) every week, and whipped up avgolemono soup whenever one of us was sick. Every Christmas was celebrated with a big pan of baklava, and youvetsi was a dinner staple."

Ina Garten's Greek orzo salad combines orzo, chickpeas, baby arugula, diced Greek feta, olive oil, red bell pepper, red onion, kalamata olives, lemon juice, capers, and fresh dill. The recipe yields six servings and highlights bright, Mediterranean flavors through simple, fresh ingredients. A home cook improved kitchen skills during the pandemic and began testing Barefoot Contessa recipes with Greek parents, creating a visiting tradition of sharing new dishes. The Greek parents, who emigrated in the 1980s and maintain strong culinary traditions like pastitsio, avgolemono, baklava, and youvetsi, embraced the salad and now prepare it regularly for dinner.

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