Rice Salad in Jar Cooking

17/11/2023

Rice salad in jar cooking is a practical method for preparing rice salad using the microwave and a suitable container, typically made of glass or ceramic. Here’s a basic recipe that you can then enrich with your preferred ingredients.

Ingredients

200 g of salad rice (such as Parboiled type)
400 ml of water (or in proportion 1:2 rice:water)
1 teaspoon of salt
Vegetables as desired (e.g., cherry tomatoes, olives, carrots, bell peppers)
Proteins as desired (e.g., tuna, hard-boiled eggs, mozzarella)
Herbs as desired (e.g., basil, parsley)
Extra virgin olive oil
Vinegar or lemon juice
Salt and pepper

Preparation

In a container suitable for microwave cooking (like a glass jar with a lid or a jar cooking container), pour the rice, water, and teaspoon of salt.
Close the container with its lid or with a plate if using a glass jar.
Cook in the microwave at maximum power for about 18-20 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the power of your microwave, so I advise checking the rice at about 18 minutes.
Let the rice rest for a couple of minutes, then fluff it with a fork to separate the grains.
Let the rice cool down completely. You can speed up the process by spreading the rice on a tray.

In the meantime, prepare the ingredients you want to add:

Wash and cut the vegetables into cubes or as you prefer.
If you wish to add proteins like tuna, eggs, or mozzarella, prepare them separately.
For the dressing, combine in a small bowl extra virgin olive oil, vinegar or lemon, salt, pepper, and chopped herbs.
Once the rice has cooled, mix it with the vegetables, proteins, and dressing in a large bowl.
Mix everything well and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.

Rice salad is a very versatile dish, so feel free to experiment with various ingredients depending on your preference or what’s in season. Here’s a little curiosity: jar cooking is a technique that best preserves the nutrients of food, thanks to steam cooking in the sealed environment of the container.