Rice Salad with Dried Fruit

The rice salad with dried fruit is a fresh and nutritious dish, perfect for summer or as a single dish for a quick but balanced lunch. Here is an Italian recipe to prepare a rice salad with dried fruit.

Ingredients

• 250 g of long-grain or parboiled rice
• 50 g of raisins
• 30 g of pine nuts
• 30 g of slivered almonds
• 30 g of coarsely chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• A few leaves of fresh basil (optional)
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by soaking the raisins in warm water for about 10 minutes, then drain and squeeze them well.
2. Cook the rice in plenty of salted water following the timings on the package to achieve an al dente texture. Once cooked, drain it, cool it under running water, and transfer it to a large bowl to let it cool completely.
3. While the rice is cooling, lightly toast the pine nuts and almonds in a non-stick pan without adding oil until they become golden, being careful to stir often to prevent burning.
4. Add the strained raisins, pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to the rice.
5. If desired, add the fresh chopped basil and grated lemon zest for an extra touch of freshness.
6. Mix all the ingredients well to blend and let the rice salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving, so that the flavors can marry well.

Curiosity

Rice salad is an extremely versatile dish and you can vary the dried fruit according to availability or personal preference. In Italy, it’s common to bring rice salad to the beach or picnics, prepared in advance and enjoyed fresh.

If you want to maintain an Italian style, I recommend pairing this rice salad with a nice glass of chilled white wine, like a Pinot Grigio or Vermentino. Enjoy your meal!