Home

Vegetarian Rice Salad

17/11/2023

I can propose an Italian version of a fresh and colorful vegetarian rice salad, perfect to enjoy during the summer season or as a light single dish.

Ingredients

  • 300 g of salad rice (you can use parboiled, Basmati, or Venere rice for a different touch)
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 yellow bell pepper
  • 150 g of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 Tropea red onion
  • 100 g of pitted black olives
  • 50 g of salted capers (rinsed and desalted)
  • Fresh basil to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Cook the rice in plenty of salted water following the instructions on the package to achieve al dente rice. Once cooked, drain and cool immediately under running water to stop the cooking. Then let it drain well.

  2. While the rice is cooking, wash and cut the vegetables: thinly slice the red onion, dice the zucchini, cut the peppers into strips, and halve the cherry tomatoes.

  3. In a large bowl, mix the rice with all the prepared vegetables, olives, and capers.

  4. Prepare an emulsion with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, beating well with a fork.

  5. Dress the rice salad with the prepared emulsion and gently mix.

  6. Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend well.

  7. At the time of serving, garnish with fresh basil leaves for an extra touch of color and freshness.

Curiosity

Rice salad lends itself to countless variations, and it’s possible to enrich it with ingredients of your choice, like beans, corn, tofu, seeds, or dried fruit. In Italy, it’s a classic summer dish, often also taken to the beach or consumed during a picnic.

This dish is perfect on its own or accompanied by a fresh glass of Italian white wine, like a Pinot Grigio or a Vermentino.

Vegetarian Rice Salad