Print

Italian Rice Salad

Italian Rice Salad
Print Recipe

Italian Rice Salad is a fresh and vibrant Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring creamy Arborio rice combined with colorful vegetables, olives, fresh herbs, and mozzarella, tossed in a zesty lemon and olive oil dressing. Easy to prepare, nutritious, and highly customizable, it’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a quick, satisfying lunch.

Ingredients

Scale

Rice

  • 1 ½ cups cooked Arborio rice

Vegetables & Herbs

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted if needed
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
  • ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced

Cheese

  • 1 cup mozzarella, cubed

Dressing

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook and Cool the Rice: Cook Arborio rice according to package instructions until tender. Drain and spread it on a baking sheet to cool quickly and prevent clumping, ensuring a light and fluffy texture.
  2. Prepare the Vegetables and Herbs: Halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice cucumbers and red onion, roughly chop the basil, remove pits from Kalamata olives if necessary, and cube the mozzarella into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Combine Ingredients in a Large Bowl: Gently fold the cooled rice with the prepared tomatoes, olives, basil, cucumber, red onion, and mozzarella in a large bowl to build fresh, vibrant layers.
  4. Make the Dressing and Toss: Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour this dressing over the rice mixture and toss gently to coat evenly without mashing the delicate ingredients.
  5. Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully before serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients to help flavors blend better.
  • Don’t overcook the rice; slightly al dente texture improves the salad.
  • Fresh herbs like basil or parsley make a noticeable difference in brightness.
  • Add dressing gradually to avoid overdressing the salad.
  • Chilling the salad before serving enhances flavor and texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian rice salad, Arborio rice salad, Mediterranean salad, easy rice salad, fresh Italian salad, gluten free salad, summer salad, picnic salad, healthy rice salad

Find it online: https://sophiespace.com/italian-rice-salad/