This Brown Rice Salad looks way too healthy to taste as good as it does! The fresh dill and coriander/cilantro with the bright lemon dressing totally makes it. The perfectly cooked, nutty brown rice helps. Everything else is customisable.
You didn’t really think I’d share a rather dull (but life essential) post for how to cook brown rice without following it up with an extremely delicious way to use it, did you??
Brown Rice Salad
This is a Brown Rice Salad that aspires to be everything you expect a rice salad to be (healthy, filling, fresh) and everything you don’t expect it to be (can’t-stop-eating-it-good).
It’s also a rice salad that will surprise those of you who grew up not realising such a thing existed. (Pretty sure that would be anyone with Asian parents 🙋🏻♀️).
It is very, very good. It’s fresh, juicy, bright, and really makes the most of the addictive nutty, slightly chewy texture of brown rice though it can be made with any type of cooked rice, or other grains for that matter (farro, pearl barley, tiny or giant couscous).
Ingredients in Brown Rice Salad
Here’s what I put into this brown rice salad – though you’ll see an extensive list of customisation suggestions below!
- Brown rice – only perfectly cooked brown rice allowed in these parts! No mushiness permitted 😉. Alternatives: any rice – normal or fancy (white, jasmine, basmati, wild etc), quinoa, and anything rice-like shaped such as farro, pearl barley, couscous;
- Cucumber & tomato – the freshness and juiciness;
- Red onion – welcome sharp bite. Alternatives: green onion, Eschallots/French shallots;
- Dill and coriander – one of the best fresh herb combinations for salads, in my humble opinion. I use it regularly – such as in this Pearl Couscous Salad and JP’s Iceberg Lettuce Salad; and
- Rocket / Arugula – I really like adding a bit of green fluffage into any starch based salad. For interest, extra freshness and to add a different textural element. Alternatives: any sliceable leafy greens – baby or normal spinach, kale (marinate it to make it softer), cabbage).
Customise the vegetables with any raw or cooked vegetables you want (diced and sautéed in a little oil perhaps with some garlic, or roasted – try Roasted Eggplant. It’s amazing!).
Optional Extras
You’ll see in the video and photos that I’ve also included black olives which I consider an optional extra for this Mediterranean themed version of this rice salad. I don’t always include it – the above ingredients are my base version.
It’s also shown topped with crispy golden slices of halloumi which is a seriously delicious and on theme way to elevate this to show-off status (or, you know, just a really good meal for yourself😂).
Lemon Dressing Ingredients
And here’s what goes into the lemon dressing: lemon juice, garlic, mustard (for thickening), extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
How to make this Brown Rice Salad
I always feel like I’m teaching you how to suck eggs when I show the process photos for a salad! 😂 But I do think it’s a useful one-pager to show how this comes together. For all those times you don’t have 90 seconds to watch the recipe video!
Elevate it to meal status
I know I said the crispy golden halloumi is optional, but everytime I see a photo of it, I want to take it back and make it part of the base recipe!
The only reason why I won’t is because I like that this salad is interesting and fresh enough to be a side salad OR a meal.
Also, even if you don’t happen to have a block of halloumi in your fridge waiting to pan fry to golden perfection, there’s plenty of other ways to elevate it to meal status:
- Crumble of feta
- Sprinkle of parmesan
- Dollop of yogurt
- Nuts – try flaked almonds (toasted), or walnuts, pepitas, sunflowers, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts
- Can of tuna, salmon or other fish
- Sliced poached chicken (super juicy even fridge cold if you use this method)
- Any other cooked protein that takes your fancy
What to serve with this Brown Rice Salad
This is a wonderful two-in-one side salad for meals (ie starch + veg in one dish) but interesting and colourful enough to stand on its own as a light meal or as part of a lunch spread. Here are a few suggestions:
Mains for warm summer nights
Quick meals
Salads for sharing – lunch with friends
Enjoy! – Nagi x
PS Ah, I just remembered! A few years ago, I also shared a Cowboy Rice Salad. Fun name. Delicious to eat!
Watch how to make it
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Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad
Ingredients
Salad (Note 1):
- 3 cups cooked brown rice , cooled but not cold
- 2 tomatoes , diced
- 2 cucumbers , diced (or 1 long English/continental cucumber)
- 1/2 red onion , chopped (sub 2 stems green onion)
- 40g/ 4 cups tightly packed baby rocket/arugula , roughly chopped (or baby spinach)
- 1/3 cup coriander/cilantro leaves , roughly chopped (Note 2)
- 1/3 cup fresh dill leaves , roughly chopped (Note 2)
Lemon Dressing:
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic cloves , minced using garlic press
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (Note 3)
- 3/4 tsp salt , kosher/cooking salt (1/2 tsp table salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Optional extras (pictured):
- 1/2 cup black olive slices
- 200g/7oz halloumi , sliced then pan fried in a little olive oil until golden and crispy
- Other topping options: feta, parmesan, nuts (Note 4)
Instructions
- Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.
- Place Salad ingredients in a big bowl. Drizzle over Dressing, toss well.
- Transfer to serving bowl. If using Halloumi, pile on top.
- Serve!
Recipe Notes:
- parsley or chives and dill
- chives and parsley
- just coriander/cilantro or dill (double up)
- 2 1/2 tsp oregano (add to dressing - will taste like a Greek Salad!)
- 2 tsp dried mixed herbs, or other dried herbs of choice
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
This guy really, REALLY doesn’t like cucumber…..
Hi, Nagi. I was thinking, since I can’t find halloumi cheese near where I live in California, maybe I’ll make Parmesan Crisps or fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks to go with your salad recipe. You and Dozer take care and I hope he is healing quickly. God bless. ❤
That was a delicious and satisfying salad. The cooking method for medium grain Brown rice is a winner too. Thanks Nagi😊. My whippet loves cucumber. Maybe Dozed is a tiny bit stubborn. With a face like his, he can get away with it.
Your salad looks great. I think I will fix it tomorrow for lunch.
FYI: Of course there is no way to know why Dozier does not like cucumber, but here is one possibility that I have heard of;
A 2006 study done at Clemson University used Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry to determine at least two of the compounds present in the stink bug odor: the aldehydes trans-2-decenal and trans-2-octenal. … The trans-2-octenal is described as having a nutty flavor and an odor described as waxy or like a cucumber.
If I were to sniff a stink bug, I would probably not like cucumbers! Ha ha, food for thought!
Well there you go Redonia! I just thought he was being stubborn!!! 😂 N x
Hi, Nagi. Thanks for answering my question about halloumi so quickly. I live in a very small town, about 17,000 population and we only have a few grocery stores. Maybe I could order the halloumi on line. Could you recommend some other cheese instead? I noticed I’m not the only person that asked what halloumi is. Thanks for any suggestions you have. 😃
Hi Jan, Halloumi, Kefalotyri, provolone, saganaki would all work well here – if all else fails, top with some salty feta or even grilled tofu would be nice as another reader suggested! N x
Quick question, why does it say 710pm on my message? Is it because you’re in Australia? I’m in California and it’s 2:13am here. I’m patiently waiting for a decent hour so I can call my brother in Arizona and wish him a Happy Birthday! He use to live in Australia and taught school there. That’s where he met his wife. Anyway, just curious about the time listed on my message. 😃
Hi Jan, yes that’s the local time here! I hope he has a fabulous Birthday – extend the Happy Birthday from me too 🙂 N x
I was checking my emails and yours for the brown rice recipe. I haven’t made it yet, but I will soon. I’m writing because of Dozer. My heart slid into my stomach when I first started reading about him. I have two boy fur babies and they are my family! I just love the stuffing out of Dozer and am so glad it wasn’t anything serious and that he’s on the mend. You two stay safe and thanks for the great recipes. Sending prayers for both of you. You’re a wonderful mom to Dozer. P.s., loved the hat placement. Don’t want his Winky to get sunburnt…lol!!! 😃 ❤ ❤ ❤ PS, by the way, could you please tell me what halloumi is??? I am thinking Spam? Thanks and God bless. May the Angels keep watch over you and Dozer. ❤
Hi Jan, thanks so much for the well wishes, I truly appreciate it! Halloumi is a Cypriot cheese, it’s usually brined and has a high melting point so is perfect to fry, it has a slightly squeaky texture but is addictive and utterly delicious!! N x
The rice salad looked wonderful and after getting brown rice will definitely be making it for a dinner. So sorry to hear about Dozer and glad he is in recovery. His poor little tummy can get sunburned so the hat was fitting. My little Roxie was also at the emergency vets this last week. They are still trying to figure out what exactly is wrong. And you think your travel budget is gone. We go to internal medicine for appt next week and that should give us an answer. Dozer is in our thoughts and prayers.
Oh no Mary, I hope Roxie is ok, please keep me updated on her progress ❤️ N x
Hi Nagi, would orzo work instead of the rice?
Hi Sara, yes definitely! I love orzo in salads – like this one: https://www.recipetineats.com/greek-lemon-orzo-salad-risoni/ or this one: https://www.recipetineats.com/prawn-mango-avocado-summer-salad/ N x
Perfect! And thanks for the salad suggestions 🙂
Hey Nagi,
We just all that you do!
Feel Better Dozer!
Hugs
Thanks so much Freidia! N x
Nagi I absolutely love the way you narrate the recipes with the photographs. They are clear, concise and reinforces how easy your recipes are to make. To top it off, I am yet to find a recipe that haven’t cooked over and over again. Thank you
Thank you so much Michelle, that’s so lovely to hear!!! 🥰 N x