Best Easy Insalata di Riso Recipe

Chilled Italian rice salad loaded with vegetables, olives, and pickles is a summer staple. This vegetarian mediterranean salad is fresh, family-friendly, and perfect for picnics or a light healthy lunch.

Cook 30 min Difficulty EASY 320 kcal
#vegetarian #mediterranean #DASH #diabetic friendly
Image coming soon
Ingredients
Main ingredients
  • medium-grain rice 2 cups
  • red bell pepper 1 pieces
  • green bell pepper 1 pieces
  • carrot 1 pieces
  • celery stalk 2 pieces
  • pitted black olives 0.5 cup
  • pitted green olives 0.5 cup
  • corn kernels 0.5 cup
  • pickled cucumbers 0.5 cup
Seasonings/Sauce
  • extra-virgin olive oil 4 tbsp
  • red wine vinegar 2 tbsp
  • salt 1 tsp
  • black pepper 0.5 tsp
Nutrition summary
Carbohydrates 48 g 60%
Protein 7 g 9%
Fat 10 g 31%
Serving size 250g
Cooking steps
  1. 1

    Boil 2 cups of medium-grain rice in a large pot of salted water. Cook until tender, then drain thoroughly. Spread the rice on a tray to cool quickly and prevent clumping.

  2. 2

    Dice red bell pepper, green bell pepper, carrot, celery, pickled cucumbers, and set aside. Slice black and green olives into rounds.

  3. 3

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled rice, diced vegetables, olives, and corn kernels. Toss to distribute ingredients evenly for balanced texture.

  4. 4

    Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Pour over the rice salad and mix gently, avoiding crushing the rice grains.

  5. 5

    Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Before serving, gently toss again to restore fluffiness and freshness.

Personalized Q&A
Q. What's the key ingredient in this recipe?
Medium-grain rice is the foundation of Insalata di Riso, providing a tender yet distinct bite that anchors the medley of vegetables, olives, and pickles. Its neutral flavor lets the other ingredients shine while ensuring the classic Italian salad texture.
Q. How should the rice be cooked for the best texture?
Cook the rice in plenty of water until just tender, then drain thoroughly and spread it out to cool quickly. This prevents clumping and excess moisture, resulting in individual grains perfect for salad consistency.
Q. How can I prevent the salad from getting soggy?
Ensuring that the rice is well drained and cooled before combining it with the vegetables is crucial. Also, gentle mixing with the dressing avoids breaking the grains and limits moisture absorption, preserving a light and fluffy salad texture.
Q. What are the nutrition details per serving?
Each 250g serving contains about 320 kcal, with 48g carbohydrates (60%), 7g protein (9%), and 10g fat (31%). The dish is balanced for a summer meal, delivering moderate energy with a focus on healthy carbs and fats from rice and olive oil.
AI 채팅 아이콘