Rice Salad with Oranges, Olives, and Almonds
Mediterranean Easy

Rice Salad with Oranges, Olives, and Almonds

A bright, textural salad featuring basmati rice and citrus

vegetarianvegangluten-freemediterraneanricesaladweeknight
β€” (0 ratings)
⏱️ 55 minutes 20 minutes prep · 12 minutes cook
🍽️ 5 Serves
328 Calories
6g Protein
48g Carbs
11g Fat

Why This Recipe Works

Toasting basmati rice before boiling it like pasta preserves the integrity of each grain, ensuring a light and fluffy salad rather than a mushy one. This bright, textural dish balances sweet citrus segments with briny olives and a nutty almond crunch.


Instructions

1

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the grains are fragrant and start to turn opaque, about 5 minutes.

2

Boil the toasted rice in a large pot of salted water until the grains are tender but still have a slight bite, about 10 to 12 minutes.

3

Drain the rice into a fine-mesh strainer and spread it onto a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Let it cool completely, about 15 minutes β€” this allows the surface moisture to evaporate so the grains stay separate.

4

Whisk the oil, vinegar, garlic, orange zest, orange juice, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until the dressing is well combined.

πŸ’‘ Whisk vigorously to emulsify the citrus juice and oil.

5

Add the cooled rice, orange segments, olives, almonds, and oregano to the bowl and toss gently to coat the ingredients evenly in the dressing.

6

Let the salad rest for 20 minutes before serving. This pause is essential for the rice to absorb the vinaigrette and for the flavors to harmonize.


🍽️ Complete the Meal

The rice serves as the starch Roasted seasonal vegetablesSimple green salad
🧊
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze this recipe?

Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

What substitutions can I make?
  • basmati rice: long-grain white, jasmine, or Texmati rice
Rohit Bothra
Recipe by

Rohit Bothra

Self-taught cook exploring global vegetarian cuisine from my Atlanta kitchen.

Learn more about me β†’
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