Our delicious, healthy, Italian Style Rice Salad Recipe is so easy to make. Chopped salad with perfectly cooked cold long grain rice mixed with homemade olive oil, lemon, herb and garlic dressing.
This authentic mediterranean recipe is great served as a main for vegetarians and vegans or as a simple side salad in the spring. Also, it is a fantastic BBQ or Party cold-sharing dish in the Summer.
See our step-by-step slide show on how we make our rice salad.
Use the below button to jump straight to the recipe card, or continue reading for more tips.
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How to make rice suitable for a salad?
To make rice suitable for a salad, the key is to cook the rice grains in a way that keeps them separated so they don't all stick together once cooked.
The correct ratio for making rice suitable for a salad is 1 cup rice to 1 ¼ cup cold water.
It does not matter if you do not own American measurement cups.
You can use a teacup, wine glass or mug, as long as you use the above measurement of 1 rice to 1 ¼ cold water.
Rinse the rice first until the water runs clear to remove starch.
Put the drained rice and the correct amount of water into a pan and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, place the lid on and set the time for 8 minutes. Do not lift the lid. The rice will cook perfectly during this time and will not need stirring!
After 8 minutes, turn the heat off and leave the lid on for 2 minutes. Finally, use a fork to fluff up the grains.
Transfer cooked rice into a bowl and place it in the fridge to help it cool down quicker while you prepare the rest of your salad!
What type of rice can be used in a salad?
We tend to use long-grain rice, but basmati rice will work for this recipe too.
Alternatively, use brown rice or wild rice, but you will need to adjust the measurements and cooking times.
How to make a homemade Italian style rice salad dressing?
Italian salad dressings are so simple and easy to make; all you need is to mix the following ingredients!
We use a small clip top jar for quick and easy mixing; seal the lid and shake!
- 5 tbsp Olive oil
- ½ a lemon juice
- 1 tbsp of Italian Seasoning/ Dried Herbs (ours contained a mix of Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Parsley, Sage, Red Pepper Flakes.)
- 2 tsp garlic puree or four cloves minced
Now it's time to get busy chopping all your salad bits!
What to put into an Italian Salad?
We used sun-dried tomatoes, orange pepper, cucumber, red onion, plum tomatoes, sweetcorn, green and black olives, pine nuts, fresh basil & parsley.
But you can use whatever you like best, or whatever is in your fridge!?
It looks great served up for a BBQ like this for everyone to choose a scoop of whatever they like to add.
Or mix the cooked rice, salad and olive oil dressing together, and you are ready to serve!
Such a great-looking salad! Top with some extra fresh herbs.
Serving Suggestions for Rice Salad
If you want to serve it up with meat? Cook some air-fried sausages, chop them up and stir through. Or serve with our lamb shish or chicken kebab skewers.
Stick with the Italian theme, fry up some chopped pancetta with the oil from the sundried tomatoes, and mix in the final step!
We also sometimes add tuna to make it into a tasty main course, or for a more substantial meal, try serving with a whole cooked sea bream.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Italian Style Rice Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 200 grams Long Grain Rice (1 cup) (uncooked) makes 600 grams (3 cups) once cooked Can use basmati rice instead
- 310 mls Cold water ( 1 ¼ cup)
Italian Dressing Ingredients (make your own or buy shop brought one)
- 5 tablespoon Olive oil
- ½ Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning/ Dried Herbs mix of Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Parsley, Sage, Red Pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon Garlic puree or 4 cloves minced
Italian Salad (this is what we used but get creative and use what you like/have!)
- 8 Sundried Tomatoes Chopped
- 1 Orange Pepper Diced
- ½ Cucumber Diced
- 1 Red Onion Diced
- 100 gram Cherry or Plum Tomatoes (¾ cup) quartered
- 100 g Sweetcorn (¾ cup) we used tinned
- 60 g Green or/and Black Olives (½ cup)
- 4 tablespoon Pine Nuts
- 3 tablespoon Fresh Basil chopped
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped
Optional extras
- 130 gram Cooked Diced Pancetta fry in the Oil from sundried tomato jar
- or
- 1 tin Tuna drained
- or
- 200 g Mozzarella Balls or chopped
Instructions
- Cook 200 grams Long Grain Rice (1 cup) (uncooked) in 310 mls Cold water ( 1 ¼ cup) beforehand. Giving it time for it to cool off. Follow the instructions in the notes below to make sure you cook the rice correctly. If adding 130 gram Cooked Diced Pancetta, cook that off in the sundried tomato oil and allow time to cool.
- Make the dressing by mixing all the Italian Dressing ingredients 5 tablespoon Olive oil, ½ Lemon , 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning/ Dried Herbs, 2 teaspoon Garlic puree.
- Put cooked rice in a mixing bowl and add all the chopped Italian Salad ingredients. We used 8 Sundried Tomatoes, 1 Orange Pepper, ½ Cucumber, 1 Red Onion , 100 gram Cherry or Plum Tomatoes (¾ cup), 100 g Sweetcorn (¾ cup), 60 g Green or/and Black Olives (½ cup), 4 tablespoon Pine Nuts, 3 tablespoon Fresh Basil, and 2 tablespoon Fresh ParsleyPour the dressing over and mix all in together.
- Serve up in a large bowl or large plate with more fresh herbs.
Video
Notes
How to cook rice for salad recipe?
We want to make sure that the rice grains stay separate and doesn't stick together once cooked. Correct ratio for making rice suitable for a salad is 1 cup rice ( 200g) : 1 ¼ cup (310 ml) cold water. It does not matter if you do not own American measurement cups you can use a teacup, wine glass or mug as long as you use the above measurement of 1 rice to 1 ¼ cold water. We used long grain rice but basmati rice will be the same!- Rinse the rice first until water runs clear to remove starch.
- Put the drained rice and the correct amount of water into a pan, bring to the boil.
- Once boiling, turn down to simmer, place the lid on and time for 8 minutes. Do not lift the lid the rice will cook perfectly in this time and will not need stirring!
- After 8 minutes turn the heat off and leave the lid on for 5-10 minutes. Finally use a fork to fluff up the grains.
- Transfer to a bowl and place in the fridge to help it cool down quicker whilst you prepare the rest of your salad!
Nutrition
This Italian Rice Salad Recipe has been updated on 26th November 2023, with an easier-to-follow recipe card and improvements on the blog post.
We hope you enjoy this Italian Style Rice Salad as much as we did!
Please leave us a comment below; we love to hear what you add when making these cold rice salad recipes.
If you can't find the recipe you want, let us know, and we will do our best to create it for you!
More Salad Ideas
Another great Mediterranean salad recipe is our orzo pasta salad or for a Thai inspired salad, try our prawn salad.
- Indian Onion Salad (Kachumber)
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Tuna Mayo Recipe
- Caprese Salad (Tomato and Mozzarella Salad)
Other Rice Recipes
Are you looking for more rice recipes? Check out our plain basmati rice, Jasmine Sticky Rice or pilau rice. Or, for more flavoursome rice recipes, we have onion rice and coconut rice.
Ronnie W
Is this also Vegan and gluten free if made without the Pancetta please? I am making a vegan/gf buffet and looking for ideas.
Thank you
Luke and Kay
Yes, the Italian Style Rice Salad can be made vegan and gluten-free if you omit the Pancetta. However, it's crucial to ensure that all the other ingredients you use are also vegan and gluten-free. This includes checking things like dressings or condiments you might add. Always read labels carefully, as some products may contain hidden animal products or gluten. Enjoy your cooking!
Victoriashepard
The 5-star rating is for the rice recipe only. I have not made the entire salad yet. I have been looking for a rice recipe that did not result in mush. Thank you for providing the correct water to rice ratio and cooking instructions. No need to buy a rice cooker now!
Luke and Kay
Thank you, Victoria, for taking the time to rate our Italian Style Rice Salad! We are delighted that our rice recipe was a hit with you and that you were able to achieve perfect results without needing to buy a rice cooker. We strive to provide not only delicious recipes, but instructions that ensure top-notch results every single time.
We hope you enjoy the entire salad whenever you get around to making it, and we appreciate your taking the time to review us! 🙂
Cynthia Johnson
How long does it lay in the frig? Does it make the rice soggy after a day or two?
Luke and Kay
Thanks for the question, Cynthia
Rice salad should be stored in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. It's important to keep it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness and flavor.
But due to being mixed with salad it could go soggy so i would consume the next day after cooking 🙂
Hope you enjoy the recipe
Mary Robertson
Can't wait to try it :), thanks for sharing 💕
Luke and Kay
Hi Mary! I'm thrilled that you're excited to try the Italian-style rice salad. It's always a pleasure to share delicious recipes with others. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Feel free to share your experience once you give it a go. 🙂
Bruno
Made this rice salad for a bbq at a friend's house? Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe!
Luke and Kay
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review of our Italian Style Rice Salad, Bruno! We are delighted to hear that it was a hit at your barbeque. It's great to know that you shared the recipe with your friends as well. 🙂
Janet Willing
Lovely colourful looking rice salad. I made it for a family barbecue. It was very well received.😉
Would definitely make it again.
Luke and Kay
Thank you so much for your review, Janet! We are thrilled to hear that you found our Italian Style Rice Salad was a hit at your family barbecue. It's always a great feeling when a dish is well-received by friends and family. 🙂
Kathy
This was a big hit at the weekend party. Stays well in cooler and taste better the second day. People where asking for the recipe
Kay
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy! We're so glad you and your guests enjoyed our Italian Style Rice Salad. 🙂
Jean Riley
Perfect. Went down very well with my family
Kay
Thank you so much, Jean 🙂
This is the perfect summer salad; so pleased your family liked it 😉
Joanna
A firm Family favourite
Kay
Thank you so much, Joanna; so nice to read that our Italian-style rice salad is your family favourite 😉
If you like salad recipes, you might like our King Prawn Salad with Chilli Dressing it's delicious 🙂
Maria
Can you make this recipe the day before having guests over or it needs to be made day of? Looks delicious
Lauren Haywards
Insanely Delicious! A perfect flavourful, colourful, tasty, and healthy recipe. i think all my family members will like to have it. I am very excited to try it. Thanks a lot for sharing such a lovely recipe.
Kay
Thank you so much, Lauren
Glad you like the rice salad recipe, the flavours in this recipe are amazing and just give you that Mediterranean feel 🙂
Enjoy!!
Annie
Loved it! And easy to make.
Thanks
Kay
Thanks for the comment, Annie 🙂
Glad you like the rice salad, we love this recipe, it makes the perfect side dish 🙂
Joanna
Made it for my last BBQ And it went down a treat. I’ll be making for my next BBQ too.
Kay
Thanks, Joanna for the comment and rating!!
Really pleased you loved the Italian rice salad, always goes perfectly with a summer BBQ 🙂
Faith oris
Wow I really love this recipe am going to try it out with my family at home on Sunday for lunch it really looks yummy.
Bonnie
This salad disappeared at a beach picnic, so good!
Kay
Hi Bonnie
Thank you so much for the comment 🙂
So nice to hear you enjoyed our rice salad recipe 😉
Jo
Can you make this the night before? Does it keep well in the fridge? X thank you for sharing… looks great x
Sue
Is this good/ok to totally make up day before needed?
Kay
Hi Sue
This will be fine to make the day before, but keep it in a sealed container and place it in the fridge to keep fresh 🙂
Enjoy!!
Caroline
Made to go with BBQ, massive hit. Tastes delicious.
Kay
Thank you, Caroline, so glad our rice salad was a big hit at your BBQ 🙂
Tania
This looks amazing, thank you. Would the dressing work with orzo pasta rather than rice (asking for a non rice eater)?
Alpa
Great recipe and very easy. The colors make it very palatable 🙂
Sharon
Absolutely delicous! I use brown rice. I adore rice salads - they are great for potlucks or for meal prep.
Frank
Made for family bbq yesterday. Was enjoyed by all, have just had to send them all the link for the recipe as they all loved it!
pranita deshpande
Want to eat it.
Allyson
This looks great for a hot summer evening meal. Can't wait to try it.
Amisha
This looks so good and filling! Delicious and simple recipe with wonderful pictures.
Julie Gazdecki
Perfect for a pot luck! This would be a great meal with adding chicken!
Beth
I love salads like this because I know I'll eat more vegetables if they're all stirred together than separately. And what a lovely, simple dressing - yum.
Kay
We love this, it looks as good as it tastes!
Gillian
This looks so lovely for a summer BBQ so looking forward to them times again when this lockdown is all over 😎
Kay
Hopefully soon!
Phenie
This is the kind of salad that's perfect for lunch. Thank you so much - family enjoyed it 🙂
Linda
Fantastic! I'm saving this recipe for summer time BBQs. It's easy to pull together and so refreshing with all that fresh produce. And that dressing! - it would be perfect on just about anything!
Kay
Perfect for BBQ's! It is always loved and the dressing is delicious!
Tamara
This sounds like it would be the perfect addition to a picnic, or BBQ!
Kay
Totally, we always have a rice salad at BBQ's!