Our delicious, Italian-Style Rice Salad Recipe is so easy to make. The dish features a medley of chopped salad combined with chilled long-grain rice, all tossed in a homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and garlic.
This Mediterranean recipe is great served as a main dish for vegetarians and vegans or as a simple side salad in the spring. It is also a fantastic cold-sharing dish for BBQs or parties in the Spring or Summer.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this rice salad recipe to serve 6 people as a side dish.
- 200 grams Long Grain Rice Uncooked weight (makes 600 grams (3 cups) once cooked)
- 310 mls Cold water
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 Finely chopped
- 1 Orange Pepper Diced
- ½ Cucumber Diced
- 1 Red Onion Diced
- 100 gram Cherry or Plum Tomatoes Quartered
- 100 g Sweetcorn Tin
- 60 g Green or/and Black Olives pitted
- 4 tablespoon Pine Nuts
- 3 tablespoon Fresh Basil chopped
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped
Optional extras
- 130 gram Cooked Diced Pancetta
- 1 tin Tuna drained
- 200 g Mozzarella Balls or chopped
Rice
Cook the rice and allow it to cool before adding to the salad items.
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.
Homemade Salad Dressing
You can buy a dressing, but Italian salad dressings are so simple and easy to make; all you need is to mix the below 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 a Rice 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.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Italian Style Rice Salad
Ingredients
- 200 grams Long Grain Rice - Uncooked weight (makes 600 grams (3 cups) once cooked)
- 310 mls Cold water
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 - Finely chopped
- 1 Orange Pepper - Diced
- ½ Cucumber - Diced
- 1 Red Onion - Diced
- 100 gram Cherry or Plum Tomatoes - Quartered
- 100 g Sweetcorn - Tin
- 60 g Green or/and Black Olives - pitted
- 4 tablespoon Pine Nuts
- 3 tablespoon Fresh Basil - chopped
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Parsley - chopped
Optional extras
- 130 gram Cooked Diced Pancetta
- 1 tin Tuna - drained
- 200 g Mozzarella - Balls or chopped
Instructions
- Cook 200 grams Long Grain Rice in 310 mls Cold water 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, 100 g Sweetcorn, 60 g Green or/and Black Olives, 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 was updated on 7th May 2024, with an easier-to-follow recipe card, a more user-friendly layout of the blog post.
Serving Suggestions
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.
To stay with the Italian theme, fry some chopped pancetta in the oil from the sundried tomatoes and mix it 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.
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.
First, rinse the rice until the water runs clear to remove starch. Then, 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 8 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!
Make Ahead
Making this recipe ahead of time requires separate containers to ensure your dish retains its vibrant flavours and textures.
Cook your rice as you normally would, transferring it to an airtight container and kept in the fridge.
Similarly, prepare your salad items by chopping them according to the recipe instructions and place them in a separate airtight container.
Keeping the salad items chilled and away from any moisture will help maintain their crispness and freshness until you're ready to serve.
The dressing should also be prepared ahead of time and stored in a small container. This allows the dressing's flavours to meld together beautifully, enhancing its taste when combined with the rice and salad.
When you're ready to serve, simply bring out all three components—the chilled rice, crisp salad items, and flavourful dressing—and mix them together. So each bite is as fresh and delicious as possible, making for a truly enjoyable eating experience.
Storage
Proper storage of rice salad is crucial to keeping it fresh, delicious, and safe to eat! Once you've made your rice salad, don't leave it out at room temperature for too long. Ideally, you want to pack it up and put it in the fridge within an hour or two.
The reason? Rice can be a sneaky breeding ground for bacteria if left out too long, especially at room temperature. Keeping rice chilled will prevent the growth of these bacteria.
So, grab an airtight container and spoon your rice salad into it once you have had enough. Seal it up tight and pop it in the fridge. This way, your rice salad stays fresh and tasty for your next meal.
Cooked and cooled rice should only be refrigerated for one day before use. Note that this recipe is not recommended for freezing.
We hope you enjoy this Italian Style Rice Salad as much as we did!
More Salad Ideas
Another great Mediterranean salad recipe is our orzo pasta salad or for a Thai inspired salad, try our prawn 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.
Please leave us a comment below; we love to hear what you add when making a cold rice salad recipe.
amy liu dong says
First of all, I like the look of this dish it is so colorful. Aside from that it looks delicious, easy to make, and healthy!
Luke and Kay says
Thank you for taking the time to review our Italian style rice salad, Amy! We're thrilled to hear that you not only enjoyed the visual appeal of the dish, but also found it delicious, easy to make and healthy. 🙂
Rosella Cassar says
Easy to make and full of Mediterranean healthy flavours.
Luke and Kay says
Thank you for taking the time to share your positive feedback on our Italian Style rice salad, Rosella! We are thrilled to hear that it was easy to make and full of Mediterranean healthy flavours. Our goal is to provide simple yet delicious recipes that can be easily incorporated into any diet. Thank you for choosing our recipe, we appreciate your support and hope you continue to enjoy it in the future. 🙂
Ronnie W says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
How long does it lay in the frig? Does it make the rice soggy after a day or two?
Luke and Kay says
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 says
Can't wait to try it :), thanks for sharing 💕
Luke and Kay says
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 says
Made this rice salad for a bbq at a friend's house? Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe!
Luke and Kay says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy! We're so glad you and your guests enjoyed our Italian Style Rice Salad. 🙂
Jean Riley says
Perfect. Went down very well with my family
Kay says
Thank you so much, Jean 🙂
This is the perfect summer salad; so pleased your family liked it 😉
Joanna says
A firm Family favourite
Kay says
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 says
Can you make this recipe the day before having guests over or it needs to be made day of? Looks delicious
Lauren Haywards says
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 says
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 says
Loved it! And easy to make.
Thanks
Kay says
Thanks for the comment, Annie 🙂
Glad you like the rice salad, we love this recipe, it makes the perfect side dish 🙂
Joanna says
Made it for my last BBQ And it went down a treat. I’ll be making for my next BBQ too.
Kay says
Thanks, Joanna for the comment and rating!!
Really pleased you loved the Italian rice salad, always goes perfectly with a summer BBQ 🙂
Faith oris says
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.