Let’s forget for a moment that it’s the beginning of January and that we are all making an effort to eat healthier, exercise more, drink less, blah, blah, blah. Forget — because at first glance you might see just another salad.
You’ll think deprivation. And you’ll never know how truly delicious and satisfying this “salad” is. It will pass you by because you’re still in the “I can’t eat the cheeseburger that I really want” mode.
Snap out of it! Because once you try it, the only thing you’ll want is a second helping.
I love the yin and yan of this combination. Sweet, chewy sun-dried tomatoes, crisp-tender asparagus and briny kalamata olives — plus a double hit of citrus. First with sweet orange segments, and next with a tangy lemon vinaigrette.
There’s even brown rice for a hearty chew! This mix has staying power, too! It will last several days in the refrigerator without wilting or looking tired — which is a real boon if you’re responsible for packing lunches all week.
To change it up each day, you could add a little leftover chicken or pork from the previous nights dinner — or even a hard-boiled egg. Garbanzo beans would be good too! Just keep the arugula separate from the salad until you’re ready to dig in.
If you like rice salads, here’s a Asian Wild Rice Salad as well as a more Italian Rice Salad to try.
And think of this as a treat, not a penance. You’re gonna love it!
Other lunch-bucket friendly salads include:
- farro with pomegranate and apple
- cold soba salad
- barley and kale chopped salad
- quinoa asparagus and feta
- grilled vegetables with feta and farro
- green bean and wild rice
- farfalle with pepperoni, mozzarella and broccoli
- lemon-scented chicken and farro
Sicilian-Style Brown Rice Salad
This makes a great side dish with grilled meats or a delicious vegetarian main!
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 pound asparagus spears cut into 1" pieces
- 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil well drained
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted, quartered
- 2 oranges peeled and supremed
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
For lemon vinaigrette
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water (4-5 cups) add salt and bring to a boil. Add rice and reduce heat to a vigorous simmer for 25-30 minutes, until rice is "al dente". Strain rice through a sieve and return it to the saucepan. Cover and set aside for 10 minutes, then remove the lid and let the rice cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, make an ice bath by adding ice and water to a medium bowl, set aside. Fill a small saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add asparagus and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender and bright green. With a slotted spoon, transfer asparagus to the ice bath to stop the cooking and preserve the bright green color. Drain the asparagus on paper towels.
- In a large bowl combine the blanched asparagus, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives and orange segments. Add cooled rice and toss to combine. Set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the lemon zest and juice, garlic, dijon mustard, olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine. When emulsified add 3-4 tablespoons of the dressing to the rice salad and toss well. If it needs more dressing, add it 1 tablespoon at a time, so that it's lightly coated.
- Just before serving, add the basil and toss to combine. Serve on a bed of arugula.
Recipe Notes
If you're packing this for lunch, keep the arugula separate from the salad until you're ready to eat, so it doesn't wilt.
Pin “Sicilian Style Brown Rice Salad” For Later!
More Rice Salads:
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- Asian Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing
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- Tangy Italian Black Rice Salad
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- Green Bean and Wild Rice Salad
I’m not thinking deprivation either, it looks fab bright and vibrant, we have a few months before our asparagus is ready to harvest though 🙁
Stick it in your back pocket for later, Brian!
Such a beautiful salad! I wouldn’t miss anything else if I was eating this! YUM!
This looks and sounds awesome! Loving the citrus and asparagus {my fave!} in this! And your right…this’ll satisfy every craving and make you forget it’s healthy!
I love asparagus too – I think I make it every week!
Grains and veggies over nice greens are the way to go! Love this combination, Lisa:)
Especially after the food-fest of the holidays!
This sounds so good Lisa! Definitely my kind of salad. I love the fact that you can keep it in the fridge and just pull it out for a quick lunch!
Realistically, I think that’s what we all need, don’t you?
I think that arugula is an under used leaf. I love salads with it. And add the loveliness of the oranges and asparagus and rice, it makes it so interesting and beautiful to look at! I also love the addition of the olives and sun dried tomatoes. Yum.
I enjoy the peppery bite of arugula — its bitterness plays well with the orange segments.
They say eat the rainbow and I would say this qualifies nicely. I could eat this everyday, lovely recipe.
I appreciate that! Eating a rainbow is so much more fun than all brown food, too — don’t you think?
We love rice in our home and I’m always looking for ways to make more brown rice. This has my family’s name written all over it. I must try. Thanks
Glad you like it, Veena!
This salad doesn’t look blah blah blah to me at all. It appears very healthy and delicious!
I’m glad! It makes a great lunch!