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Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad

Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad

Name: Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled but not cold; 2 tomatoes, diced; 2 cucumbers, diced; or use 1 long English/continental cucumber; ½ red onion, chopped; or substitute 2 stems green onion; 40 g (4 cups) baby rocket/arugula, or 4 cups, tightly packed; roughly chopped; or use baby spinach; ⅓ cup coriander/cilantro leaves, roughly chopped; ⅓ cup fresh dill leaves, roughly chopped; 3 tbsp lemon juice; 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 garlic clove, minced using a garlic press; ½ tsp Dijon mustard; ¾ tsp salt, kosher/cooking salt; or 1/2 tsp table salt; ½ tsp black pepper; ½ cup black olive slices; 200 g (7 oz) halloumi, or 7 oz; sliced, then pan-fried in a little olive oil until golden and crispy; other topping options, feta, Parmesan or nuts

A bowl of brown rice salad with vegetables, herbs and golden halloumi, with lemon nearby. — Brown rice salad served with golden halloumi.

Nutty brown rice, crisp vegetables, fresh dill and coriander, and a bright lemon dressing make a fresh, filling salad. Add olives and golden halloumi if you like.

By Cookin' KitchenOctober 19, 2026

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Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

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Recipe

Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad

Nutty brown rice, crisp vegetables, fresh dill and coriander, and a bright lemon dressing make a fresh, filling salad. Add olives and golden halloumi if you like.

Cookin' · https://cookin.club/recipes/mediterranean-brown-rice-salad

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

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Ingredients

8 servings

For 8 servings

Salad

3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled but not cold
2 tomatoes, diced
2 cucumbers, diced; or use 1 long English/continental cucumber
½ red onion, chopped; or substitute 2 stems green onion
40 g (4 cups) baby rocket/arugula, or 4 cups, tightly packed; roughly chopped; or use baby spinach
⅓ cup coriander/cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
⅓ cup fresh dill leaves, roughly chopped

Lemon dressing

3 tbsp lemon juice
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced using a garlic press
½ tsp Dijon mustard
¾ tsp salt, kosher/cooking salt; or 1/2 tsp table salt
½ tsp black pepper

Optional extras

½ cup black olive slices
200 g (7 oz) halloumi, or 7 oz; sliced, then pan-fried in a little olive oil until golden and crispy
other topping options, feta, Parmesan or nuts

Equipment

Jar
Large bowl
Serving bowl

Instructions

Step 1: Put the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.
Step 2: Put the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and toss well.
Step 3: Transfer the salad to a serving bowl. If using halloumi, pile it on top.
Step 4: Serve.

Notes

Serve at room temperature. If the rice is cold, warm it briefly in the microwave in three 10-second bursts to take the chill off.

For a different herb combination, use parsley or chives with dill, chives and parsley, or double the coriander or dill. You can also add 2 1/2 teaspoons oregano to the dressing, or use 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs or another dried herb of choice.

The salad vegetables can be changed to other raw or cooked vegetables. Try sautéing vegetables with a little oil, garlic, salt and pepper, or roasting them. Baby spinach can replace the rocket.

The dressing can be made with yellow mustard instead of Dijon mustard, or without mustard. Other topping options include feta, Parmesan, flaked almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, cashews, sunflower seeds or pepitas.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 179 kcal
Fat: 10 g
Saturated fat: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 21 g
Sugar: 2 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 3 g
Sodium: 226 mg

Estimated values; they will vary with the exact ingredients and brands you use.

Mediterranean cuisine

Side Dishes
Salads
fresh herbs
lemon
rice
salad dressing

About this recipe

Nutty brown rice, juicy cucumber and tomato, fresh dill and coriander, and a bright lemon dressing make this salad fresh and filling. Serve it as a side or add the optional olives and halloumi for a more substantial meal.