Yes, again, another recipe from Italy. This is originally called insalata di riso, rice salad, a delicious cold dish for the summer. Rice salad is perfect for a quick lunch since you make it beforehand and cool it in the fridge ready to serve. It is also perfect to take to work for a nice homemade lunch! It is great also for a summer party, since it can simply be made in great quantity and served cold.
For best results prepare your rice salad a day ahead, and take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving.
Rice salad is incredibly easy to make and it can be easily tuned to suit your taste. This is my version with the ingredients I could find in Germany.
The following ingredients are for a rice salad for 2 persons.
Ingredients
- 125 gr parboiled rice or basmati rice
- 1 wiener würstchen (hot dog in the US) – skip for a vegetarian rice salad
- pickled onions
- 100 gr mix of pickled vegetables (carrots, baby cucumbers, bel pepper, cauliflower…)
- 50 gr Swiss cheese
Directions
The rice for rice salad is not prepared like risotto, it is prepared just like you would make pasta: bring abundant water to a boil, add salt and the rice. Boil for the time specified in the package. Drain. Rinse quickly under cold water to cool it and prevent it from continuing to cook.
While the rice is cooking prepare all the other ingredients.
Boil the wiener (hot dog) for few minutes. Drain and cut in slices. Skip the wiener for a vegetarian rice salad, the veggies and cheese will still make it very tasty.
Cut all the vegetables bite size. I like to cut them small so I can eat a combination of them with every bite ;)
Cut the cheese.
Mix everything together, add olive oil if it seems dry, adjust salt if needed but consider that it will acquire a lot of flavor by the following day. I usually wait to add salt just before serving.
Presto fatto! Quickly done! You rice salad is done. Chill and serve.
Remember, rice salad is better when it sat in the fridge for one day and should be removed from the fridge about 30 minutes before serving.
Enjoy your super easy rice salad!
