This refreshing brown rice salad is bright with lemon zest, shredded carrots, and crisp cucumber, balanced by creamy feta. Best served chilled or at room temperature, it’s an easy make-ahead dish for summer dinners, parties, or leftover lunches. This brown rice and veggie salad makes a healthy dinner.
This is a wonderful two-in-one side salad for meals (ie starch + veg in one dish) but interesting and colorful enough to stand on its own as a light meal or as part of a lunch spread.
How to make Sweet Lemon, Cucumber & Brown Rice Salad
Yields: 6
Total Time: 30 mins
Prep Time: 20 mins
This recipe is: Corn-Free, Dairy Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free
Ingredients
- 1½ cups brown rice
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2½ teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup finely diced cucumber
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- ½ cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
Directions
- Prepare brown rice according to package instructions. Once fully cooked, cool rice to room temperature and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together lemon juice, red wine vinegar, lemon zest, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder and black pepper until sugar is fully dissolved. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the dressing begins to emulsify and thicken.
- In a large bowl, combine cucumber, carrots, onion, cilantro and cooled rice. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir to combine.
- Serve in individual bowls/plates and add crumbled feta cheese to each serving.
Notes
Pairs beautifully with grilled salmon or chicken. Makes great leftovers the next day straight from the fridge.
There are plenty of other ways to elevate this salad to meal status:
- Sprinkle of parmesan
- Dollop of yogurt
- Nuts – try flaked almonds (toasted), or walnuts, pepitas, sunflowers, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts
- Can of tuna, salmon or other fish
- Sliced poached chicken
- Any other cooked protein that takes your fancy
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