Italian Style Rice Salad

Steps to make

1. 1

   Cook rice

   8 min
   

   Rinse and drain 1 cup long-grain rice. Place the drained rice and 1 ¼ cups cold water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 8 minutes. Do not lift the lid.

2. 2

   Steam rice

   10 min
   

   Once 8 minutes have passed, remove the saucepan from heat and leave the lid on for 5-10 minutes. Then use a fork to fluff up the rice. Transfer the cooked rice to a bowl and place in the fridge to chill.

4. 3

   Make dressing

   2 min
   

   In a glass jar with a lid, combine 5 tablespoons olive oil, juice of ½ lemon, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons garlic puree or 4 minced garlic cloves and shake well.

5. 4

   Assemble salad

   3 min
   

   Combine the rice with 8 chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 diced yellow bell pepper, ½ diced cucumber, 1 diced red onion, ¾ cup quartered cherry or plum tomatoes, ¾ cup sweet corn, ½ cup halved green or/and black olives, 4 tablespoons pine nuts, 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Add in 7 ounces chopped mozzarella balls if using. Pour over the dressing and mix well.

6. 5

   Serve

   

   Serve garnished with more fresh herbs if desired.