Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad Recipe
A vibrant and nutritious Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad featuring a mix of fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs, and a zesty lemon dressing, topped with crispy pan-fried halloumi cheese. Perfect for a light lunch or a side dish that bursts with Mediterranean flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled but not cold
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 2 cucumbers, diced (or 1 long English/continental cucumber)
- 1/2 red onion, chopped (substitute 2 stems green onion)
- 40g/4 cups tightly packed baby rocket/arugula, roughly chopped (or baby spinach)
- 1/3 cup coriander/cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh dill leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup black olive slices
- 200g/7oz halloumi, sliced
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced using garlic press
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 3/4 tsp salt (kosher/cooking salt, or 1/2 tsp table salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Optional Toppings
- Feta cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Nuts
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: Place the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper into a jar. Seal and shake well to combine all ingredients thoroughly, creating a vibrant and flavorful dressing.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked brown rice, diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers, chopped red onion, baby rocket/arugula, coriander, dill, and black olive slices. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss everything well to ensure even coating and flavor distribution.
- Cook the Halloumi: Heat a small amount of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced halloumi and pan-fry until each side is golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Assemble and Serve: Transfer the tossed salad to a serving bowl and pile the golden halloumi slices on top. Add any optional toppings such as feta, parmesan, or nuts if desired. Serve immediately to enjoy the contrast of fresh salad and warm cheese.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs like coriander and dill to brighten the flavors of the salad.
- For a dairy-free option, omit the halloumi and try adding toasted nuts instead.
- Dijon mustard helps emulsify the dressing and adds a subtle tang.
- Optional toppings like feta, parmesan, or nuts can add extra flavor and texture variety.
Keywords: Mediterranean salad, brown rice salad, halloumi salad, healthy lunch, vegetarian, fresh herbs, lemon dressing
