Mardi Gras Rice Salad
Celebrate the vibrant flavors of Mardi Gras with this colorful and refreshing Mardi Gras Rice Salad! Packed with a medley of crisp red, green, and yellow bell peppers, zesty red onion, crunchy celery, and fresh parsley, this salad is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Tossed with a bold and tangy Cajun-inspired dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Cajun seasoning, every bite bursts with flavor. Perfect as a festive side dish or a light main, this rice salad is easy to make and can be served chilled or at room temperature. Whether you're hosting a Mardi Gras party or simply craving a taste of New Orleans, this dish will bring the spirit of celebration to your table.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups white rice
- 4 cups water
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper
- 1 small red onion
- 2 celery stalks
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 large garlic clove
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a medium pot, combine the rice and water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
While the rice is cooling, prepare the vegetables. Dice the red, green, and yellow bell peppers into small, uniform pieces. Finely chop the red onion, celery, and fresh parsley.
In a small bowl, prepare the dressing. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Cajun seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Once the rice is cool, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the diced vegetables and parsley, then pour the dressing over the top.
Gently toss the salad until the rice and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing. Adjust seasoning to taste, if needed.
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1156 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 60.5 g | 78% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.3 g | 46% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 3518 mg | 153% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 139.3 g | 51% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.1 g | 50% | |
| Total Sugars | 16.0 g | ||
| Protein | 16.1 g | 32% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 221 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 4.4 mg | 24% | |
| Potassium | 1638 mg | 35% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
