Rice and Spinach Salad
Brighten up your meal with this vibrant and nutritious Rice and Spinach Salad, a perfect blend of wholesome ingredients and zesty Mediterranean flavors. This easy-to-make recipe combines fluffy long-grain rice, fresh baby spinach, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and tangy red onion, all brought together with a simple homemade dressing of extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Topped with crumbled feta cheese, this salad is a feast for both the eyes and palate. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an ideal choice for a light lunch, a stunning side dish, or a chilled make-ahead option for picnics and potlucks. Rich in nutrients and bursting with flavor, this Spinach and Rice Salad is sure to become a go-to favorite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 small red onion
- 0.5 cup feta cheese
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 cup of rinsed rice and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
While the rice is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and dice the cucumber, and finely slice the red onion.
In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and let it cool for about 10 minutes before adding it to the salad bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Top the salad with crumbled feta cheese and serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to serve chilled.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
948 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 58.3 g | 75% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.9 g | 80% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 67 mg | 22% | |
| Sodium | 2134 mg | 93% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 88.5 g | 32% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.6 g | 27% | |
| Total Sugars | 13.2 g | ||
| Protein | 22.6 g | 45% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 584 mg | 45% | |
| Iron | 6.5 mg | 36% | |
| Potassium | 1420 mg | 30% | |
*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.
