Description
Jamie Oliver’s rice salad combines Mediterranean herbs, crisp vegetables, and zesty dressing for a refreshing meal. Cooks can prepare this quick dish in under 30 minutes, delivering a delightful blend of textures and flavors you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g (14.1 oz) mixed rice, such as Camargue, wild, long-grain
- 150 g (5.3 oz) mixed nuts
- 75 g (2.6 oz) dried apricots
- 15 g (0.5 oz) fresh basil, about ½ bunch
- 15 g (0.5 oz) fresh mint, about ½ bunch
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Boil long-grain rice in a medium saucepan following package instructions until grains are perfectly fluffy and tender. Drain completely and let cool at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Herb and Fruit Processing: Delicately strip fresh basil and mint leaves from stems, then finely slice into thin ribbons to maximize flavor release. Precisely cube dried apricots into consistent, small pieces for uniform texture and taste distribution.
- Seasoning and Mixing: Combine cooled rice with chopped herbs and apricot cubes, gently folding to create a harmonious blend. Enhance with freshly ground black pepper and hand-harvested sea salt, balancing flavors to personal preference. Generously drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the mixture, ensuring an even, glossy coating that amplifies the salad’s depth and richness.
- Serving Suggestion: Transfer the vibrant rice salad to a serving platter, presenting it as an elegant accompaniment to grilled seafood or roasted meats. The dish offers a refreshing and aromatic side that complements main course proteins with its bright, herbaceous character.
Notes
- Rice Cooling Technique: Let rice cool completely to prevent clumping and maintain ideal texture, ensuring each grain remains separate and fluffy.
- Herb Chopping Tip: Slice basil and mint delicately to maximize flavor release and prevent bruising, which can turn herbs bitter or dark.
- Seasoning Strategy: Taste and adjust salt and pepper gradually, understanding that sea salt provides more nuanced flavor than standard table salt.
- Oil Drizzling Method: Pour extra virgin olive oil evenly to create a smooth, glossy finish that binds ingredients and adds subtle Mediterranean richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg