Brown Rice Salad

Brown rice salad is a versatile and healthy dish, perfect for a summer meal or as a side. Here is a classic Italian version of brown rice salad that you can try.

Ingredients

• 250g brown rice
• 200g cherry tomatoes
• 150g canned tuna (in oil or in water, depending on preference)
• 100g corn
• 2 peppers
• 1 red onion
• 1 handful of pitted black olives
• Fresh basil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Rinse the brown rice under running water, then cook it in plenty of salted water following the times indicated on the package. Brown rice usually requires a longer cooking time than white rice.
2. Meanwhile, wash the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half or quarters depending on their size. Clean the peppers and cut them into small cubes. Drain the tuna and flake it with a fork.
3. Drain the red onion and slice it thinly, then let it rest in cold water with a little vinegar to make it more digestible and mellow its strong flavor.
4. Once the rice is cooked, drain it and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking.
5. In a large bowl, combine the rice with the cherry tomatoes, tuna, corn, peppers, olives, and drained onion. Add the basil torn by hand.
6. Dress with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix the rice salad well to combine all the ingredients.
7. Let it rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and intensify.

This salad can be further customized by adding ingredients such as beans, grilled zucchini, arugula, or whatever you prefer based on your tastes and what you have on hand.

Fun Facts

Rice salad is a dish that lends itself well to countless interpretations and can be enriched with both plant-based and animal-based ingredients. It is also an excellent way to use up leftover vegetables or other foods you have in the fridge.