Description
This Rice Salad with Nutty Zesty Dressing is a light, refreshing dish bursting with flavor and texture. Featuring fluffy rice, crunchy peanuts, juicy mandarins, and crisp cucumber tossed in a tangy peanut dressing, it’s the perfect side or main for picnics, barbecues, or easy lunches.
Ingredients
250 g dry rice (such as Basmati)
100 g salted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
6 spring onions, finely chopped
1/2 large cucumber, cut into 1 cm pieces
300 g mandarins in juice (1 tin), drained (reserve 2 tbsp juice)
For the dressing:
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp peanut butter
2 tbsp reserved mandarin juice
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to the packet instructions, then drain well.
- While the rice cooks, chop the peanuts, spring onions, and cucumber. Drain the mandarins, reserving 2 tablespoons of the juice.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, peanut butter, and reserved mandarin juice until smooth and creamy to make the dressing.
- Rinse the cooked rice under cold water to cool it quickly, then drain thoroughly.
- Transfer the rice to a large bowl and add the peanuts, spring onions, cucumber, and mandarins.
- Pour over the dressing and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1–2 hours to let the flavors develop before serving.
Notes
Use leftover rice to save time — just make sure it’s fully cooled before mixing.
Add extra vegetables like red pepper, shredded carrot, or edamame for color and crunch.
Swap peanut butter for almond or cashew butter for a different flavor.
For more zing, add lime juice or grated ginger to the dressing.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook (after rice is cooked)
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
