When summer knocks on the door, there’s a recipe that always returns to our tables: rice salad. Fresh, light, and incredibly versatile, it’s the perfect dish to tackle the hot season. There are endless ways to dress cold rice in summer; for example, it’s excellent with tuna and zucchini, or with arugula pesto, both recipes you can find on our website. This cereal is perfect in many combinations and is also great for preparing fridge-cleaning rice salads. Today we propose a tasty and original variant: rice salad with grilled vegetables and a delicate cheese cream.
A simple preparation, suitable for both home lunches and those under the umbrella or at the office, which originates as a “fridge-cleaning” recipe but can transform into a complete, balanced, and tasty dish. Grilled vegetables like eggplants, zucchinis, and peppers pair perfectly with cold rice, while the cheese and yogurt cream adds creaminess and a fresh note enhanced by mint, the undisputed protagonist of the summer garden.
Perfect also for those following a vegetarian diet, this rice salad can be personalized in countless ways: that’s the beauty of cold salads. Prepared in advance, they store well and even improve after a few hours in the fridge.
Discover also:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Grill, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Summer, Ferragosto
Ingredients to prepare the Rice Salad with Grilled Vegetables
- 1 1/2 cups rice for salads
- 1 eggplant
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 zucchini
- 1 cup canned sweet corn, drained
- 3 oz green olives (pitted)
- 2 oz black olives (pitted)
- 5 oz cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- mint
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt
Tools to prepare the Rice Salad with Grilled Vegetables
- Cast Iron Griddle
- Pan
- Salad Bowl
- Ladle
- Colander
- Knife
- Cutting Board
How to prepare the Rice Salad with Grilled Vegetables
Wash and clean the eggplant and bell pepper. Slice the eggplant and cut the bell pepper into strips. Grill them on a hot griddle until lightly golden. Once ready, cut them into smaller pieces and season with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt.
Cook the zucchinis:
Cut the zucchinis into cubes and sauté them in a pan with a drizzle of oil until golden but still crunchy.
Cook the rice:
Meanwhile, boil the rice in salted water following the package instructions (about 12-15 minutes for parboiled rice). Once cooked, drain it and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Let it drain well and season with a drizzle of oil.
Prepare the cheese cream:
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese with the Greek yogurt and a tablespoon of oil. Work with a fork until you get a smooth cream.
Pour the cooled rice into a large bowl. Add all the prepared vegetables (eggplant, bell pepper, zucchinis), the drained corn, sliced olives, and chopped mint.
Add the cheese cream and mix well to evenly distribute all the ingredients.
Cover and let the salad sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. It will improve in taste and texture.
Storage
Store the rice salad in the refrigerator, in a closed airtight container, for up to 2 days. We do not recommend freezing.
Variants
With proteins: add feta cubes, natural tuna, or legumes like chickpeas or cannellini beans.
Vegan: replace cheese and yogurt with a plant-based cream (like soy yogurt or light hummus).
Spicy: add curry or paprika for a spicy touch.
With alternative grains: replace rice with farro, barley, or couscous.
Useful Tips
Do not skip cooling the rice under water: it prevents it from becoming sticky.
To make the dish more nutritious and balanced, you can add a protein source.
Fresh mint can be substituted with basil or parsley, according to your preferences.
If you have time, you can prepare the grilled vegetables the day before and store them in the fridge.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I prepare the rice salad the day before?
Yes, in fact, it tastes even better after a few hours of resting in the fridge.
Is brown rice suitable?
Absolutely! Just extend the cooking time according to the package instructions.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, you can make it simpler by removing the mint and olives if not preferred.
