Black Rice Salad with Tomatoes and Basil

This black rice salad with tomatoes and basil is a vibrant, flavorful dish that works as a starter, side, or main. The beautiful colors, fresh flavors, and varying textures make it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every time!

Juicy cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, zingy red onion, creamy mozzarella cheese and crunchy pine nuts jazz up the black rice, for a lighter rice-based dish that is simply delicious.

This black rice salad is an easy recipe to make, and it also keeps well (always a plus if you like leftovers as much as we do!). Speaking of leftovers, this is the perfect way to use already-cooked black rice. And it makes salad prep a snap!

• gluten-free
• vegetarian
• dairy-optional (easy to make vegan)
• ready in 10 minutes!
• STUNNING, with the vibrant colors contrasting against the black rice for a beautiful presentation!

If you like this salad, try our authentic tabbouleh salad, our strawberry spinach salad or our Greek salad.

How to make black rice salad

Have you ever made black rice salad? Our version is full of refreshing veggies and topped with a light Dijon-cider vinaigrette.

To make this black rice salad with tomatoes and basil, you will need:

• cooked black rice
• cherry tomatoes, halved
• fresh basil leaves, sliced or chopped
• red onion, finely sliced
• fresh mozzarella cheese
• toasted pine nuts
• olive oil
• cider vinegar
• Dijon mustard
• sugar
• salt and pepper

preparing the black rice salad

Making the black rice salad is a breeze! Here are the steps:

1. Combine salad ingredients: Place the black rice, tomatoes, basil, onion, and pine nuts in a large salad bowl and toss to combine.
2. Make the vinaigrette: Place all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar. Seal the jar and shake it, to mix all of the ingredients together. Drizzle all or part of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss.
3. Serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the bits of fresh mozzarella onto the entire black rice salad (or on individual servings of the salad).

We save the cheese for last because if the salad sits for a while, the black rice pigment will turn the cheese purple.

If you don’t have pre-cooked black rice, you can easily prep some in advance. One cup of uncooked black rice will make 2-1/4 cups of cooked rice, which is the exact amount that this black rice salad calls for. 🙂

SOME OTHER RECIPES WE ARE SURE YOU WILL LOVE:

• Can’t get enough black rice? These Black Rice Sushi Rolls are so tasty and beautiful! Packed with fresh ahi, crisp radish and carrots and pickled ginger, pile on the wasabi and enjoy!
• Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Black Rice is a combination of fall flavors! Cumin and cinnamon pair naturally with sweet potatoes, and you can turn this salad into a full meal by adding your protein of choice!
• This Spicy Blackened Tilapia is a dream! Cajun spices caramelize on the outside to make a delicious, blackened, crispy crust. Best of all, this is an easy weeknight dinner that’s good for you, too.

CONNECT WITH SAVOR THE BEST!

Be sure to follow us on our social media accounts

Facebook * Instagram *  Pinterest * Twitter * Youtube

Did you make this recipe? We would love to hear from you. Drop us a comment below.