Linda's Greek Rice Salad

Bursting with fresh, vibrant Mediterranean flavors, Linda's Greek Rice Salad is a delightful blend of tender long-grain rice, crisp vegetables, and tangy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty lemon-oregano dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light lunch, this easy-to-make salad combines diced cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh herbs like parsley and mint to create a refreshing dish that's as colorful as it is delicious. Ready in just 35 minutes, this chilled salad is a make-ahead marvel, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully in the refrigerator. Whether served as a stand-alone vegetarian dish or paired with grilled meats, Linda's Greek Rice Salad is a Mediterranean-inspired crowd-pleaser you'll make again and again! Keywords: Greek Rice Salad, Mediterranean salad recipe, easy summer side dish, feta cheese salad, picnic recipes.

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups long-grain white rice
• 3 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1 medium, diced cucumber
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 0.5 medium, finely chopped red onion
• 0.5 cup, pitted and sliced kalamata olives
• 0.75 cup, crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons, chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon, chopped fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 0.25 cup olive oil (for dressing)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 clove, minced garlic
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Set aside.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the rinsed rice, a pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Step 3

Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed.

Step 4

Remove the rice from the heat, fluff it with a fork, and set aside to cool completely before assembling the salad.

Step 5

While the rice is cooling, prepare the vegetables. Dice the red bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion. Halve the cherry tomatoes and slice the kalamata olives.

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 7

Once the rice has cooled, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the diced vegetables, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced olives, crumbled feta cheese, chopped parsley, and mint.

Step 8

Pour the dressing over the rice mixture and gently toss to combine, ensuring everything is evenly coated.

Step 9

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt or lemon juice to suit your preference.

Step 10

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 11

Before serving, give the salad a gentle toss and garnish with additional parsley or feta cheese, if desired.

Step 12

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1905.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1778.3

Total Fat 129.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 30.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.1g
Cholesterol 100.1mg	0%
Sodium 3938.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 127.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.9g	0%
Total Sugars 15.2g
Protein 29.8g	0%

Vitamin D 18IU	0%
Calcium 890.2mg	0%
Iron 12.5mg	0%
Potassium 1376.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 64.9%

Protein: 6.6%

Carbs: 28.5%