Rice and Spinach Salad

Brighten up your meal with this vibrant and nutritious Rice and Spinach Salad, a perfect blend of wholesome ingredients and zesty Mediterranean flavors. This easy-to-make recipe combines fluffy long-grain rice, fresh baby spinach, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and tangy red onion, all brought together with a simple homemade dressing of extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Topped with crumbled feta cheese, this salad is a feast for both the eyes and palate. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an ideal choice for a light lunch, a stunning side dish, or a chilled make-ahead option for picnics and potlucks. Rich in nutrients and bursting with flavor, this Spinach and Rice Salad is sure to become a go-to favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain rice
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups baby spinach leaves
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 small red onion
• 0.5 cup feta cheese
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 clove 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.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 cup of rinsed rice and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Step 3

While the rice is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and dice the cucumber, and finely slice the red onion.

Step 4

In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.

Step 5

Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and let it cool for about 10 minutes before adding it to the salad bowl.

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until all the ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 8

Top the salad with crumbled feta cheese and serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to serve chilled.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1371.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	947.7

Total Fat 58.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 15.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 66.8mg	0%
Sodium 2134.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 88.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 7.6g	0%
Total Sugars 13.2g
Protein 22.6g	0%

Vitamin D 12IU	0%
Calcium 583.7mg	0%
Iron 6.5mg	0%
Potassium 1419.9mg	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: 54.1%

Protein: 9.3%

Carbs: 36.5%