Easy Rice Salad
Sometimes you don’t need many ingredients to make something delicious. This easy rice salad is one of those simple recipes that comes together with a little cooked rice, fresh vegetables and a few pantry staples. It is quick to prepare, colourful and refreshing, making it a lovely option when you want something simple without spending too much time in the kitchen.
We made this rice salad at home with cucumber, carrots, onion, green pepper, fresh cilantro, dark soy sauce and mayonnaise. The combination gives you a lovely mix of textures and flavours—the vegetables add freshness and crunch, while the mayonnaise makes the salad creamy. The dark soy sauce adds a little savoury flavour and colour, while the cilantro gives it a fresh finish.
One thing I particularly like about this recipe is that it can help you make good use of leftover cooked rice. Rather than allowing a small amount of rice to go to waste, you can turn it into something completely different by adding a few fresh ingredients. This is also a useful recipe when you’re looking for a simple way to stretch what you already have at home.
You can enjoy this rice salad as a quick and simple lunch, a light meal or a side dish alongside other foods. The quantities are also quite flexible, so you can adjust the vegetables according to how much cooked rice you have and what is available in your kitchen.
We made this particular salad with ingredients that we had on hand, but you can make small adjustments to suit your family’s preferences. You can add more or less mayonnaise, adjust the seasoning or change the quantities of the vegetables.
Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, a simple side dish, a budget-friendly recipe or an easy way to use leftover rice, I hope this easy rice salad with vegetables and mayonnaise gives you an idea to try in your own kitchen.
Let’s get cooking!
Easy Rice Salad with Cucumber, Carrots & Mayonnaise
Equipment
- chopping board
- knife
- large mixing bowl
- Spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 2-3 cups cooked rice or as preferred
- 1 large cucumber
- 2 large carrots
- 1 medium onion
- 1 medium green pepper
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Wash and prepare the vegetables. Dice the cucumber, carrots, onion and green pepper, and chop the cilantro. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cooked rice and mix.
- Add salt to taste and the dark soy sauce.
- Add the mayonnaise and gently mix until everything is well combined.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning or mayonnaise if desired.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of vegetables depending on how much rice you have.
- This is a convenient recipe for using leftover cooked rice.
- For the best texture, allow cooked rice to cool completely before making the salad.
- Keep the finished salad refrigerated and enjoy while fresh.
- You can adjust the mayonnaise and soy sauce to your taste.
Enjoyed This Easy Rice Salad Recipe?
I hope you enjoy this simple rice salad and that it gives you another idea for using the ingredients you already have at home. It’s quick to put together, fresh and crunchy, and makes a lovely simple lunch or side dish. If you try it, I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it!
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