Skinnymixer’s Crispy Rice Salad with Honey Lime Dressing is the kind of salad that you just can’t stop eating!
There is just something about the texture of the crispy rice, crunch of the pepitas, sweetness of the dried cranberries, pops of juiciness of the cherry tomatoes, the creamy saltiness of the feta and zest from the dressing that all sings beautifully in every bite.
This Crispy Rice Salad is part of our 2024 Christmas Recipes Collection – the response from our Skinnymixer’s Recipe Testing Team was that they were immediately adding it to their Christmas Lunch menu.
That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this delicious salad all-year round though.
Crispy Rice Salad Serving Suggestions
- Kellie S. added some grilled prawns tossed in smoked paprika, oil, lime juice and salt/pepper.
- Erica W. also added grilled prawns … we are seeing a theme here!
- Shauna D. served the salad with lamb chops
- Some grilled chicken seasoned with Everything Salt would also be amazing!
- This salad is extremely versatile and will go perfectly as a side on the Christmas Table with any protein such as baked ham, turkey, roast pork, steak and fish.
What you will need:
- basmati rice – you can also use brown rice, long grain rice, jasmine rice but will need to cook accordingly.
- toasted pepitas – you can toast in the oven, dry cook in a pan. Flaked almonds or sunflower seeds would also be delicious.
- baby spinach – you can also use kale, rocket or lettuce
- fresh parsley – if you don’t have fresh parsley I woudn’t use dried parsley
- dried cranberries – it would also be delicious with fresh pomegranate
- Danish feta – baby bocconcini or goat’s cheese would be delicious also. Dairy-free? use cheese of choice
- cucumber – you can use baby cucumbers, Persian cucumber. Simply remove the seeds to cut down on the water they release
- baby tomatoes – you can also use ripe chopped Roma tomatoes
- fresh mint (optional)
- light tasting olive oil
- honey – I find the local honey to be the best tasting and not too overwhelming in taste. If you have a very strong honey you might like to start with half and add to taste
- fresh lime juice – not the bottle please! It just doesn’t taste the same. You can also use fresh lemon or orange juice
- Dijon mustard
- smoked paprika
- salt & pepper
Dietary Needs
This Crispy Rice Salad is naturally gluten-free and very easily made dairy-free by changing the feta. It is a fantastic vegetarian addition to a BBQ or dinner party.
We have also provided variations to cater for Low Carb, Paleo and Low Fodmap dietary needs.
Storage
This salad is best served fresh. To make ahead we recommend combining all the salad elements fresh right before serving for the best crunch. Store in an airtight container or covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.
skinnymixer's Crispy Rice Salad with honey Lime Dressing
Crunchy, nutty, sweet and salty - this Crispy Rice Salad is delicious!!
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Servings: 6
Calories: 269kcal
Equipment
- air fryer or oven
- baking paper
- baking tray
Ingredients
- 200 g basmati rice
- 900 g water
- 3 Tbsp pepitas - toasted
- 1 handful baby spinach - chopped
- 1 handful fresh flat leaf parsley leaves - chopped
- 30 g dried cranberries
- 50-80 g feta - crumbled
- 80 g cucumber - deseeded and chopped
- 80 g baby tomatoes - halved
- 1 small handful fresh mint leaves - optional
Honey Lime Dressing
- 3 Tbsp light tasting olive oil
- 1 Tbsp honey - local preferred
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
Instructions
Thermo cooker
- Add dressing ingredients to mixer bowl and mix for 20 sec/speed 5/MC on. Set aside. If you like a lot of dressing, you may want to double it.
- Without washing the bowl, insert simmering basket and weigh in rice. Rinse rice well. Add water to mixer bowl and insert simmering basket with rice. Cook for 16 min/steaming temp/speed 4/MC on.
- Carefully remove basket. Transfer rice to a flat tray and combine with half the dressing. Spread rice out as flat as possible and place in fridge for 2 hr or until chilled (the longer the better to dry out the rice!).
- To cook in the air fryer, spread rice out on baking paper in air fryer - if needed cook in 2 batches. Cook for 10 min at 200°C. Stir to avoid burning and flatten out again for maximum crispiness. Cook for a further 10 min at 180°C (check at 5 min to ensure not burning rice). Remove and allow to cool.
- To cook in the oven, spread out on a lined baking tray and cook got 40 min at 200°C or until crispy, stirring every 10-15 min. Remove and allow to cool.
- In a salad bowl combine rice and salad ingredients. Pour over remaining dressing and gently combine. NOTE: If entertaining we recommend combining just before serving to keep the rice crispy.
Conventional
- Add dressing ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. If you like a lot of dressing, you may want to double it.
- Rinse rice well and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer on medium-high heat, cook for 10 min. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 min. Turn off heat and do not open lid!
- Transfer rice to a flat tray and combine with half the dressing. Spread rice out as flat as possible and place in fridge for 2 hr or until chilled (the longer the better to dry out the rice!).
- To cook in the air fryer, spread rice out on baking paper in air fryer - if needed cook in 2 batches. Cook for 10 min at 200°C. Stir to avoid burning and flatten out again for maximum crispiness. Cook for a further 10 min at 180°C (check at 5 min to ensure not burning rice). Remove and allow to cool.
- To cook in the oven, spread out on a lined baking tray and cook got 40 min at 200°C or until crispy, stirring every 10-15 min. Remove and allow to cool.
- In a salad bowl combine rice and salad ingredients. Pour over remaining dressing and gently combine. NOTE: If entertaining we recommend combining just before serving to keep the rice crispy.
Notes
Dairy Free: Replace feta with dairy-free cheese of choice or omit.
Low Carb: Omit rice and dried cranberries. Instead of rice, toss 400 g of small cauliflower florets in half the dressing and air fry until crispy. Replace honey with sugar-free maple syrup.
Paleo: Omit rice and dried cranberries. Instead of rice, toss 400 g of small cauliflower florets in half the dressing and air fry until crispy. Replace honey with maple syrup. Omit feta.
Low Fodmap: Replace honey with maple syrup or rice malt syrup. The dried cranberries are within the limits for servings but don't eat the whole batch!
Tried this recipe?Mention @skinnymixer or tag #skinnymixers!
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 878IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg