This Black Rice Salad Bowl with Spicy Peanut Dressing makes for a hearty and colorful meal because of its ingredients. It is high in protein, antioxidants and fiber. The black rice is unpolished and unprocessed which makes it a really healthy alternative when you're eating clean. Plunge into this bowl of happiness!
You can see how we've been trying our best to stick to our new year goals. Yesterday was the first time in the new year when we were completely free and with no temptations looming in the future. Or so we thought. We both got ready for what was going to be a detox day. It started well with the Vegan Green Smoothie. And we sailed through lunchtime with this black rice salad bowl drizzled with spicy peanut dressing. We even had a cup of Green Tea in the evening and finished a litre and a half of water. It was all good, till we stepped out to buy groceries. Saw a new food truck parked right outside our lane. Came back armed with a Barbecue Chicken Burger. MAJOR FAIL.
Let's just pretend that never happened. And get back to this salad. Which is just so so healthy. Full of colorful veggies and protein and antioxidants and fiber - it's everything you need at the beginning of a new year! Also there is a spicy peanut dressing involved. I normally use peanut butter but I ran out. Because I ate it all up. But that's not important. Because you have to use the dressing. It's the BOMB. And perfect because you don't even need peanut butter. Just peanuts. And it takes only a minute and can be stored. Plus it's SPICAY! And so lick-able that you may just finish the whole thing before you get to the salad. I think it's safe to say that I love this salad. Tee hee.
I received a sample of this Heirloom Black Rice from First Agro, along with all the other veggies I ordered. A little birdie called the internet tells me that this Heirloom Black Rice was once forbidden to the general public and eaten exclusively by the Emperors of China. And now me. With it's delicious roasted nutty taste, soft texture and beautiful purple color, I can imagine why.
Confession: I didn't expect the salad bowl to taste so good when I first tried it. But by the second spoonful, Denver and I were looking at each other and shoveling it in. So now you have a hearty salad bowl meal which is really tasty. WIN. WIN.
If you've never cooked with black rice, it's pretty easy to prepare. It's recommended that you soak the rice before cooking. I didn't, but it turned out just fine. You just need a 1:2 rice to water ratio. It takes anywhere between 40-50 minutes to cook, and comes together in a sort of glutinous mass which is sticky, earthy and surprisingly delicious. It's also full of fiber because it's unpolished and unprocessed and is only 160 calories per serving. So you got yourself a grain which will be your best friend when you are trying to lose some weight, and become your healthier self again.
More Healthy Salads:
- Thai Peanut Mango Quinoa Salad
- Crunchy Chinese Chicken Salad
- Vegan Pasta Salad with Italian Balsamic Dressing
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Apple Arugula Almond Salad with Orange Dressing
Black Rice Salad Bowl with Spicy Peanut Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup Black Rice cooked (See Note 1)
- ยฝ cup Carrots sliced
- 1 cup Arugula or Rocket
- ยฝ cup Red Radish sliced
- 2 Cucumbers sliced
- 2 Eggs soft boiled
For the Dressing
- ยผ cup Peanuts roasted (cleaned and skinless)
- ยผ cup Water
- 4 Cloves Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Fish Sauce optional but highly recommended
- 1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons Honey
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing by adding everything into a blender. Blend till smooth.
- To assemble the salad, arrange all the salad ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle with dressing just before serving and toss lightly. The salad serves two, and we ended up using most of the dressing.
Richa Gupta says
Thanks Kristen!
Kristen Poynton Chidsey says
This looks just incredible!!
Richa Gupta says
You'll love it, so check it out Indu!
indugetscooking says
I love the sound of that peanut dressing. Not tried black rice, does look good!
Richa Gupta says
Hehe, yea let's just forget about that burger. Thanks Sree
Richa Gupta says
The peanut dressing does make the salad shine Sandhya, thanks for stopping by!
Richa Gupta says
Thanks Subha, I'm sure you'll enjoy cooking with it. It's easily available on Amazon and other online stores!
Sreelatha @ Framed Recipes says
So beautifully presented Richa. And no I did not hear anything about a burger ๐ - Sreelatha
Sandhya Hariharan says
Peanut Dressing is absolutely divine and a hit twist to the Salad.. I have never cooked with Black Rice.. this is absolutely inviting !!! Good luck on ur clean eating challenge:)
Subhasmita says
The peanut dressing sounds divine richa. Haven't tried black rice yet. your post is tempting me to give it a try. Gorgeous pictures.
Richa Gupta says
Thanks Dolphia, I like that picture too!
Dolphia Nandi-Arnstein says
That picture of rice looks so gorgeous!! The best of the post.
Richa Gupta says
Hey Priya, I've seen it at most speciality gourmet stores. You can also order it online. I just added an affiliate link to my post where you can order it via amazon. I hope you try cooking with black rice - it's great as a dessert too! Let me know how it goes ๐
The Girl Next Door says
I have never cooked with black rice before - it does look like something I would like to try out. Where can I get it in Bangalore? Any idea?
The Girl Next Door says
That looks so interesting!