Brown Rice Salad with Feta
This is my take on the Jennifer Aniston salad and one I love to meal prep for quick lunches. It’s packed with brown rice, fresh spinach, chickpeas, cucumber, crumbled feta, pistachios, and bacon, tossed in a garlicky herb dressing.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice cooled
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup chopped pistachios
- ¼ cup bacon bits cooked and crumbled
Garlic & Herb Dressing:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until well combined. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine brown rice, spinach, chickpeas, cucumber, feta, pistachios, and bacon.
- Pour half of the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Add more dressing as needed to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Notes
- Let the rice cool completely before mixing to prevent wilting the spinach.
- This salad stores well for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Naturally gluten-free; to make vegetarian, omit bacon or swap with plant-based bacon.
- Nutrition estimates are approximate.
Nutrition
Calories: 455kcalCarbohydrates: 50.7gProtein: 14gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 5.3gCholesterol: 16.7mgSodium: 685.6mgFiber: 6.9gSugar: 6g
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!