I love black rice, it has a really nutty delicious flavour, mixed with chickpeas, fresh tomatoes, loads of herbs, a good lemon vinaigrette and a generous sprinkling of feta, this salad is delicious, fresh and always a crowd pleaser. It is perfect on its own as a light lunch or makes a great side dish (with or without feta!)
INGREDIENTS
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup black rice
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Generous handful cherry tomatoes finely sliced
1 small cucumber, diced, or 1/2 large cucumber
1 bunch fresh parsley finely chopped
10-12 fresh mint leaves finely sliced
1/2 cup roasted pistachios
Roughly 1/4 to 1/3 cup Olive Oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Ground Sumac
Zaatar
Salt & Pepper
150g feta cheese (omit to keep this vegan)
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook your black rice according to the instructions - I always like to cook rice with vegetable broth. Allow it to cool completely.
Combine the lemon juice, salt and pepper, sumac, zaatar and olive oil in a small bowl. Whisk together and allow to sit.
In a large salad bowl, mix your tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs with the chickpeas. Top with the cooled rice and the dressing. Toss to combine then top with the pistachios and feta.