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    Home » Side Dishes

    Published: May 29, 2019 · Modified: Mar 3, 2021 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 43 Comments

    Antipasto Rice Salad

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The antipasto ingredients of salami, mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, and pepperoncini peppers are the ideal complement to the Italian dressing for this rice salad.  This is a great way to enjoy a side salad that is not a pasta salad for those on a gluten-free diet.   It is similar to an orzo salad but with rice.

    This antipasto Italian cold rice salad is an easy and delicious recipe.  It is a great rice salad for summer but can also be served while the rice is still warm for a lovely side dish any season. A bonus about this antipasto rice salad is that the more it sits and gets a chance to marinate with the Italian dressing, the better it becomes.

     

    Recreating a Memorable Recipe

    As for the longer, it sits, the better it becomes - let's just say this rice salad recipe and my fondness has sat in my memory for a long time.  My best friend when I was a teen lived close by and I was at her house quite a lot. Her mom made this rice salad more than a time or two in my presence and I was a willing taste tester.

    I longed to recreate this memorable rice salad somehow especially since it is gluten-free. I hope this antipasto rice salad is something my family and yours continue to enjoy and have fond memories about even decades from now.   But mostly, I hope I have done Linda proud and recreated the rice salad beautifully.

    The Antipasto Ingredients Include:

    • Diced salami
    • Diced mozzarella
    • Sliced olives - I used green, kalamata, and canned black olives
    • Sliced grape tomatoes
    • Sliced pepperoncini peppers
    • All lovely Italian/Mediterranean/Greek flavors for this rice salad

     

    Antipasto Rice Salad ingredients

    Diced Ingredients for Antipasto Rice Salad

     

    Assemble the Antipasto Rice Salad

    After prepping the antipasto ingredients, gather the dressing ingredients and the room temperature rice that was made earlier.

    The Italian dressing ingredients include:

    • Olive oil
    • Red wine vinegar
    • Dried basil leaves
    • Minced garlic
    • Dry mustard
    • Salt & pepper

     

    Antipasto Rice Salad Ingredients

    Antipasto Rice Salad Ingredients

     

    Stir together the Italian dressing ingredients in a measuring cup, mason jar, or small bowl. The small amount of dry mustard powder helps not only boost the flavor with some tang but also helps thicken the dressing.  This ensures the dressing coats the ingredients nicely versus just simply soaking into them as plain olive oil and vinegar would.

     

    Homemade Italian Dressing for Antipasto Rice Salad The Short Order Cook

    Homemade Italian Dressing for Antipasto Rice Salad

    Pour the dressing over the rice and antipasto ingredients.  Stir to combine.  This is best when left to marinade together at least 30 minutes before serving. I do prefer this at room temperature. If you make this more than 30 minutes ahead of time and it is put into the refrigerator, I suggest having it sit about 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.

     

    Antipasto Rice Salad The Short Order Cook

    Stir ingredients together

     

    PIN THIS RECIPE FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!

     

    Antipasto Rice Salad PIN The Short Order Cook

    Antipasto Rice Salad from The Short Order Cook

     

    Antipasto Rice Salad

    Antipasto Rice Salad

    Angela
    Rice paired with antipasto ingredients like salami, mozzarella, and olives are mixed with Italian dressing for a wonderful gluten-free salad alternative to pasta salad.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 45 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8

    Equipment

    • rice cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 C cooked basmati rice
    • 1 C diced mozzarella
    • 1 C diced salami
    • 1 C sliced olives any variety
    • 1 C grape tomatoes halved
    • ¼ C pepperoncini peppers chopped

    Dressing Ingredients

    • ½ C olive oil
    • ¼ C red wine vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • fresh cracked pepper
    • 1 TB fresh parsley chopped optional

    Instructions
     

    • Cook basmati rice either on the stovetop or with a rice cooker. Ensure the final result yields 3 cups. Once the rice is ready, put it in a large serving bowl so it can begin to cool. The bowl should be big enough to hold all the salad ingredients with space to stir.
    • While rice is cooling, prepare the remaining ingredients by dicing and slicing the antipasto items. Set aside and begin making the dressing.
    • For the dressing, whisk together all the ingredients or place in a mason jar, close the lid, and shake.
    • Once the rice is at room temperature, the salad is ready to assemble. The rice should not be too warm or the dressing will make the salad soggy. It should also not be cold. When the rice is at room temperature, the rice will absorb some of the dressing making sure it is very flavorful. Top the rice with the antipasto ingredients and then pour the dressing over everything. Stir to combine and let sit for about 30 minutes to marinate a bit.
    • Serve room temperature with fresh chopped parsley.
    • Leftovers can be refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before eating and additional dressing may be needed to bring it back to life.

    Notes

    Nutrition Facts
    Servings: 8
    Amount per serving  
    Calories 513
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 25.1g 32%
    Saturated Fat 5.9g 30%
    Cholesterol 24mg 8%
    Sodium 894mg 39%
    Total Carbohydrate 58.3g 21%
    Dietary Fiber 1.8g 6%
    Total Sugars 0.7g  
    Protein 12.8g  
    Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
    Calcium 45mg 3%
    Iron 2mg 9%
    Potassium 250mg 5%
    *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
    Keyword easy, gluten-free, Italian

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tricia Snow says

      May 30, 2019 at 9:05 am

      What a great recipe! I never considered using rice!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 30, 2019 at 1:55 pm

        It is great with rice and really changes things up. Not to mention it is gluten-free for those of us that need it, or like to keep it to a minimum.

        Reply
    2. Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef says

      May 30, 2019 at 9:47 am

      I LOVE antipasto salad, it's always so refreshing and the flavors are magic together! This is a great GF option and it's perfect for the hot summer months BBQs and Potlucks too!

      Reply
    3. Heather says

      May 30, 2019 at 10:31 am

      Yum!!! This looks amazing!!!

      Reply
    4. Kendra says

      May 30, 2019 at 11:52 am

      I've used quinoa before for a similar salad, but never considered using rice! Great idea!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 30, 2019 at 1:55 pm

        When you try the rice option, I would love to hear what you think.

        Reply
    5. Joanne says

      May 30, 2019 at 11:54 am

      What a great twist in a classic recipe!

      Reply
    6. Following Our Own Path says

      May 30, 2019 at 12:29 pm

      Yum! Looks like the perfect dish to take with us on our road trips and summer picnics. And it's simple enough that even I can make it 😉

      Reply
    7. Brittany says

      May 30, 2019 at 1:18 pm

      Yummy! I have never thought to add rice to this type of salad! Something I will definitely need to do next time =)

      Reply
    8. Susan says

      May 30, 2019 at 1:36 pm

      Oh my goodness drop the mic and GET IN MY BELLY! I haven’t even considered making delish dishes like this bc of our gluten free lifestyle. This is going to the top of my list to make! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 30, 2019 at 1:57 pm

        You crack me up and make me smile Susan! Long before I was gluten-free I loved this salad so trust me when I say it is "get in your belly amazing"! Cannot wait to hear how you like it.

        Reply
    9. Suzan says

      May 30, 2019 at 2:54 pm

      Adding this to our gluten-free recipes & look forward to making this for my daughters' grad party this summer!

      Reply
    10. Liz says

      May 30, 2019 at 4:33 pm

      I've never even thought about using rice, what a cool idea! Great post

      Reply
    11. Anna says

      May 30, 2019 at 5:22 pm

      I am vegan myself, but my family will love this. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 30, 2019 at 5:42 pm

        Anna, you can mix and match ingredients. The salami and mozzarella can be swapped out for artichoke hearts and any beans you like.

        Reply
    12. Maureen Cardenas says

      May 30, 2019 at 6:59 pm

      This sounds like a perfect side dish for summer dinners and barbecues! My family will love this!

      Reply
    13. Kyndall Bennett says

      May 30, 2019 at 7:55 pm

      I'm not a big fan of black olives, but everything else I'd totally try!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 31, 2019 at 9:08 am

        Try adding artichoke hearts or beans instead of olives. So many great ways to mix this recipe up.

        Reply
    14. Christina Furnival says

      May 30, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      I mean, nom nom nom nom nom! Will be saving this for a potluck in the future! Mmm!

      Reply
    15. Margaret says

      May 31, 2019 at 6:32 am

      This looks amazing! I had never considered adding rice. I think that will make it more filling and a bit more substantial. Thanks for the idea.

      Reply
    16. Robin says

      May 31, 2019 at 7:25 am

      Looks yummy and great pics! Thank you!

      Reply
    17. Cynthia Mackintosh says

      May 31, 2019 at 7:28 am

      Your recipes look delicious! I love antipasto salad but never thought of having it with rice. I pinned this so I can make it at home myself!

      Reply
    18. Jennifer Morrison says

      May 31, 2019 at 10:23 am

      This sounds so delicious! I make a macaroni salad that I include all of the anitpasta items, but never with rice. I can't wait to try it!!!

      Reply
    19. Michelle says

      May 31, 2019 at 10:55 am

      This - it's what's for dinner tonight! Thanks for the idea 🙂 It looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 31, 2019 at 1:17 pm

        Would love to hear how it goes?

        Reply
    20. jen says

      May 31, 2019 at 11:21 am

      Not my jam but happy to pass it on to a couple people I know who would enjoy!

      Reply
    21. Jen says

      May 31, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      Looks so delicious!

      Reply
    22. Kymberly Irwin says

      May 31, 2019 at 3:38 pm

      Ah ... YUMMY!!!!! Now we're talking! Love this recipe. Pinterest Saved!!!

      Reply
    23. Karla says

      May 31, 2019 at 3:53 pm

      Oh, please! EVERYTIME you post a recipe, I practically drool down my shirt. This one is now saved, too! Thanks.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 31, 2019 at 4:19 pm

        Sorry Karla but I cannot promise I will not continue to do this. Keep drooling...

        Reply
    24. Pauline says

      May 31, 2019 at 7:52 pm

      This looks so yummy. It would be perfect for our monthly potlucks at work.

      Reply
    25. Tiffany says

      June 01, 2019 at 5:27 am

      Mind. Blown. I NEVER thought to make this with rice and I am a rice > pasta type of gal!

      Reply
    26. Michele says

      June 01, 2019 at 5:47 am

      This sounds delicious, and those colors really pop! Do you think it would translate ok with brown rice?

      Reply
      • Angela says

        June 01, 2019 at 8:07 pm

        Yes, try brown rice too.

        Reply
    27. Kim says

      June 01, 2019 at 8:19 am

      This looks delicious and easy! Perfect for weeknights!!

      Reply
    28. Meagan says

      June 01, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      Looks yummy! I love the idea of using rice.

      Reply
    29. Lina says

      June 02, 2019 at 5:42 am

      Looks amazing! Perfect for those summer days.

      Reply
    30. Cindy says

      June 02, 2019 at 7:34 pm

      I don’t eat meat or cheese but I think this recipe would be great too without those ingredients. I’ll give it a try.

      Reply
    31. Carolina says

      June 04, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      This is the first time I've seen rice for a salad. It looks awesome and I need to give this one a try.

      Reply
    32. Michele says

      June 04, 2019 at 6:22 pm

      This looks delicious and so simple that I think I could do it!

      Reply
    33. Tonya | the Writer Mom says

      June 05, 2019 at 11:58 am

      Ooh that sounds delicious! I think I'm going to try it sometime this summer.

      Reply
    34. T.M. Brown says

      June 08, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Oh, I am loving this recipe!1 Great ingredients and a perfect dish to bring to various family gatherings!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        June 10, 2019 at 7:12 pm

        It is a great potluck and family gathering side dish for sure.

        Reply

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