How can I save this rice salad?

[Namechangeforthisonenow]

I'm having a bbq and prepared a rice salad but it's awful. The rice is cloggy and I've chopped some red onion and Tomatoes in with it. It doesn't look appealing, photo doesn't show how horrible it looks. Can I save it?

Add halved pitted olives, chopped peppers and a vinaigrette dressing?

Give it a dressing and toss it well so the grains separate. Was the rice fully cool?

I don't think the rice can be saved there. It looks really over cooked and has absorbed too much water. If you have time and a few pounds, I’d run to the shop and buy a replacement.

Agree with a dressing, some finely chopped herbs and extra vegetables, peas, sweet corn, peppers etc

This recipe has rice, toms and onion in it too. Do you have the other stuff to add in?
flawlessfood.co.uk/italian-style-rice-salad/#wprm-recipe-container-4937

A vinaigrette dressing, lots of chopped fresh herbs if you have them, some more finely chopped veg.

I’d go and get one of those flavoured rice in a microwave pouch.

I see vjg13 was ahead of me there! Sorry

Something green will improve its appearance no end. What about lightly blanched peas? (frozen are fine).

Some fresh herbs (torn basil maybe, or mint and parsley), halved black olives and crucially some dressing which will hopefully loosen the claggyness of the rice.

Then mix it all thoroughly together so it looks more like a rice salad and less like a bowl of boiled rice and onions with a tomato garnish.

Could you cut them tomatoes into chunky salsa like pieces and add some more veg. Pop some sesame oil and maybe fry an egg and whack it in and make more of a chahan/ egg fried rice dish xxx

I think thecrice is too sticky to be saved. I'd keep it to have as egg fried rice later.

Keep us updated!!!! xxx

You've got far too much rice for the vegetable matter. it looks like garnished bowl of plain boiled rice how it is right now.

Google "rice salad" and you'll see that attractive ones are at least 50/50 veg vs rice. Add a lot more veg - have you got a can of sweetcorn, some frozen peas, a pepper you can dice up etc etc?

And it needs a good dressing (3 parts oil, one part lemon or vinegar, plenty of salt, pepper, and herbs, a teaspoon of grain mustard and a drizzle of honey). Taste before pouring on to make sure the balance of oil and acid is ok.

Get rid I would it looks horrible. In any case no point in getting an upset stomach.

The rice is over cooked and beyond saving.

I've added chopped pepper, balsamic. Olive oil and some tarragon (only herb I had) still doesn't look great but tastes ok.. can it pass?

I don't think you can save the rice. Can you pick tomatoes out and re-do the rice. I hate raw onion but I know some people like it.

Try mixing a small amount of the rice with a dressing oil/vinegar to see if it separates . If not start again. Wash the rice well before cooking then rinse well with hot water once it’s cooked to separate. Grated radish and fresh green herbs will add flavour (basil, coriander , flat parsley or coriander).

Not if it’s cloggy. Time to chuck.

Have you got some pasta shapes ? You could make a quick pasta salad

Looks a lot better now OP

Tbh I’d have swilled the rice through with cold water first, to get rid of the stickiness. Then drained it well. Then I’d have chopped everything that’s going in it very small - you’ve sliced the onions and everything else looks quite chunky.

@Namechangeforthisonenow OMG this looks so much better!!! Huzzah xxx

Only you can judge the taste, but it certainly looks more appetising!
As a PP has said, I think a dash of greenery (fresh herbs? shredded baby spinach? defrosted peas?) would improve its appearance still further.

No egg as it's for a vegan bbq 😂

I haven't got any peas or sweetcorn. I'm doing a green salad separately and serving olives separately too as I know not everyone likes olives or my rice. How about grated carrots?

Add some tinned tuna with its juice in it. Yummy.