Crunchy, fresh, colorful and delicious, summer salads are the perfect meals to usher you through the year’s warmest months. Delightful dishes that feature an arrangement of peak produce, they’re welcome additions to any menu. Far from boring, the best salads excite tastebuds with myriad flavors, textures and colors. They’re lively, zesty and exactly what you want to eat when soaring temps call for quick meals that won’t weigh you down!
Ideal sides for buffets or potlucks, fresh salads can also be served solo, for al fresco lunches or light dinners. There’s nothing quite like Success® Rice and grains to ensure that your salads are satisfying enough to stand alone! Easy to use and incredibly delicious, they’re also the type of ingredients you can rely on when you’re craving big flavors that come together fast.
For salads that wow, start with Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice, tri-color quinoa or another favorite Success® Rice product. Then, think of other key elements, adding an array of raw and cooked vegetables that vary in color, texture and flavor. Cooked proteins, such as cold chicken, hard-boiled eggs, tuna or tofu, add heft without heaviness. Finally, you’ll want a zippy dressing and a variety of creamy and crunchy garnishes so that no two bites are exactly the same. When making vinaigrette, reach for citrus or fresh herbs, tangy balsamic or Dijon, and remember to dress salads just before they’re served so that they don’t wilt.
This summer, keep your cool with a parade of tempting Success® Rice salads. From pasta salads to punchy rice medleys and exuberantly green bowlfuls of goodness, these salads cover every type of warm-weather craving imaginable.
Cranberry Pearl Couscous Salad
Give pasta salad a guaranteed glow-up, with Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous and a host of tasty add-ins! Colorful and quick to prepare, this dish pairs savory pearl couscous with tart cranberries, toasted almonds and parsley. Perfect alongside grilled meat or fish, it can also be packed for picnics or served as part of a buffet spread.
Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad
A delicious jumble of chickpeas, crisp veggies and Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous, this protein-packed salad is a vegetarian dream. Flavored with a generous sprinkling of za’atar, parsley and lemon juice, it’s also bright and zippy despite its brief 15-minute prep time.
Miso Kale & Rice Power Bowl
Dressed with deeply savory red miso paste, Success® boil-in-bag brown rice is a creamy, bold addition to this hearty bowl of greens. A warm salad that also includes sautéed garlic and kale, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt dressing and togarashi, this is an umami-packed option for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Arugula and Rice Walnut Pesto Bowl
A cross between pesto pasta and a rice bowl, this hearty dish is loaded with interesting ingredients. Lively and fresh, homemade arugula pesto livens up warm Success® boil-in-bag brown rice. Then, a hodgepodge of garnishes (sautéed kale, eggs, radishes, feta, basil and walnuts) is sprinkled over top to ensure a range of creamy, crunchy, flavorful bites.
Chicken Avocado Salad
This handheld salad pops with tender chicken, crisp bacon, fluffy Success® boil-in-bag white rice and peppy avocado mash. Take our advice and double the recipe—guests are going to want more than one of these delectable snacks!
Green Goddess Pearl Couscous Salad
Made with spinach, parsley, yogurt and lemon juice, our brisk green goddess dressing is delicious on anything! Stirred into bouncy Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous, it makes for a summery salad that’s great with grilled proteins, fresh vegetables or all on its own.
Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad
Perfect for picnics or potlucks, this dish can sit without wilting—even on sweltering days! Topped with chickpeas, ripe tomatoes, feta and cucumber, Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous becomes a refreshing, 20-minute take on a traditional Greek salad.
Pesto Pearl Couscous Salad
A 15-minute salad that will transport you to the Mediterranean, this one is worth whipping up for meal prep or dinnertime. Simply seasoned with pesto and fresh basil, it relies on creamy mozzarella and tender couscous for its satisfying chew.
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Pearl Couscous Greek Salad
A complete meal in one dish, this recipe pairs smoky chicken and golden potatoes with tangy Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous salad. A tasty alternative to your go-to chicken dinner, this one is perfect for cooking outdoors and comes together in just 45 minutes.
Crunchy Thai Peanut & Quinoa Salad
Nutty Success® boil-in-bag tri-color quinoa is a protein-rich alternative to rice or pasta in this popular dish. One of our favorite picks for cookouts, potlucks and busy weeknights, this 20-minute option is loaded with crunchy veggies and herbs, then finished in a sweet and savory dressing. Top each serving with cold chicken or marinated tofu and turn this simple stunner into the star of the show!
Fried Chicken and Rice Salad
Dotted with peas, carrots, red pepper, tomatoes and slaw, Success® boil-in-bag white rice is a crunchy, colorful partner to crisp morsels of chicken in this balanced dish. Already have a protein on hand? Simply make the rice salad and serve up something different tonight.
Black Bean, Corn and Mango Salad
Planning a tropical fiesta? Invite this snappy side to the party! Loaded with ripe mango, black beans, corn, bell peppers and herbs, it’s a warm weather must-have that’s delicious with tacos, burritos and other Tex-Mex fare. Though we love this salad with the kick of lime and jalapeño dressing, leave out the pepper if you prefer mild flavors.
Quinoa Salad with Apricots and Snap Peas
For languid spring and summer days, this 15-minute salad delivers oodles of color and flavor, without a speck of effort. Simply mix Success® boil-in-bag tri-color quinoa with fresh snap peas, apricots, red onion, pistachios, arugula, mint and parsley before dressing it in lemon and Dijon vinaigrette. The result? A dish that pops with sweet bites, nuttiness and the delicate whisper of peppery herbs.
Crispy Rice Salad with Chili Crisp Tahini Dressing
Though you’ll need a few extra minutes to make this unique recipe, crisping up Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice is worth every second. A delectable base for sweet corn, zucchini, tomato, cucumber, mango and pepper, it’s key to giving this salad its irresistible texture and flavor. Nutty and rich, with an undeniable kick, the chili crisp-spiked dressing is another indispensable addition!
Quinoa Chickpea Salad
Olives, red onion and feta add zing to this appealing Success® boil-in-bag tri-color quinoa salad. For a fresh take on a Greek salad, we recommend combining them with chickpeas, cucumber, roasted red peppers and basil, but feel free to pick and choose the ingredients you like best.
