Celery Free Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad with Tomatoes, Olives & Cucumber
This vibrant grain salad is everything you want on a warm day — bright, herby, and packed with Mediterranean flavors that feel both fresh and satisfying. Juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, briny Kalamata olives, and a lemon-oregano dressing come together over nutty brown rice for a bowl that's as beautiful as it is delicious. The cumin in the dressing adds a subtle warmth that ties everything together without overpowering the freshness of the parsley and mint. For anyone navigating a celery allergy or intolerance, this recipe is a genuine win — every ingredient is straightforward and naturally free of the stalk, seeds, and root that can sneak into so many store-bought grain salads and dressings. The whole thing comes together with simple pantry staples and a handful of fresh produce, no complicated substitutions required. It also keeps well in the fridge for up to three days, making it a smart choice for meal prep or a make-ahead lunch that actually gets better as the flavors meld.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the rice
- 1 cup long-grain brown rice
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the salad
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 english cucumber, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh mint, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the brown rice, water, and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover tightly, and cook until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender, about 40–45 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 10 minutes, then spread it out in a large mixing bowl and let it cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
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