Fresh Vegan Rice Salad
By the QuiteRecipes team (Jamy & Kaïna) | Food Service Professional, Early Childhood Expert & Parents
A vibrant, refreshing vegan rice salad featuring nutty brown rice, shredded carrots, juicy tomatoes, and sweet mango, all tossed in a tangy lime-soy dressing.
One bowl, a rainbow of textures, and a sweet-savory combination we can not get enough of. We toss cold rice with chunks of mango, crunchy vegetables, and a soy-lime dressing that wakes everything up. It is the lunch that actually gets better after a few hours in the fridge.
🥄 Ingredients
- 🫗 5 cups brown rice, cooked and cooled
- 🫗 Sesame seeds (black or toasted)
- 🫗 Carrots, shredded
- 🫗 Tomato, chopped
- 🫗 Onion, finely chopped
- 🫗 Mango, chopped
- 🫗 Fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped
- 🫗 Lime juice, to taste
- 🫗 Soy sauce, to taste
Nutrition Facts*
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands and portion sizes. Values are provided per serving.
👨🍳 Instructions
**Prep Base:** Ensure your brown rice is completely cooled before beginning; this prevents the fresh vegetables from wilting.
**Combine:** In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown rice, shredded carrots, chopped tomato, onion, and mango.
**Dress:** Drizzle the salad with fresh lime juice and soy sauce. Start with a small amount and adjust according to your preference for saltiness and acidity.
**Garnish:** Toss in the fresh coriander and a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds.
**Serve:** Serve at room temperature or chilled.
🎥 Video Tutorial
Fresh Vegan Rice Salad
Video credit: embedded from YouTube. All rights belong to the original creator, who allows sharing on other websites.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕
Dressing Too Early: If you add the dressing hours before serving, the tomatoes and mango may release too much juice, making the salad watery. Add the lime juice and soy sauce just before serving for maximum freshness.
- ✕
Chopping Size: Try to cut the carrots, tomatoes, and mangoes into pieces roughly the same size as the rice grains for a balanced bite every time.
🔄 Variations
Crunch Factor: Add toasted cashews or peanuts for an extra layer of crunch and protein.
Spicy Kick: Thinly slice a fresh chili pepper or add a splash of sriracha to the dressing for a kick of heat.
🧊 Storage
- 📦
This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Because it is a grain-based salad, it actually benefits from sitting for an hour, allowing the flavors to meld.
💡 Chef Tips
Rice Texture: Cook the brown rice slightly *al dente*—it will hold its shape better in the salad and won't get mushy when mixed with the dressing.
Color Contrast: Using black sesame seeds provides a striking visual contrast against the orange carrots and mango, making the dish look professional.
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About the Authors
This recipe and guide was developed, tested, and approved in our home kitchen and daily life. Jamy is a retired Food Service District Manager and Early Childhood Program Manager who spent his career overseeing multi-site restaurant operations, large-scale culinary production, and daycare menu management. Kaïna brings the ultimate real-world test: making sure it brings ease and joy to our kids on a busy weeknight.
Read more about our professional background and philosophy →