Alton Brown Brown Rice Salad

This easy and delicious Alton Brown-inspired brown rice salad is a quick, nutritious meal perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks. Packed with crispy bacon, tangy vinegar, and fresh dill, it’s a simple dish that’s both hearty and flavorful. Use common pantry staples, and feel free to swap in your favorite herbs or veggies for a personalized twist!

Recipe Ingredients:

Baked Brown Rice

• 1 1/2 cups brown rice, medium or short grain
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Brown Rice Salad

• 6 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

How To Make Brown Rice Salad?

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C.
2. Prepare Rice: Place the rice into an 8-inch (20 cm) square glass baking dish.
3. Boil Water Mixture: In a kettle or saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a boil.
4. Combine and Cover: Pour the boiling water mixture over the rice, stir to combine, and cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
5. Bake Rice: Bake on the middle rack for 1 hour.
6. Fluff Rice: After 1 hour, remove the foil and fluff the rice with a fork. Set aside.
7. Cook Bacon: In a 10-inch (25 cm) sauté pan over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp. Drain, crumble, and set aside, keeping 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
8. Sauté Onions: Add the red onion to the pan and cook until translucent, about 5-6 minutes.
9. Add Liquid Ingredients: Pour in vinegar, chicken broth, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
10. Mix in Bacon and Rice: Return the crumbled bacon to the pan along with the cooked rice.
11. Absorb Liquid: Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed (7-10 minutes).
12. Add Fresh Dill: Stir in the chopped fresh dill.
13. Cool and Serve: Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Recipe Tips:

• Use the Right Rice: Stick to medium or short-grain brown rice for the best texture. Long-grain rice won’t absorb the flavors as well.
• Don’t Skip the Bacon Fat: The reserved bacon fat adds a rich, smoky flavor to the onions and dressing, so don’t substitute it with oil.
• Fluff the Rice Properly: After baking, fluff the rice with a fork gently to separate the grains without smashing them.
• Adjust the Tanginess: If the vinegar taste is too strong, add a splash of olive oil or a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors.
• Serve at the Right Temperature: Let the salad cool slightly before serving to allow the flavors to meld together perfectly.

How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?

• Refrigerate: First, let the leftover brown rice salad cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days
• Rehet: Reheat the salad in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of water or broth to prevent drying out, and stir occasionally until warmed through, about 5-7 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 250
• Total Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 15mg
• Sodium: 500mg
• Potassium: 200mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 35g
• Dietary Fiber: 3g
• Sugars: 2g
• Protein: 8g

Check out More Recipes:

• Alton Brown Cold-Fashioned Potato Salad
• Alton Brown Black Bean Salad
• Alton Brown Turkey Salad
• Alton Brown Smoked Turkey Salad