Caprese Rice Salad

You’ll love this fresh Caprese Rice Salad, made with cherry tomatoes, leafy greens, mozzarella and fluffy white rice all drizzled in a balsamic vinaigrette.

(47 votes, average: 2.19 out of 5)

Caprese Rice Salad

Cooking time PREP TIME 4 mins
Cooking time COOK TIME 1 min
Servings SERVES 1
Ready in TOTAL TIME 5 mins
Cooking time
PREP TIME 4 mins
Cooking time
COOK TIME 1 min
Servings
SERVES 1
Ready in
TOTAL TIME 5 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 Minute®White Rice Cup
  • 1 cup salad greens
  • 1/3 cup white balsamic vinaigrette, divided
  • 4 small mozzarella balls, halved
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • balsamic reduction (optional)

Instructions

  • Think you can spare 5 minutes to assemble this Caprese Rice Salad? This light and satisfying dish layered with mozzarella, fresh basil and sliced cherry tomatoes drizzled in a balsamic vinaigrette is worth every second! Make sure to use Minute® White Rice Cup for filling and quality rice in less time.

    Step 1

  • Heat rice according to package directions. Set aside and allow to cool.

    Step 2

  • Toss greens with half the vinaigrette in a medium bowl and place on a serving plate.

    Step 3

  • Toss rice, mozzarella balls, tomatoes, basil and pepper with remaining vinaigrette.

    Step 4

  • Place rice mixture on top of greens. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with balsamic reduction, if using.

    Recipe Tip

    Bite-sized, fresh mozzarella balls are also called ciliegine. You can substitute sliced or shredded mozzarella, or larger bocconcini, if you can’t find the smaller balls of mozzarella.

Anytime Salad

Caprese salad is one of those light dishes that can be enjoyed almost year-round. It’s versatile and delicious as a side dish, snack or appetizer! Our take on the classic includes the addition of fluffy white rice to give it just one more layer of delicious texture and flavor.

The beauty of this recipe is that it uses our microwavable Minute® White Rice Cup. Perfectly portioned in single-serving cups, this rice makes it easier than ever to assemble on-the-go meals. Toss your rice in the microwave and heat for 1 minute, let cool and add your favorite caprese ingredients. Making delicious dishes doesn’t always require hours in the kitchen!

Caprese, Reinvented

If you’re a caprese lover but are in search of a dairy-free or vegan option, simply swap out the mozzarella for creamy sliced avocado. You’ll also want to omit the Parmesan cheese or replace it with dairy-free cheese.

Looking for new ways to spruce up your caprese salad? Try this refreshing Chicken Caprese and Strawberry Rice Salad, made with fruit, vegetables, protein and grains. It’s a delicious and complete meal, that’s ready in a short amount of time!

For more protein, feel free to add chicken to this dish. Or, for a crowd-pleasing chicken and rice dish, try our 15-Minute Chicken and Rice Dinner.

Other Meal Inspiration

For something with Asian flavors, try this Microwave Egg Fried Egg recipe.

logo loading
Searching Retailers