Black Rice Salad with Mango and Cashews
This black rice salad is absolutely delicious. It's made with forbidden rice, sweet mangoes and oranges, toasted or spicy cashews, and an incredible citrus salad dressing.
Complete the meal with some ginger garlic chicken and sautéed bok choy.
This recipe was originally published back in 2012. We've updated the post with some new photos and more information. We've also tweaked the recipe so that it's a little easier to make – but it's still every bit as delicious!
Black rice salad
If you love combining sweet and savory flavors then this black rice salad is for you! The nutty forbidden black rice, sweet mango and orange pieces, and crunchy toasted cashews make every bite a happy one.
You can prepare this salad several hours in advance so it is perfect for a dinner party or to take on a picnic. It also keeps really well for a day or two in the fridge making it ideal for meal prep.
What is black rice
Black rice, which is also known as Forbidden Rice, is a type of glutinous rice that is dark black but turns into a deep purple color once cooked. Its color comes mostly from anthocyanin, which is the same pigment that colors raspberries and blueberries. It has a slightly nutty flavor and a chewy texture similar to brown rice.
It's also a very healthy rice that has a low glycemic index, is higher in protein, and has more antioxidants than other types of rice.
How to make black rice salad
This recipe is made in three easy steps.
- Cook the rice then let it cool. We spread it out on a baking sheet so that it cools faster.
- Mix the salad dressing ingredients together.
- Put the cooked black rice and the remaining ingredients into a big bowl and toss with the dressing. So easy!
Full recipe instructions in the recipe card below.
Should this be served hot or cold?
While this recipe is intended to be served at room temperature, it is also delicious served warm. Instead of cooling the rice after it's cooked, simply mix all the ingredients together right away for a warm black rice salad.
Variations to try
- Replace the oranges with more mangos.
- Add some pineapple, persimmon, papaya, or other tropical fruit.
- Switch up the nuts. Peanut or almonds make great choices.
- Add some feta cheese.
- Make it more veggie-forward with cucumbers, peppers, or snap peas.
What to serve with black rice salad
This black rice salad definitely has an Asian vibe to it so goes well with Asian-inspired recipes. But it's also quite versatile so if you have a favorite chicken or fish recipe, chances are that it will go well with this salad.
Chicken recipes to pair with black rice salad:
Fish recipes that go well with black rice salad:
Veggie sides to serve with this salad:
- Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots
- Best Roasted Broccoli
- Sautéed Bok Choy with Ginger and Garlic
- Garlic Butter Sugar Snap Peas Recipe
Popular rice recipes
- Spicy Mexican Rice
- How to Cook Basmati Rice
- Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries, Pecans, and Sweet Potatoes
- Mediterranean Tomatoes Stuffed with Rice
Black Rice Salad with Mango and Cashews
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Ingredients
- 2 cups black rice + 3 ½ cups water
- ¼ cup EACH: lime juice and orange juice
- 1 tablespoon EACH: fish sauce, honey, and cooking oil
- 3 Alphonso mangos, or 2 globe mangos, cut into chunks
- 6 mini mandarin oranges, or 3 regular oranges, segmented
- ½ cup EACH: toasted cashews and chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup EACH: thinly sliced red onion and chopped green onions
Instructions
- Cook the rice. Put the black rice and water into a medium-sized pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and set it aside for 5 minutes.2 cups black rice + 3 ½ cups water
- Make the dressing. In a glass measuring cup or bowl, mix the lime juice, orange juice, fish sauce, honey, and oil.¼ cup EACH: lime juice and orange juice, 1 tablespoon EACH: fish sauce, honey, and cooking oil
- Cool the rice. When the black rice has finished cooking, transfer it to a rimmed baking sheet and spread it out into a thin layer. This helps it cool fast. Pour the dressing over the rice and mix well. Let the rice sit until it has cooled and the dressing has absorbed, about 10 minutes.
- Finish the salad. Transfer the rice to a large mixing bowl then add the mangoes, oranges, cashews, cilantro, red onions, and green onions and mix well.3 Alphonso mangos, 6 mini mandarin oranges, ½ cup EACH: toasted cashews and chopped cilantro, ¼ cup EACH: thinly sliced red onion and chopped green onions
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This rice salad was wonderful! I served it with your mango chutney chicken – so much mango! – and it went together perfectly.
I’ve had black rice in my pantry forever and never knew what to do with it. Thanks for the recipe idea!
No problem, Joanne! Hope you love the recipe as much as I did. btw it’s awesome with peanuts too 🙂
Oooh – I love the sweet and savory combination. And black rice really makes everything pop! So beautiful, and I’m sure…amazingly delicious!!!
You’re right, the black rice really provided contrast for everything else. It definitely dressed it up 🙂
I saw this in Bon Appetit and have been dying to try it! The pictures have sealed the deal for me! Looks beautiful.
It makes such a difference for me too to see pictures! The original recipe calls for peanuts instead of cashews which I also think would be delicious. I hope you try the salad, it’s definitely a good one!