• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
End of the Fork
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • COOKING TIPS
  • ABOUT
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • COOKING TIPS
    • ABOUT
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Easy Giardiniera Rice Salad

    Published May 24, 2019, modified Mar 6, 2021 by Nicole Shroff / This site uses cookies. See the privacy policy linked in my footer. This site generates income via ads/ 9 Comments /

    114 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    Easy giardiniera rice salad pin

    Perfect for the summer, this popular Italian rice salad is great for picnics and lunch-boxes and is super quick and easy to make.

    giardiniera salad in white bowl
    Giardiniera Rice Salad

    Disclaimer: This is recipe is sponsored by Ciao Gusto. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

    Insalata di Riso (rice salad) is a popular Italian summer time dish. When mercury levels rise and it is too hot to slave over a hot stove, this quick and easy rice salad makes a tasty and refreshing light lunch.

    Served at room temperature, it is perfect for picnics and as a great make ahead dish – by the time you are ready to eat, all the delicious flavours will have combined together perfectly.

    What is in Italian rice salad

    Plain boiled rice is usually mixed with sliced würstel (small German sausages) or tuna, giardiniera (pickled vegetables), olive oil, salt and pepper.

    Giardiniera

    Giardiniera is a pickled, crunchy vegetable mix which is salty and tangy. It can be eaten as an antipasto, with cold cuts, or used as a garnish for dishes like Lesso (boiled meats). In fact it goes with quite a few dishes – think gherkins, think giardiniera! Try mixing it with this Potato Salad for extra tanginess and crunch.

    To prepare this dish, I used Ponti’s Insalata per Riso * (Cold Rice Salad Topping), which is a delicious and easy to use giardiniera with great texture. It is a mixture of small pieces of carrots, gherkins, peppers, celeriac, turnip, artichokes, green olives, peas, black olives, sweetcorn and mushrooms. It is available in 280g jars from the Ciao Gusto shop on Ocado.

    Ciao Gusto supplies Ocado with over 30 of Italy’s most popular brands – many of which are long established family run businesses. The Ponti brand is a family run business (est. 150 years ago), well known for its pickled vegetables, vinegars and sauces. They also stock many of  my other favourite brands such as Cirio tomatoes and beans, Giovanni Rana fresh pasta, Rio Mare Tuna, and Riso Gallo risotto, to name a few. I love finding all these great quality ingredients in one place to click & buy.

    Ciao Gusto will be running a Save 20% in June on these Ponti products from Ocado: Cold Rice Salad Topping in Sunflower Seeds Oil, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (500ml), Capers in Salt, Zero Oil Grilled Peppers (314ml), Zero Oil Pepper & Lemon Artichokes, Zero Oil Grilled Champignon Mushrooms, and Zero Oil Sun-dried Tomatoes.

    Click the Ocado link above to order – and I’d love to know what you made or thought of them!

    ingredients with tuna
    Ingredients

    How to make Giardiniera Rice Salad

    1. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil and gently lower the egg into the boiling water. (Make sure the egg is room temperature). Boil for 10 minutes, then remove, allow to cool and remove the shell.
    2. Make the rice – click here for detailed instructions on How to Make Rice.
    3. Separately, in a large mixing bowl, combine the rice, the Ponti mixed vegetables (drained), tuna (I use the oil too), parsley and salt & pepper.
    4. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top and mix well.
    5. Slice the egg and arrange on top.
    6. Serve at room temperature.

    More pantry staple/freezer recipes

    Mexican Rice

    Fish Pie

    Spiced Lentil & Chickpea Soup

    ⭐️ Are you making this recipe? Do let me know how it turned out in the comments! And please give it a star rating below!

    Instagram – I love seeing your creations, so post a picture, tag @endofthefork and hashtag #endofthefork

    ⚜

    closeup of giardiniera salad

    Giardiniera Rice Salad

    Nicole Shroff
    Perfect for the summer, this popular Italian rice salad is great for picnics or lunch-boxes and is super quick and easy to make.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Resting time 1 hr
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, light meal, Salad
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 232 kcal

    Ingredients

    Metric | US Customary
    • 1 egg room temperature
    • 4 cups cooked rice
    • 280 grams Ponti Insalata per Riso Cold Rice Salad Topping in Sunflower seeds oil, drained
    • 160 grams tuna 5 oz can of good quality tuna with the oil
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 1 lemon
    • 1 tablespoon olives pitted and sliced (optional)
    • 1 tablespoon parsley whole, torn or chopped

    Instructions
     

    Boil the egg

    • Bring a small saucepan filled with water to a boil, then gently lower the egg into the water till fully submerged. Boil on medium heat for 10 minutes. Allow to cool before removing the shell, then set aside.

    Prepare the rice salad

    • In a large mixing bowl, add the rice, tuna, Ponti vegetables*, parsley, juice of the lemon and salt and pepper. Stir gently till all the ingredients are mixed together.
    • Slice the egg and place over the rice salad.
    • Serve at room temperature

    Notes

    Best made a few hours ahead.
    Keep chilled and remove an hour before serving.
    *use only a little of the oil

    MEASUREMENT NOTES

    The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 6gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 49mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 145IUVitamin C: 15.7mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 0.7mg
    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to know how it turned out! Let me know by leaving a review below, or snap a photo and share it on Instagram tagging me @Endofthefork.
    SUBSCRIBE for new recipes
    Facebook Pin Recipe Email

    More Salad Recipes

    • Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Dip
    • Watermelon Salad
    • Lemon Feta Dressing
    • 25+ Cranberry Recipe Ideas

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marissa

      October 11, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      4 stars
      Thanks for share this article it’s very helpful to me.
      King regards,
      Thomassen Dencker

      Reply
      • Nicole Shroff

        October 11, 2020 at 2:12 pm

        Thats great, you are most welcome Thomassen

        Reply
    2. Lesli

      July 30, 2019 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      I love Italian tuna in a can, and on a nice salad. This rice salad has my name written all over it! YUM!

      Reply
    3. Beth

      July 30, 2019 at 3:11 pm

      I love the Giardiniera in this salad ! Adds such a nice tangy crunch! I can’t wait to make it again!

      Reply
    4. Julie

      July 29, 2019 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      THis looks so good! I love all the fresh flavors in it. What a great dish for summer and for a family.

      Reply
    5. Ramona

      July 28, 2019 at 11:28 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe calls my name – I just love the simplicity of it and all the flavours. Simply divine- the perfect family recipe.

      Reply
    6. Seema

      July 28, 2019 at 8:59 pm

      Loved the way ypu have described each ingredient in the recipe. It was interesting to learn about them. The recipe looks really filling and with ample veggies, thats a winner for me.

      Reply
    7. Fiona Manoon

      May 24, 2019 at 5:10 am

      I Have found this recipe quite amazing.
      Thank you so much for sharing .
      I am going to try this out very soon.
      My family will love it. Thanks for posting !!

      Reply
      • Nicole

        May 24, 2019 at 1:53 pm

        Thank you so much Fiona.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Nicole.

    Browse my site for healthy and seasonal recipes from around the world, read about great ingredients, and get handy tips for working in the kitchen. Also, check out my restaurant reviews for some great dining experiences! more about me →

    New! Meal Planner

    Cover of meal planner showing colourful food.

    Dessert Recipes

    • Pear Cobbler
    • Yogurt Pancakes
    • Bliss Balls
    • Chocolate Orange Cake

    Winter Recipes

    • Apple Cider Vinegar And Cranberry Juice
    • Cranberry Mocktail
    • Turkish Lamb Ribs
    • Cherry Sauce

    Top Categories

    Breakfast Chicken Lamb Seafood Light Meals Soup Salad Sides Beans Cookies Dessert

    Trending

    • Pasta With Ricotta And Tomato Sauce
    • Broccoli & Cheese Breakfast Muffins
    • Zucchini Banana Bread
    • Cavolo Nero With Garlic And Lemon

    Footer

    As seen in graphic.

    ^ back to top

    About

    Subscribe

    Contact Me

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Meal Planner
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Mail
    • Pinterest

    @ 2023 End of the Fork. All Rights Reserved.