This Mexican Black Rice and Pumpkin Salad is packed with flavour. Honey and cumin roasted pumpkin, nutty sweet black rice, creamy avocado, spicy chilli, zingy lime and fabulous fresh coriander. So many delicious flavours that make this salad a taste explosion.
We all know I love roasted vegetables, I have a bit of an obsession with the sweet savoury intense flavour that you get when you roast veg. A whole recipe collection worth of obsession 😉
Just last month I shared my Roasted Spiced Carrot, Red Onion and Mozzarella Salad, and before that there was Roasted Fennel with Parmesan and Chives and so many more. Check out my roasted veg collection here.
I have a few food obsessions 😉 Remember my charred lemon obsession? Man that was a good G&T!!! Or my dumpling obsession....haha I ate an awful lot of dumplings that month! And I still love them!
But my long time obsession (other than pasta) has been roasted veg. Yes I am crazy, but I am my own personal kind of crazy!!!! 😉
I can't help it, when you roast veg the natural sugars caramelise, and you get that smoky toffee flavour. A touch of olive oil, some salt and pepper and pretty much any veg you can think of tastes amazing roasted! Even the maligned Brussel Sprouts taste perfect when roasted!
Today I have roasted pumpkin for you! Which is perfect for the start of fall up in the Northern hemisphere! Pumpkin season is fast approaching, which is good as I cannot get enough of it!!!
I made this salad last week, demolished plenty and packaged the rest up for a friend. It travelled well, which makes it perfect for taking for lunch. Just be sure to give the chopped avocado a good coating of lime juice to make sure it doesn't go brown and mushy! If you have access to a work kitchen, even better would be to chop your avo when you want to eat your salad.
If you have never cooked black rice before it is pretty simple. It is best cooked by the absorption method. Low heat and double the quantity of water to rice.
If you can't find black rice, then wild rice would be a great substitute. Even white rice could be substituted in here. Although I would cook it in vegetable stock to add some extra flavour.
Enjoy x
P.S If you are a black rice fan then try my Black Rice, Goats Cheese and Maple Roasted Pumpkin Fall Salad!!
Pin this Mexican Black Rice and Pumpkin Salad for later.
Mexican Black Rice and Pumpkin Salad
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup black rice
- 1 small pumpkin see notes
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and pepper
- ½ red onion
- 1 avocado
- 2 limes
- 1 red chilli
- ½ tablespoon EVOO
- handful coriander
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/390ºF.
To Cook the Rice
- Wash the black rice a couple of times.
- Bring 750ml (3 cups) of water to the boil, salt it and then add the black rice.
- Bring to a simmer, put and the lid and turn the heat to low.
- Cook the rice for 35 and then let it sit off the heat for a further 10 minutes.
Whilst the rice is cooking prepare the pumpkin.
- Cut/peel the skin from the pumpkin and then cut the flesh into chunky 'cubes'.
- Lay the pumpkin over a lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle over the olive oil and honey and then sprinkle over the cumin, paprika and smoked paprika.
- Season generously with salt and pepper and roast for 25 minutes until soft and charred on the edges.
Whilst the pumpkin is cooking prepare the garnishes.
- Peel and thinly slice the red onion.
- Cut the avocado into small chunks and squeeze over the juice of 1 lime.
- Finely chop the red chilli.
- Cut the remaining lime into wedges.
To serve
- Take a large bowl, add the rice and tip in the pumpkin along with any remaining oil on the baking sheet.
- Spread over the avocado cubes, onion slices and chopped chilli.
- Serve with a drizzle of EVOO, the lime wedges and a generous garnish of fresh coriander.
Floor says
Made this today, is was delicious!! I added pine nuts, cause I love 'm with everything :), and it worked, of course.
Jennifer SavorwithJennifer.com says
This looks crazy delicious! It’s in this weeks menu. Thanks for the inspiration!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Jennifer, I hope everyone enjoys it 😀
Marie says
What a beautiful and healthy salad! Everything looks so flavourful and I especially love the roasted pumpkin! Thanks for sharing!
Claire McEwen says
Isn't it just so bright and colourful.
Thank you for stopping by Marie
Danielle says
The pumpkin in this looks amazing. What a delicious and hearty salad this looks.
Claire McEwen says
It is such bright salad that you always feel better eating it 😀
Beth says
This salad with all of the roasted vegetables looks wonderful! I am such a huge fan of pumpkin and this dish is so colorful!
Claire McEwen says
I love food that is as gorgeous as it is delicious 😀
Christina Shoemaker says
What a beautiful dish! I love the combo of black rice and pumpkin. It sounds absolutely perfect! Will be making!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Christina, the colours are just fabulous aren't they 😀
Christine says
I'm obsessed with roast vegetables too! I like to roast a batch every week and turn them into meals throughout the week. This recipe is just how I like it!
Helene D'Souza says
Now that looks like a great weeknight dinner idea. It looks quite colorful and in my books that means its fresh and nutritious, just the way I like my food. 🙂
Sarah says
I am seriously ready for pumpkin EVERYTHING and am loving the looks and sounds of this salad! Can't wait to try!
Julia says
Mmmm, I love the colors and flavors! Delish!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
Well, this just sounds fabulous, and perfect for fall with the pumpkin. I especially love your photos, and the vibrant colors. They make me want to dive right in! 🙂
Karl @ Healthy Kreation says
Love the simplicity and colorfulness of this dish. I've never been a fan of pumpkins but this is worth a try. Thanks for sharing this.
Christie says
This is such a pretty salad! I love all those gorgeous colors.
Denise Wright says
I'm excited to try this because it's both colorful and interesting looking. I've never had black rice but I but I will love it.
Laura Dembowski says
Honestly, it's too soon for pumpkin for me - I want summer to last forever!!! But I love that you used real pumpkin, it's an awesome ingredient that is not celebrated enough.
Tara says
Such beautiful colors! The flavors sound absolutely incredible.
Cindy @CindysRecipesAndWritings says
i bought black rice and have yet to try it. Thanks for this recipe!
Liz Berg says
I love, love the vibrant colors, plus this looks like an absolutely delicious salad!