Mediterranean Rice Salad Recipe & Video

cooked long grain brown rice (from 2 cups of raw rice)

extra virgin olive oil

garlic or to taste, peeled and minced

fresh squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

medium red bell pepper, chopped small

chopped fresh basil OR Italian flat leaf parsley

spinach leaves, washed, stemmed, and chopped (to save time use prewashed baby spinach)

small cucumber, peeled and chopped small

thinly sliced green onions (scallions or chives)

pitted Kalamata or regular black olives, coarsely chopped

toasted pine nuts OR 1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds (toast on a flat baking pan for 15 minutes at 250 degrees)

dried oregano leaf

salt

black pepper

Optional: 1/2 cup cooked black beans (canned or home cooked ). If using canned beans, drain, rinse and then drain well in a sieve.

Optional: 1/4 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese