As soon as the sun comes out, I start craving summer food. And for me, that means a BBQ with a good rice salad on the side. This Curried Rice Salad with Smoked Chicken is one I make again and again. It's fresh, a little spicy, and full of flavor. You can prepare it ahead of time, and it's perfect for a summer cookout or a light meal on a warm day. The ingredients are simple, and you probably already have most of them at home.
The raisins add a sweet bite, the walnuts give a nice crunch, and the curry mayo brings it all together with creamy spice. Whether you're having guests over or just eating with your family, this is the kind of salad that makes everyone happy.
Summer Rice Salad Recipe With Curry and Chicken
I came up with this recipe at the end of our summer break. We had just come back from a trip to Spain-sun, tapas, and relaxation. Then we had a few quiet weeks at home in the Netherlands, followed by a busy but fun kids' holiday week. After all that, I wanted something easy but tasty. Nothing fancy, just something that tasted like I put in a lot of effort (even if I didn't). And there it was: this rice salad.
What I love about it? You can easily make it your own. Do you have leftover chicken? Use that. No walnuts? Try cashews. And it's just as good cold, straight from the fridge. Great for lunch the next day. It's one of those recipes I keep coming back to-and I think you will too.
Looking for more BBQ ideas? This salad goes great with my Sticky Bourbon Soy Glazed Ribs or Mustard Soy Chicken Skewers.
Tips for the Perfect Smoked Chicken Curry Rice Salad
- Use cold rice: Warm rice can make the salad mushy. Let it cool completely.
- Soak the raisins: This makes them plump and juicy, not hard.
- Tried and tested: Like all recipes on my blog, this one is tested and always works.
- Prep ahead: Even better if made the day before-more flavor!
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup raisins
- 1⅔ cup white rice, cooked, cooled
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
- 5 oz. smoked chicken , diced
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons curry powder, ground
- salt and pepper , to taste
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil, then remove from heat. Soak the raisins in the hot water for 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry.⅔ cup raisins
- In a large bowl, mix the rice, raisins, shallot, walnuts, and smoked chicken.1⅔ cup white rice, 1 shallot, 3 tablespoons walnuts, 5 oz. smoked chicken
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and curry powder.4 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons curry powder
- Add the curry mayo to the rice mixture and stir well.
- Season with salt and pepper. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve, or serve right away.salt and pepper
Notes
- Vegetarian: Skip the chicken or replace it with grilled veggies like zucchini or bell pepper.
- No walnuts? Cashews, pecans, or pine nuts are tasty too.
- Lighter: Add a spoonful of yogurt or a splash of lemon juice to the sauce.
- No chicken? Use ham cubes or crispy bacon instead.
- Fridge: Store in a covered bowl for up to 2 days.
- Make ahead: Best made a day early so the flavors soak in.
- Lunch idea: Great cold the next day. Serve with salad greens or pita bread.
- Freezing: Not recommended. The mayo makes the texture watery when defrosted.
Nutrition
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