Wave-Particle Duality Black Rice Salad with Sesame-Lime Dressing

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-26 · Updated 2026-06-26

A vibrant black rice salad combining crunchy vegetables and a zesty sesame-lime dressing, reflecting the dual nature of wave and particle in a harmony of textures and flavors. This asian-inspired salads (vegetarian, gluten free) ready in about 50 minutes blends rinsed black rice, water, large, shredded carrot into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup, rinsed black rice
• 2 1/4 cups water
• 1 medium, diced into 1/4-inch pieces red bell pepper
• 1 medium, diced into 1/4-inch pieces cucumber
• 1 large, shredded carrot
• 3 stalks, thinly sliced green onions
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 tbsp, freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup black rice under cold water. In a medium pot, combine rinsed rice with 2 1/4 cups water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes until tender and water is absorbed. Let rice cool to room temperature.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled black rice with 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 diced cucumber, 1 shredded large carrot, 3 thinly sliced green onions, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp sesame oil, 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Pour the dressing over the rice and vegetables, tossing gently to combine. Sprinkle 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds over the top before serving.