Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad [gluten-free + vegan]

This Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad is packed with flavor, nutrients, and texture! A gluten-free, vegan-friendly dish with mango, avocado, and crunchy nuts, perfect for meal prep or a refreshing side. Try it today!

Looking for a vibrant, nutrient-packed salad that’s as delicious as it is beautiful? This Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad is bursting with flavor, texture, and health benefits. With a perfect balance of sweet mango, creamy avocado, crunchy nuts, and a tangy, umami-rich dressing, this salad is ideal for meal prep, potlucks, or a refreshing side dish. Plus, it’s gluten-free and vegan!

Why You’ll Love This Black Rice Mango Salad

• Nutrient-Dense: Black rice is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and essential minerals.
• Flavor Explosion: A combination of sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy flavors.
• Versatile & Customizable: Easily make it peanut-free by swapping peanuts for cashews.
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Enjoy it as a light lunch, side dish, or a meal on its own.

Print

Tips for the Best Black Rice Mango Salad

• Chill the rice for at least an hour to let the flavors meld.
• Use fresh mango for the best taste, but canned mango works in a pinch.
• Customize the spice level by adjusting the red chili paste.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

More Healthy & Flavorful Recipes

If you love this salad, check out these other nutrient-packed recipes:

• Copycat Erewhon Antioxidant Salad
• Copycat Erewhon White Bean and Tomato Salad
• High Protein Potato Salad

Final Thoughts

This Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad is a delightful mix of colors, flavors, and textures. It’s a must-try recipe for those who love fresh, wholesome, and easy-to-make dishes. Whether you’re serving it at a summer picnic, as a meal prep option, or alongside your favorite protein, it’s guaranteed to impress!

Have you tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments!

89 responses to “Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad [gluten-free + vegan]”

1. This looks amazing! 😀 I love rice! Brown rice + sushi rice is probably my favorite…unless you throw a mango with sticky rice my way. :]

   • Yes gotta love sushi rice! It’s got such a unique flavor!

2. Digging all the flavors and ingredients you have going on in this dish. I really like black rice and need to cook with it more often.

   • Thanks Deanna! 🙂

3. OOOH IVE NEVER EVER EVER MADE BLACK RICE FOR THE CHILD (she shouts)
   great idea even if I caint master this recipe 🙂

   • BLACK RICE IS THE BOMB! Your daughter would totally love the flavors of this and who doesn’t love eating cool looking food? 🙂

4. What an amazing restaurant! I am so jealous, I love going to places like that. how impressive you were able to make your own version, and thank you so much for sharing it with us for meatless monday, it sounds delicious!!! I have cooked with black rice once, but I still have some left…..may be time to pull it out 🙂

   • Yes, definitely time to pull it out! 😉

5. This looks amazing! Love the color combinations and the fresh produce mixed in with the rice. Thank you for sharing!

   • Thanks for stopping by, Meg!

6. Yum- I love forbidden rice- I hadn’t had it for a very long time and actually just bought some this week for another recipe. This will be the perfect way to use up what I had left in the bag- thanks!

   • No problem! You will LOVE THIS.

7. Can I just say that I specially love this because it is black!!! Black is not really an appetizing color but it is so intriguing!! That restaurant is a good one if they know their kabocha! 😉

   • I KNOW RIGHT!? I just love the way black rice looks! It makes all the other ingredients POP!

8. Never had black rice before. Interesting! We love rice at my house so something new to try.

   • Black rice is so unique! You will love it!

9. • Let me know how you like it!!

10. I love this!! We are huge rice fans, well my oldest daughter especially and there are so many rices there is no way she could try them all in her lifetime but she is trying as many as she can. When we go to places like Whole Foods with rice in bulk she picks up different ones to try.

    • Your daughter would love this! The combo of sweet and savory flavors is UNREAL.

11. i love this!! I’m definitely making it. Yum thanks so much for joining us for Meatless Monday

    • Yay! Good to hear! Let me know how you like it!

12. Wow does this look great! I have never heard of black rice before, I love the deep color and the rich look of the dish! I would love for you to share this at my new link party Making Memories Mondays happening now! 🙂
    Cathy

    • I will check it out!! Thanks!

      • Thank you so much for linking this great recipe up to Making Memories Mondays! 🙂
        Cathy

13. 1. I AM DROOLING OVER THE RICE, I do not even like rice hat much, but THIS looks exquisitive!
    2. HOW did I live in Buffalo for alms a year and a half and never frequent sun! I used to love Merge!

    • LOOOVE MERGE!!! You would really like Sun! Next time you’re in town you’ll have to try it!

14. happy NNM to you too!! Black rice is pretty neat, i recently discovered that as well. i love the idea of incorporating it into salad!!!

    • I really love it! What have you made with it so far?

15. Where does one find black rice? I’ve never seen it in the commercial grocery store. Unless I just overlooked it.

    • They sell it at my local Wegmans in the health food section! Also at my local co-op and I know Whole Foods definitely has it!

      • Ah ok I will check the healthyfood section at Wegmans. SHAME I really don’t shop in that section. LOL

16. I love black rice! We normally eat it in sweet preparations, so I love that you’ve mixed sweet and savory here. The flavors sound amazing! Pinned!

    • Thanks Joy!!

17. Yum! I love salads with mango and avocado, and the black rice would just top it off! Need to make this…just need to get some black rice (it’s so expensive…sad face…).

    • You will LOVE THIS!!!

18. Mmmm…looks so good! Love black rice!

    • Thanks Annmarie!

19. So I typically don’t like rice… except forbidden rice. I don’t know what it is about it, but it’s addicting!

20. I love mangoes – they always add a great zesty taste to any dish. This sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pnned & twitted~!

21. Ooo, I’ve never even heard of black rice, but this sounds fantastic!! I’m so glad you shared with us on Weekend Bites!

    • Thanks! You would love this!

22. This salad makes me think of spring! It sounds so light and refreshing, yet packed full of protein. I hope to visit the restaurant Sun, but in the meantime, I’ll just make this salad =)
    Thanks for sharing this over at Healthy Vegan Fridays! I am pinning this to our Pinterest Board. Hope to see you again this Friday!

    • Thanks Kimmy! You would love Sun!

23. This sounds so delicious, Kaila! Thanks so much for sharing it at Savoring Saturdays – I’m going to feature it this weekend!

    • I am honored! Thank you Raia!!

24. This will be a delicious summer recipe! I can’t wait to try it!

    -Cindy

    • Let me know how you like it!!

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26. I make a very similar recipe. This looks amazing!

    • Thanks Sue! Great minds think a like!

27. […] Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad from Healthy Helper […]

28. […] Healthy Helper: Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad […]

29. […] After trying several of their dishes (including a curry that was SERVED IN A KABOCHA!!!) and even recreating one of them on my own, I had a whole new appreciation for rice. Specifically…black rice.Black rice is really […]

30. […] Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad from Healthy Helper […]

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34. This looks delicious and as my daughter in law follows a gluten free diet, I will definitely be giving it a try #ourminilinkyparty@_karendennis

    • Thanks so much! Enjoy!

35. I love black rice and all the other flavors just seem so perfect with it. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!

    • Black rice is SO good! 😀

36. I love forbidden rice and adding mango is a nice twist. Thanks for linking up today

    • Thanks so much, Deborah!

37. i love a creative food idea and this recipe is no joke! great post xo

    ★★★★★

    • Thanks so much, Jae! I hope you try this!!

38. I love a black rice salad – must try this! #brillblogposts

    • You will absolutely love this!!

39. We will love this salad! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Come to next weeks Thanksgiving party on Tuesday at 8:00 am, CST, see you then!
    Miz Helen

    ★★★★★

    • Thank you so much Helen!! Cannot wait to be featured!

40. How yummi does this salad look. I’ve always wanted to try black rice, too. Thank you for sharing x

    ★★★★★

    • Thank you Vicky! Let me know if you try it!

41. Interesting! I never had black rice before.

    ★★★★★

    • You would love it! So unique and delicious!

42. • Thank you so much! I hope you try this!

43. All of my favorite things in one bowl! Looks yummy! I’ll be featuring your recipe at Best of the Weekend on Friday night! Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Thank you so much!!

44. OK, I’ll bite: what makes it forbidden? I’ve never made black rice before, but this sound absolutely delicious—I’ll be remedying that situation soon!

    ★★★★★

    • Hehe! Just the name of the rice! I think you’ll love this dish. 🙂

45. […] Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad from Healthy Helper […]

46. This is forbidden black rice mango salad so Instagrammable and adorable! I finally got to make this salad this past weekend and it was such a hit!!

    ★★★★★

    • Awwww thanks Bella!! So happy you liked it. Would you mind sending me the link to your Instagram post?! I’d love to repost it!! 🙂

47. […] Forbidden Black Rice Mango Salad from Healthy Helper […]

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49. I love black rice – this looks like a great recipe. Thanks for sharing a great new idea at the What’s for Dinner party!

    • Thanks for stopping by!!

50. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,484. Come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    ★★★★★

    • Thanks Helen!!

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