1. When cooking your rice, make sure to add some salt as you cook it. That way the salt cooks into the grain as opposed to if you season it later, when it simply sits on the surface. If you're using brown rice instead and add 2 tablespoons of sweet paprika and 1 teaspoon of oil to it. 

2. Drain and rinse the beans. Finely chop the fresh parsley, including the stalks.

4. To make the dressing whisk or blend the olive oil, vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, and maple syrup together.

5. Now think about presentation. In a large serving bowl, start with the cooked rice, then add the beans, tomatoes, and pickled red onions. Drizzle over the dressing, then add the cooked veg, rocket and herbs and gently mix through. Season with the salt, dried oregano and dried thyme, then taste and adjust if needed. Finally, scatter over the toasted pine nuts.