Buffet Vegetable Rice Salad Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN RICE SALAD WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and pour enough cold water on top of the cooked rice to cover it. Stir to cool. Drain well; transfer rice into a bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with herb salt.
• Mix capers, parsley, and lemon zest in a small bowl; add to rice. Mix in zucchini, carrots, yellow bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Season with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.

RICE VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the beans, carrots, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley and onion., In a small bowl, whisk the lime juice, oil, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir rice into bean mixture. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat.

VEGETABLE RICE SALADS WITH BEANS

Steps:

• In a 2-quart saucepan bring salted water to a boil and add rice and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked, about 25 minutes. Drain rice in a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool. Drain rice well.
• In a saucepan of boiling salted water, blanch beans and carrots for 1 or 2 minutes, drain in a sieve and shock in ice bath. Drain vegetables well.
• In a large bowl whisk together lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper. Add oil in a stream and whisk until emulsified. Add rice, blanched vegetables, celery, bell pepper, scallions, and chickpeas, toss well and adjust seasoning. Add dill and parsley. Serve on bed of arugula.

VEGETABLE RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover, chill and eat!

THE WORLD OF RICE SALADS

Steps:

• Put the rice and all the vegetables in a large bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and use two big forks to combine, fluffing the rice and tossing gently to separate the grains.
• Stir in the parsley, taste, and adjust the seasoning or moisten with a little more dressing. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for up to a day, bringing the salad back to room temperature before serving.
• Variations:
• Rice Salad, Japanese Style: Use brown or white short-grain rice. Halve the amount of celery and carrot and finely chop them or shred them on a grater. Add 1 cup cubed firm tofu (preferably baked). Instead of the vinaigrette, toss with 1/4 cup or so of Simple Miso Dipping Sauce (made by whisking together 6 tablespoons miso paste, 3/4 cup warm water or sake, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon mirin or honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar plus more to taste, and salt to taste). Instead of the parsley, crumble 2 sheets of nori over the rice salad and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons black or white sesame seeds.
• Rice Salad, Mexican Style: Long-grain or medium-grain, white or brown, all work well here. When blending the vinaigrette, add 1 tablespoon chili powder and 2 tablespoons Mexican crema or mayonnaise. Instead of celery and carrot, add 1 cup chopped fresh tomato. Substitute chopped fresh cilantro for the parsley and, at the same time, add 2 chopped hard-cooked eggs and chopped jalapeño chiles if you like. Serve with lime wedges.
• Rice Salad, Indian Style: Use brown or white basmati rice. When making the vinaigrette, use rice wine vinegar, replace the oil with coconut milk, and add 1 tablespoon curry powder, or more to taste. Instead of the bell pepper, celery, and carrot, add 1/2 cup each cubed cooked potato, cooked cauliflower florets, and green peas (cooked frozen are fine). Substitute cilantro for the parsley.
• Citrus Rice Salad: Use any rice. Instead of red wine vinegar, make the vinaigrette with freshly squeezed citrus juice-choose from lemon, lime, orange, blood orange, tangerine, pink grapefruit, or a combination. Whatever you use, add 2 tablespoons of the grated zest and 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey to the blender. Do not include the scallion or the vegetables. (You might want to use a little less dressing.) Instead of the parsley, use mint if you like. A handful of chopped almonds or pecans make a nice addition.
• Tomato Rice Salad: Use any kind of brown or white rice. When making the vinaigrette, eliminate the vinegar and add 1 medium tomato to the blender. Instead of the scallion and other vegetables, add 2 cups chopped fresh tomato (a mixture of heirloom varieties is nice).Instead of the parsley, use chopped fresh basil or mint, or 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives, chervil, dill, or about a tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves.

CRUNCHY VEGETABLE AND BROWN RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a 2-quart saucepan three fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil. Add rice and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 25 minutes. Drain rice in a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool. Drain rice well.
• While rice is cooking, cut zucchini, celery, carrot, and bell pepper into 1/4-inch dice. Remove tough stems from arugula and chop leaves. Chop scallions.
• Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. In a saucepan of boiling salted water blanch zucchini, celery, carrot, and bell pepper 1 minute. Drain vegetables in a sieve and transfer to ice water to stop cooking. Drain vegetables well.
• In a large bowl whisk together lemon juice, broth, mustard, oil, salt, and pepper. Add rice, blanched vegetables, arugula, and scallions, tossing to combine well, and season with salt and pepper. Serve salad at room temperature.

VEGETABLE WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring water and rice mix to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer rice to a bowl to cool.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil; cook peas in the boiling water until just cooked, about 2 minutes. Drain and cool.
• Mix cooled peas, artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, parsley, and green onions into cooled rice mixture.
• Blend vinegar, canola oil, and sugar together in a blender or shake in a covered bottle until dressing is emulsified and creamy. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate salad until ready to serve.

RICE STICK SALAD WITH SHREDDED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place the cabbage in a bowl, salt generously and cover with cold water. Let sit for 15 minutes, then drain and dry on paper towels.
• Meanwhile, place the rice sticks in another bowl and cover with hot water. Let sit for 20 minutes, until pliable, while you prepare the vegetables. Drain, and cut the noodles in half, into roughly 6- to 8-inch lengths, with kitchen scissors.
• In a large bowl, toss the noodles with the pickled ginger, all of the vegetables, chicken (if using), mint and cilantro.
• Whisk together the lime juice, rice vinegar, sugar, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil and canola oil. Toss with the noodle mixture, transfer to a platter or salad bowl, and serve.

BUFFET RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Combine the mayonnaise, onion, dressing, mustard, salt and pepper; add to hot rice and mix well. Cool to room temperature. , Fold in ham, eggs, cheese, celery, relish and pimientos; mix well. Chill for 2-3 hours.

BUFFET VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and seasonings.
• Cook zucchini and carrots in a pot of water until tender.
• Remove zucchini and carrots and rinse under cool water.
• Slice zucchini and carrots lengthwise into quarters and then cut each quarter in half.
• Arrange lettuce on a serving platter and arrange rows of the zucchini and carrots.
• Toss beans with feta cheese and arrange in rows on the platter as well.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill.
• To serve, spoon yogurt dressing over zucchini and carrots, and then sprinkle with walnuts.