Crispy Rice Salad With Halloumi And Ginger Lime Vinaigrette Recipes

CRISPY RICE SALAD WITH HALLOUMI AND GINGER-LIME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make the ginger-lime vinaigrette: In a large bowl, stir together the sliced red onion, lime zest, lime juice, ginger, garlic and 1/4 cup olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside, letting the red onion marinate and tenderize.
• Prepare the rice: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high in a large nonstick skillet. Stir in the turmeric. Add the rice and cook, stirring quickly to coat the rice evenly, about 1 minute. (No need to break it up entirely; clumps are encouraged for texture.)
• Season generously with salt and pepper, and let rice sit, undisturbed, until crispy underneath and toasted in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently turn the rice with a spatula, trying to preserve any clumps, and cook another 3 minutes, until crispy on the second side. (The rice should be almost equal parts crispy and chewy, and evenly stained by the turmeric.) Transfer to a large, paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet, set in an even layer and let cool.
• Prepare the halloumi: Chop the halloumi into 3/4-inch cubes, then pat them dry using a kitchen towel or paper towels. Wipe out the skillet, then heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Add the cubed halloumi in an even layer and cook, stirring frequently, until golden at the edges, 2 to 3 minutes. (Sturdy but delicate, halloumi needs to cook quickly at a high temperature so it sears without fully melting down and losing its shape. Stir attentively!) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with pepper.
• When ready to eat, add the greens to the vinaigrette, toss to coat and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a wide, shallow bowl or dish. (You want a big surface area to accommodate the toppings.) Scatter with the crispy rice clusters and hot halloumi. Serve immediately.

CRISPY RICE SALAD WITH KALE

Steps:

• Fill a cast-iron pan with 1 1/2 inches oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with paper towels and set aside.
• Meanwhile, make your dressing. Combine the garlic and ginger in a large bowl. Add the Thai bird chile. Add 2 tablespoons hot oil from your cast iron into the mixture. Add the lime juice, fish sauce and sugar and whisk together. Let the mixture sit while you prepare your other ingredients.
• Add the peanuts to the hot oil and fry until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove and add to the dressing. Mix to coat the peanuts.
• In the same cast-iron pan, scatter the rice in the hot oil and fry until crispy and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the fried rice to the lined sheet tray to drain.
• Add the kale, shallot, cilantro leaves and crispy rice to a large bowl and toss with the peanuts and dressing to taste. Serve immediately.

LIME AND GINGER DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in vegetable oil and sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

CRISPY GRAINS AND HALLOUMI WITH SMASHED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Heat the broiler on high with a rack six or fewer inches from the heat source. Put the grains, halloumi and chickpeas on a sheet pan to air dry while you prepare the other ingredients. (You can do this up to a day ahead and refrigerate the sheet pan.)
• Meanwhile, smash the cucumbers with the side of your knife until they're craggy and split. Coarsely chop into irregular 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer the cucumbers and any liquid on the cutting board to a small bowl and season with salt. Finely grate about 1 teaspoon of the citrus zest over the cucumbers, then squeeze in 3 tablespoons juice. Cut any remaining citrus into wedges for serving. Add the herbs and 1 tablespoon olive oil, stir to combine and set aside. (Cucumbers can be prepared up to 3 hours in advance.)
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and the cumin to the sheet pan. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, spread in an even layer, and broil, shaking the pan occasionally or tossing with a fork, until the chickpeas start to pop and everything is crisped and golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Serve the grain-bean mixture topped with the cucumbers and the dressing in the bowl. Season to taste with salt, pepper, citrus juice and olive oil.