Rice Salad With Currants Almonds And Pistachios Recipes

RICE SALAD WITH CURRANTS, ALMONDS AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a large pot. Add the rice and 2 tablespoons salt. Boil rice as you would pasta, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until done, but still al dente. Drain and spread out on a rimmed baking sheet to cool.
• Once cool, transfer rice to a large salad bowl. In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, tahini, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add salt and pepper to taste. Gently fold mixture into rice.
• Add currants, almonds, pistachios, chives, mint, savory and parsley. Toss to distribute. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more lemon juice or salt as necessary. Serve at room temperature.

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.

ALMOND CURRANT RICE

Steps:

• Prepare rice according to package directions, adding butter and salt. Just before serving, stir in almonds and currants.

CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Zest the lemon into a small bowl, then halve the naked lemon and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Whisk in oil and season to taste with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Put the romaine into a large bowl, then top with tomatoes, bacon, cucumber, blue cheese and scallions. Drizzle in about two thirds of the dressing, then toss until well coated.
• Place sliced avocado and eggs on top of salad, and season lightly with salt and pepper (especially the avocado, which can take a lot of salt). Drizzle salad with remaining dressing, and serve.

WILD RICE AND ALMOND SALAD

Steps:

• Put the rice in a mixing bowl and let it cool.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Put the sliced almonds in a small skillet and place in the oven. Bake five minutes or longer, shaking the skillet occasionally, until the slices are nicely browned. Let cool.
• To the rice add the almond slices, olives, raisins, tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, cherry peppers or jalapenos and coriander. Toss to blend and serve at room temperature.

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH ALMONDS, CURRANTS AND RICE

Steps:

• For sauce: Heat oil in large saucepan over low heat.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 30 seconds.
• Add curry powder and stir 30 seconds.
• Mix in tomatoes and season.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and cook until tomatoes are very soft, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Mix in tomato paste.
• Puree in processor until smooth.
• Adjust seasoning.
• (can be prepared 1 day ahead) For pilaf: Heat 4 tsps olive oil in medium skillet over low heat.
• Add onion and cook until soft, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes.
• Add rice and stir until milky white, about 2 minutes.
• Add water, currants and season to taste.
• Bring to boil, stir, and cover.
• Reduce heat to low and cook until tender, about 18-20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, do not open, and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450F.
• Lightly grease shallow baking dish large enough to hold 4 eggplant halves.
• Make 1/8 inch deep cut around edge of each eggplant.
• Score 3 times down center.
• Arrange eggplants cut side up in dish.
• Sprinkle surface with salt and 2 tblsps olive oil.
• Bake until eggplant is tender when pierced with knife, about 25-30 minutes.
• Cool slightly.
• Remove eggplant pulp from skins using spoon; do not pierce skin.
• Coarsely chop pulp and add to pilaf.
• Taste and adjust seasoning.
• (can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover skins and pilaf and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.).
• Heat 2 tblsps olive oil in small skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add almonds and pine nuts and a pinch of salt.
• Stir until nuts are toasted a light-brown, about 2 minutes.
• Stir into pilaf with cilantro and spearmint.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Oil baking dish.
• Place eggplants, cut side up onto dish.
• Spoon pilaf into shells.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1 tblsp oil.
• Bake until hot, about 15 minutes.
• Reheat sauce, stirring frequently.
• Divide sauce among 4 plates and top with eggplant.

BASMATI RICE SALAD WITH CURRANTS AND NUTS

Steps:

• Combine 4 cups water and rice in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Cover; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 35 minutes. Drain if necessary. Transfer rice to large bowl. Fluff with fork. Cool. Mix in green onions, celery, parsley, pecans, currants and walnuts.
• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce and cumin in small bowl to blend. Pour over rice salad; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.