Rice Salad Recipes

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.

COLD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• For the rice: Place the rice, 3 cups water, and a pinch of salt in a pot, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook on low until tender, about 20 minutes. Turn the rice out onto a sheet tray and let it cool completely. Next, combine the rice, peas, red bell pepper and red onion. Toss gently.
• For the dressing: In a small bowl, add the rice wine vinegar, a small pinch salt and a few turns of freshly ground pepper. Mix together and slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil and then the sesame oil.
• Pour the dressing over the rice and mix until the rice is thinly coated. Taste, and re-season if necessary.

CURRIED RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the rice, vegetable stock and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir in the apricots and shallot during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Spread the rice in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Make the vinaigrette: Whisk together the vinegar, curry powder, honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until combined.
• Transfer the cooled rice to a serving bowl. Add the desired amount of the vinaigrette, then the arugula, pine nuts and mint, and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine rice, water and salt together in a large pot and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 50 to 60 minutes.
• Drain rice and chill.
• Combine the chilled rice with the vegetables, fruit, and nuts.
• Whisk vinegar, oil, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, mustard and honey.
• Starting with 1/3 cup of the dressing add to the rice mixture and blend.
• Taste and adjust with more or less to suit your personal tastes.

BROWN RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook brown rice until tender, allow to cool.
• To prepare the dressing put the ingredients into a large jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well. Put aside.
• In a large bowl add the rice and all other salad ingredients.
• Pour over the dressing and mix through. The flavours improve on standing as the rice soaks in the dressing. Enjoy!

WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Place cooked rice in a medium bowl. Melt butter in a medium skillet. Saute apple with cloves, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl with rice.
• In same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Saute onion, celery, carrot, and garlic, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl with rice mixture; add currants. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add vinegars, lemon juice, and the water to skillet; heat, whisking, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Drizzle over salad; toss to combine. Serve, garnished with almonds.

LEMON RICE SALAD

Steps:

• For dressing, place first seven ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. In a large bowl, toss long grain rice and wild rice with dressing. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. , Stir cucumbers, green onions, parsley, basil and pepper into rice mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours. Stir in pecans just before serving.

MIXED BEAN & WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice following pack instructions. Once cooked, rinse under cold water to cool down. Once cold combine in a bowl with the beans, sweetcorn, onion and red peppers.
• Mix the lime zest and juice, honey and chilli. Pour over the rice mixture and mix well, then season to taste. Stir through the coriander leaves just before serving.