Rachels Fruity Rice Salad Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the first five ingredients until blended. Stir in the rice, peaches, grapes, celery and raisins. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Just before serving, stir in the pecans.

Steps:

• Whisk together the dressing ingredients, season, then set aside. Heat a small nonstick pan and put in the cashew nuts, stirring for a few mins, until starting to brown.
• Toss the rice, peppers, onion and most of the cashews together, then gently fold in the dressing. Chill for up to a day, then scatter with the remaining cashews before serving.

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.

Steps:

• Drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup juice. In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, rice, strawberries, pear, peach and banana. In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, honey and reserved pineapple juice. Pour over fruit mixture; toss to coat. Line salad plates with spinach; top with fruit mixture.

Steps:

• PREPARATION.
• Bring adequate (two cups?) amount of salted water to rolling boil, add rice, turmeric & raisins.
• Stir so that turmeric mixes into rice and can be absorbed, bring rice back to boil, then turn right down to simmer covered for rest of cooking time (10 - 12 minutes?).
• Once rice is cooked, rinse/drain; set aside to cool.
• Finely chop both green pepper & white onion.
• Chunky chop (not fine) half of the peaches from the can.
• Add pepper, onion, peaches, cayenne pepper/peri peri, chutney, mayonnaise, salt & pepper to rice turning ingredients into rice gently so as not to mash rice.
• Garnish with parsley.
• VARIATIONS.
• •Try adding 1/4 cup brown rice which would need cooking separately as it takes longer to cook. just stir into plain rice before adding other ingredients.
• •Using a tablespoon of either lemon or lime juice gives this dish a nice twist, or even try using lemon or lime rind for an extra zing.

Steps:

• Combine dressing ingredients; set aside. Cook rice according to package directions; drain if needed and allow to cool. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add raisins, grapes, mint, parsley, chives and rice. Add dressing and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill several hours or overnight. Just before serving, add pecans and toss lightly.

Steps:

• Cook rice as directed on package. Place cooked rice in wire mesh strainer or colander with small holes. Rinse with cold water to chill; drain well.
• In large bowl, mix yogurt and cinnamon. Fold in whipped topping. Gently stir in rice and remaining ingredients.