Rice Salad Surprise Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rice, stir, and adjust heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent any grains from sticking to the pot, until the rice is just barely done, about 15 minutes. It will continue to cook as it cools. Drain the rice well and spread it out on a tray to cool quickly.
• Bring another large pot of salted water to a boil. Holding an asparagus spear in both hands, bend the spear until it breaks naturally at the point where it becomes tough. Repeat with the remaining spears. Discard the tough ends and cut the tender part into 1/3-inch lengths. Blanch asparagus and peas together in the boiling water for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then lift out with a strainer and transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool.
• Shell the fava beans, then blanch the unpeeled beans in the same boiling water for about 3 minutes. Drain, transfer them to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool. Peel the fava beans by pinching open the loose skin; the peeled bean should slip out easily.
• Put the lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the olive oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooled rice, asparagus, peas, fava beans, basil, parsley, lemon zest, ham and cheese. Toss with your hands to blend. Pour the dressing over the salad (you may not need it all) and toss gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Add the mustard and onion juice to the French dressing. While the vegetables are still warm, marinate them separately, each in 3/4 cup of the dressing. Set to chill for at least an hour.
• To serve, combine the potatoes and beans with the mayonnaise, and put them in a bowl lined with lettuce. Arrange the diced beets over the beans and potatoes. Rice the egg over these and sprinkle all with the chives and dill. Serve with marinated herring, or with thin rye bread sandwiches of cream cheese and anchovy paste.

Steps:

• In a saucepan bring salted water to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Rinse, drain, and chill the cooked rice.
• In a small glass or metal mixing bowl, whip the cream, adding sugar gradually until the cream becomes fluffy. Then, fold the whipped cream and drained pineapple into the chilled, cooked rice. Spoon the mixture into dessert dishes and serve.

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:

• Slice the bananas and sprinkle with juice.
• Mix the raisins, peanuts, chives and rice together.
• Gently add the bananas into the rice mixture.
• Blend the honey, curry powder and tabasco sauce into the mayonnaise.
• Gently stir the mayonnaise mixture into the salad.
• Cover and refrigerate until cold.
• Allow to sit at least two hours for flavours to blend.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce, or in the center of a cantaloupe, or honey dew melon.