Elegant Almond Rice Salad Recipes

ALMOND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 350 F.​
• Heat a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, then add butter. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring stock or broth to a boil.​
• When butter gets foamy, add diced onion and almonds and sauté until onion is slightly translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes.​
• Add uncooked rice and sauté, stirring constantly, for about a minute, or until rice is fully coated with the melted butter.​
• Add hot stock or broth, bring back to a boil, then add bay leaf. Cover and place entire pot in the oven. Tip: Check seasoning of cooking liquid and make any necessary adjustments before pot goes into oven.​
• Cook rice in oven for 18 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. If after 18 minutes, there's still liquid in the pot or rice is still too moist, re-cover and return pot to oven for another 2 to 4 minutes.​
• Remove pot from oven and gently fluff rice with a wooden fork. Remove bay leaf and discard. Then place a paper towel across top of pot, replace lid, and let rice stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve right away.

SPINACH-ALMOND RICE

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups salted water to a simmer; add 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, cover and cook over low heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then let cool. Toss with 4 cups baby spinach, 1/2 cup each chopped marinated artichoke hearts and toasted slivered almonds, 1 cup chopped fresh dill, 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, the juice of 2 lemons and 1/3 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

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.

ALMOND RICE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, rice and butter to a boil. Remove from the heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Stir in the almonds, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley.

ALMOND & APPLE WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook wild rice according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl; cool completely., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss apples with 2 tablespoons orange juice. In another bowl, whisk the remaining orange juice, oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper. , Add apples and celery to rice. Drizzle with dressing; toss to combine. Refrigerate, covered, until chilled. Sprinkle with almonds; serve with toppings if desired.

ELEGANT ALMOND RICE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat water and rice to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes. Drain excess liquid from rice.
• Drain artichoke hearts, reserving marinade. Halve artichoke hearts and add to rice with peas, green pepper, green onions, tomatoes, reserved marinade, and only HALF the dressing.
• Toss well. Cover and chill. Just before serving, toss again and taste. Add some of remaining dressing, if desired. Sprinkle with almonds and serve.
• DRESSING PREPARATION:
• In a blender, puree mustard, olive oil, lemon juice garlic and herbs. With motor running, drizzle in oil to create an emulsion. Pour in a lidded jar and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

SAFFRON ALMOND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat broth and water in a small saucepan over moderate heat until hot, then crumble saffron into liquid and stir. Remove from heat.
• Cook onion in butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add rice and cook, stirring, until fragrant and pale golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron broth, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff rice with a fork and fold in almonds.

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.