Minted Rice Salad Recipes

POMEGRANATE RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, orange juice, zest, lemon juice, maple syrup, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, salt, and a pinch of pepper. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions, garlic, pinches of salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute until soft. Reduce heat to low and add the cooked rice, using the back of a wooden spoon to break up any clumps. Heat until warmed through. Turn off the heat and stir in the dressing, pistachios, parsley, and pomegranates. Top with mint leaves and roasted chickpeas, if using. Season to taste and serve.

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.

RICE SALAD WITH MINT

Steps:

• In wooden salad bowl combine rice with parsley, scallions, mint, oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.
• Chill.
• Just before serving, toss well.
• Add tomatoes and radishes; serve over romaine lettuce.
• NOTE: cooking time does not include time to prepare rice.

LEMON MINT RICE

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Stir in rice, and allow to simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain rice into a strainer, and rinse with cold water until cool.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer rice and chopped onion to a bowl, and toss with mint, lemon zest, parsley, salt, lemon juice, and remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Serve at room temperature.

MINTED RICE SALAD

Steps:

• In a blend combine the oils, vinegar and mint; season to taste with salt and pepper. Combine the dressing with warm orzo and wild rice; serve at room temperature.

SUMMER RICE SALAD WITH FETA, CITRUS, AND MINT

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water, rice, and salt to boil in heavy medium saucepan over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Uncover saucepan and cook rice over very low heat until dry, about 5 minutes. Transfer rice to large bowl and cool to room temperature.
• Whisk orange juice and next 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend.
• Add halved tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, mint, and feta to rice in large bowl. Add dressing; toss to blend. (Can be made 8 hours ahead; cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature and toss before serving.)

MINTED RICE WITH PEAS

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan bring the water to a boil, stir in the rice, the oil, and the salt, and cook the mixture, covered, over low heat for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the peas, the mint, and the zest, and let the mixture stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

MINTY SUMMER RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Drop the rice into a pan of boiling salted water and cook for 10 minutes. Toss in the asparagus and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the rice is completely cooked and the asparagus is only slightly crunchy. Drain into a sieve and hold under the cold tap until cool.
• When the rice is cold, stir in the red pepper, oil, lemon zest and juice, mozzarella and mint leaves. Season well.