Minty 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.

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.

BAKED MINTY RICE WITH FETA AND POMEGRANATE RELISH

Steps:

• Pomegranate relish:
• Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 5-8 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Increase oven temperature to 450°F.
• Toss walnuts, pomegranate seeds, olives, oil, mint, parsley, pomegranate molasses, and garlic in a medium bowl to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• Rice and assembly:
• Combine rice, butter, and salt in a 13x9" baking dish, then pour in a scant 3 1/2 cups water; top with mint sprigs. Cover tightly with foil and bake until rice is tender and water is absorbed, 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven; pluck out mint. Fluff rice with a fork.
• Heat broiler. Arrange feta over rice. Broil until rice around edges of pan is browned and crisp and feta is starting to brown, 8-10 minutes. Spoon pomegranate relish over.

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.

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.

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.

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.)