Bergamot Rice Salad Food

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.

BERGAMOT FRESH FRUIT SALAD WITH SCENTED PELARGONIUM LEAVES

Steps:

• Syrup: Put the sugar, water, orange juice and bergamot leaves into a pan over a low heat and stir occasionally until the sugar has dissolved, then bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes or until the syrup has reduced by half.
• Discard the bergamot leaves and then add the blackcurrants and allow to simmer for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• When cool, stir in the strawberries and raspberries and put in to a decorative glass dish. Decorate with the bergamot flowers and scented pelargonium leaves. Serve with cream, sorbet or crème fraiche.
• NOTE - RZ will not allow me to add these, scented pelargonium leaves, please use these to decorate the fruit salad!

BERGAMOT RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Simmer rice in a pan of boiling water for 25 - 30 minutes until soft, then drain.
• Place the sliced mushrooms in a frying pan with the olive oil and cook gently for 4 minutes.
• Add the bergamot leaves and olives and mix together.
• Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Add the cooked rice to the mushrooms and other ingredients and toss together.
• Mix in the bergamot petals.

THE BEST EVER BROWN RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar and worcestershire sauce in a screw top jar and shake well.
• Cook the brown rice acording to the packet instructions, drain and place in a bowl. While the rice is still warm, mix in all the other ingredients including the dressing, stir thoroughly.
• Serve at room temperature.

BROWN RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook brown rice until tender, allow to cool.
• To prepare the dressing put the ingredients into a large jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well. Put aside.
• In a large bowl add the rice and all other salad ingredients.
• Pour over the dressing and mix through. The flavours improve on standing as the rice soaks in the dressing. Enjoy!