Spicy Rice Salad With Chili Vinaigrette 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.

CUCUMBER SALAD WITH THAI SWEET CHILI VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk rice vinegar, chili sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and garlic together in a small bowl; season with salt.
• Combine cucumber and onion in a separate bowl. Pour vinegar mixture over cucumber and onion mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Toss before serving.

SPICY RICE SALAD WITH CHILI VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Combine rice, bell pepper, jicama, tomato, jalapenos, and cilantro in a medium salad bowl.
• Whisk together ingredients for the vinaigrette and pour over salad, stirring to mix thoroughly.
• Refrigerate several hours before serving (marinate time develops flavors).

THAI RICE NOODLE SALAD WITH CHILI-LIME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a cup or small bowl, mix together lime juice , fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, chili sauce, minced garlic, and sesame oil until the sugar has dissolved.
• Taste test for a sweet-sour balance, adding more sugar if too sour for your taste. Note that the dressing will taste quite strong and salty now, but will be delicious when combined with the salad.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Lightly boil rice noodles until al dente , about 7 minutes.
• Drain the noodles.
• Add the optional bean sprouts , if using, while noodles are still hot. Gently toss (the residual heat from the noodles will lightly cook the sprouts), then rinse with cold water to keep from sticking. Set aside to drain.
• Place noodles and sprouts in a large salad bowl. Add the tomatoes, carrot, green onions, bell peppers, optional shrimp or tofu , and fresh cilantro. Toss to mix.
• Add half of the dressing plus fresh basil and nuts, tossing well to incorporate. Taste test, adding more or all of the dressing depending on how many noodles you've made. If not salty enough, add more fish sauce or soy sauce. If not spicy enough, add more chili. If too salty, add a little more lime juice. If too sour, add more sugar.
• Place on a serving platter or in a salad bowl and sprinkle with fresh basil, cilantro, and peanuts.

SPICY SHRIMP SALAD WITH SMOKED CHILE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a bowl, combine the ancho chili powder, light brown sugar, chile de arbol, cinnamon, and cumin, and set aside. In a medium size bowl, place the shrimp. Salt and pepper the shrimp aggressively. Then, sprinkle the shrimp with the spice mixture on both sides. Place the shrimp on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Roast for 4 to 5 minutes, or until just cooked through.
• Place the arugula in a bowl, drizzle with some of the Smoked Chile Vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide the seasoned arugula among 4 plates. Place 6 shrimp around each plate. Drizzle with more of the vinaigrette and chopped cilantro.
• Combine vinegar, chipotle and cilantro in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil until emulsified. Season with honey, salt, and pepper, to taste.

SPICY RICE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Place noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Stir and allow to soak until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse thoroughly.
• Combine garlic, rice vinegar, fish sauce, chile paste, brown sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir in green onions, carrots, basil, mint, and cilantro. Toss in rice noodles, peanuts, and sesame oil. Allow to sit for 30 minutes to absorb flavors. Garnish with additional green onions and peanuts. If using, top with grilled chicken and Fresno chiles.

CRISPY RICE SALAD WITH HALLOUMI AND GINGER-LIME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make the ginger-lime vinaigrette: In a large bowl, stir together the sliced red onion, lime zest, lime juice, ginger, garlic and 1/4 cup olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside, letting the red onion marinate and tenderize.
• Prepare the rice: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high in a large nonstick skillet. Stir in the turmeric. Add the rice and cook, stirring quickly to coat the rice evenly, about 1 minute. (No need to break it up entirely; clumps are encouraged for texture.)
• Season generously with salt and pepper, and let rice sit, undisturbed, until crispy underneath and toasted in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently turn the rice with a spatula, trying to preserve any clumps, and cook another 3 minutes, until crispy on the second side. (The rice should be almost equal parts crispy and chewy, and evenly stained by the turmeric.) Transfer to a large, paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet, set in an even layer and let cool.
• Prepare the halloumi: Chop the halloumi into 3/4-inch cubes, then pat them dry using a kitchen towel or paper towels. Wipe out the skillet, then heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Add the cubed halloumi in an even layer and cook, stirring frequently, until golden at the edges, 2 to 3 minutes. (Sturdy but delicate, halloumi needs to cook quickly at a high temperature so it sears without fully melting down and losing its shape. Stir attentively!) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with pepper.
• When ready to eat, add the greens to the vinaigrette, toss to coat and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a wide, shallow bowl or dish. (You want a big surface area to accommodate the toppings.) Scatter with the crispy rice clusters and hot halloumi. Serve immediately.