I must admit that I really like rice.
At any given moment there are at least a half-dozen different varieties in the cupboard – although right now, I’m a bit over… Carnaroli, Bomba, Jasmine, Basmati, Black Rice, Red Rice, Brown Rice, Carolina Gold, and Sticky Rice. I guess could count Rice Flour,, too – but that’s stretching it a bit…
Jasmine is my go-to for everyday rice – and then it’s just a matter of what I’m in the mood for.
Since it’s summertime, Rice Salads are always fun – and since we were having my brother, sister, and their lovely spouses over for dinner, I thought a nice rice salad was in order as a side…
Back in the day, we made a lot of salads when I did Demo at Trader Joe’s. Like most of our salad recipes, we had a bit of a formula for making them – a dried fruit, a nut of some sort, the base green or grain, a cheese, and a good dressing to pull it all together. We just built bowls of stuff based on the season or what was new – and the combinations are endless.
I had just picked up more black and red rices, so I decided on black.
The measurements listed are mere guidelines. This was a throw-together based on what we had coming in from the garden and what we had on-hand. Use more or less of anything, or switch things out to what you like or have on-hand. We had the pepper, zucchini, and plums from our garden…
Black Rice Salad
- 1 cup black rice, cooked according to package instructions, cooled
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup chopped zucchini
- 1/2 bell pepper, chopped
- 4 plums, chopped
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp fresh herbs, minced, if desired
- S&P, to taste
Mix salad ingredients in bowl. Make dressing. Mix everything together and taste. Adjust seasoning, as desired.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
It’s pretty much no-brainer easy – and you really can make it a bazillion-and-one ways. If you have a favorite bottled dressing, use it. If you have apples, pears, peaches – whatever – use them. ANY dried fruit will work – raisins, cranberries, chopped dates…
Use whatever rice you want – just try not to overcook it!
And don’t over-think it. It’s just a rice salad…
