Basmati Rice Confetti Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Remove from heat; cool completely., In a large bowl, combine vegetables, almonds, raisins, cranberries and parsley; stir in rice. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended. Pour dressing over rice mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.

Steps:

• This is the most important part: Wash the rice! Place the rice in a large bowl and fill with fresh, room temperature water. Swirl your hand through the water and the rice; the water will go cloudy. That's all the starch that we're trying to remove in order to have individual grains of rice, not the sticky kind that's popular in Chinese and Japanese cuisine. (According to traditional Indian wisdom, this also makes the rice easier to digest because so much of the starch has been removed). Once you've swirled your hand around for a minute or so, pour off the water, taking care not to lose any rice. Repeat this washing process until the water runs clear. Usually, this takes 3 or 4 changes of water.
• Fill up the bowl 1 more time and let the rice soak for 30 minutes.
• At the end of 30 minutes, drain the rice. Fill a medium saucepan with 1 3/4 cups water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil.
• Add the rice, stir, and wait until the water comes back to a full boil. When it does, turn the heat down as low as it can go, and then cover. Cook for 15 minutes.
• At the end of 15 minutes, cut the heat. Let the rice sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; you should see that every grain of rice has grown a little longer and is separate from its brothers and sisters. Well done!

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add the cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Add the boiling water and raisins and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the water come back to a boil, stir once, cover the pot, reduce the heat and let cook for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with a fork, fold in cashews and reseason with salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Combine 4 cups water and rice in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Cover; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 35 minutes. Drain if necessary. Transfer rice to large bowl. Fluff with fork. Cool. Mix in green onions, celery, parsley, pecans, currants and walnuts.
• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce and cumin in small bowl to blend. Pour over rice salad; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Steps:

• Drain the corn and toss with the rice. Drain and rinse the chickpeas and add to the mixture. Mince the jalapeno, cut the red bell pepper, red onion and cucumber to a 1/2 inch dice and add to the salad. Finely chop the cilantro, zest and juice the lemon and whisk in the olive oil and spices and toss into the salad. Salt and pepper to taste.

Steps:

• To cook the rice, bring 1 1/2 cups of the water and 2 teaspoons of the salt to a boil in a medium saucepan.
• Add the wild rice, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the rice is tender, about 1 hour.
• Combine the basmati rice and the remaining 2 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan.
• Let sit for 1 hour.
• Then bring to a boil, add the remaining 2 teaspoons salt and the ginger, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the rice has absorbed all of the water and is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Discard the ginger.
• To make the vinaigrette, combine the nutmeg and cumin in a small bowl and whisk in the lemon juice.
• Add the oil and season with salt and pepper.
• To finish the salad, combine the wild rice and basmati rice while still warm in a large bowl.
• Toss the vinaigrette with the rice, then stir in the green onions, currants and any remaining Marsala, and nuts.
• Adjust the seasoning.
• Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Combine the rice and 1 3/4 cups water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.
• Meanwhile, combine the chutney and the remaining 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chutney melts and the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.
• Combine the rice, chicken, cranberries, pecans and pepper in a large bowl. Toss with melted chutney.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except the lettuce. Allow to chill for at least 2 hours or longer.
• To serve, fluff salad with salad tongs, and spoon onto salad plates lined with lettuce leaves. Garnish with carrot curls, if desired.

Steps:

• Whisk red wine vinegar and mustard in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil. Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Using large sharp knife, cut corn kernels from cobs. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add green onions; sauté 30 seconds. Add corn; sauté until corn is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Vinaigrette and corn mixture can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill. Rewarm corn mixture over medium heat and rewhisk vinaigrette before using.)
• Bring 2 1/4 cups water to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Rinse rice in strainer. Add rice and § teaspoon salt to boiling water. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until water is absorbed and rice is tender (do not stir), about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• Mix rice, corn mixture and pecans in large bowl. Mix in vinaigrette and watercress. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• *Available at Indian markets and many supermarkets.