Confetti Rice Salad

Today we received a surprise gift—a warm sunny day at the end of winter. Makes me think of summer days and picnics and salads. This is a delicious and pretty side dish for grilled or baked chicken or fish. It’s super easy and makes a perfect picnic salad since it has no dairy ingredients. There are many, many ways to make a confetti rice salad, this just happens to be a favorite for us. Check out the variations list below and come up with your own!

[Updated May 6, 2008]

Equipment

rice cooker
medium bowl
jar with a lid

Ingredients

VINAIGRETTE
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

SALAD
2 cups cooked jasmine or brown rice, chilled (leftovers are great)
1 (4 oz) jar diced pimientos, drained
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 cup cooked kidney or black beans, drained
1/2 cup julienned carrots
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds or pine nuts (for garnish)
cillantro leaves (for garnish)

Preparation

1. Combine sugar, rice vinegar, pepper, and salt in jar. Screw on the lid tightly and shake well. Let it sit for about 30 minutes at room temperature to ensure that the sugar and salt dissolve completely. Add the olive oil and shake again to mix it well.

2. Stir together rice, pimientos, bell pepper, scallions, corn, and beans in a medium bowl.

3. Toss the vinaigrette with the rice salad, then garnish and serve.

Variations

Confetti rice is very versatile and you can come up with a zillion different combinations. You can put one together easily choosing any of the following:

2 cups cooked rice (basmati, jasmine, or brown)

VEGETABLES & FRUIT (choose any three):
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (4 oz) jar diced pimientos
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced or in strips
1/2 to 1 whole avocado, cut into small chunks
1 cup whole kernel frozen corn, thawed
1 cup edamame, shelled
1/2 cup julienned carrots
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries

BEANS (cooked, one cup any of the following):
black
kidney
garbanzos

ONIONS, (choose one):
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, diced

SPICY OR SALTY FLAVORS:
1/4 cup diced black olives
1/4 cup diced green chilies

CRUNCHY THINGS, (choose one):
1/4 cup slivered or sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup pistachios, shelled

GARNISH:
dill
chives
mint
cilantro
parsley

Toss it all with your vinaigrette of choice.