While I'm in the kitchen, I was planning to share the recipe for this delicious rice salad, but realized I don't really have one. It's one of those things that I just add to as I go along - not much measuring, but plenty of tasting.
Over the weekend I made it for James and Maggie's holiday barbecue and some of the guests asked for the recipe. Here's a rough version that leaves you room for personal adjustments and variations.
Cook enough rice to make about 3 or 4 cups of dry, fluffy rice. I cook a mix of wild (expensive but delicious!) and other rices in chicken broth flavored with garlic. Cool and place in a large bowl. Cook up several slices of bacon to CRISP and then saute a bunch of chopped scallions and a cup of chopped mushrooms in the same pan. (I pour off some of the bacon drippings and add a little olive oil as needed.) Crumble the bacon and add that plus the scallions/mushrooms to the rice.
Then add 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper, 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or almonds, 1/2 cup chopped olives, 1 can rinsed and chopped artichoke hearts. Dress with a 3 /1 ratio of olive oil/white wine vinegar (or lemon juice). Toss well. Salt and pepper to taste (** I have never added salt because I love the taste of vinegar and that usually does it).
Chill overnight and serve. I guess that's a recipe after all. It's a refreshing twist on the summer salad and will stand up to all kinds of ingredient substitutions in the same way that a pasta salad might.
Once, long ago I made it for a dinner party (in the days when we did such things) and had a phone call bright and early the next morning. "Thank you for dinner last night. R. had a dream about the rice salad and asked me to call you for the recipe before we did anything else today." One of my favorite food compliments.
Hello Charlotte,
Yummy and very healthy! I am on to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing it here with all of us!
Gabriela
Posted by: Gabriela | July 05, 2011 at 04:45 PM
Sounds delicious and a must-try recipe!
Posted by: Nancy Wethington | July 06, 2011 at 07:28 AM
I'm writing it down, sounds so good. This is the 2nd easy summer salad recipe I've come across in 2 minutes of blogging..
Thanks so much...
Posted by: maria | July 06, 2011 at 09:34 AM
Reading this makes my mouth water and I just ate lunch!
xo, Cheryl
Posted by: Whosyergurl | July 06, 2011 at 01:01 PM
A "dreamy" recipe! Perfect for my Gluten free diet~thank you!! Saw "Mollie Makes" magazine at our local Joann Fabrics today.
Inspirational goodness~ had to buy!
Posted by: Cherie Wilson | July 06, 2011 at 02:43 PM
This sounds delicious Charlotte! Thanks for sharing it. Always looking for something easy and an excuse to eat bacon!!
Posted by: Nicki | July 10, 2011 at 09:46 AM