Rice Salad

Hi All it's been awhile but I'm back with a new recipe. 

It's a new year and this year my aim is to eat more vegetables and vegetarian dishes 

so here is the first recipe I have made. I have made it to just add to salad plate or like tonight it's my dinner

This recipe is great for just a salad on it's own or as a side dish or as part of a buffet table to share with friends or family

I got the basic recipe from Mary Berry's complete cookbook but as usual have adapted slightly Michelle style.. 

so here we go

You will need 

1 cup uncooked long grain rice

Salt 

1/2 cup of frozen peas

1/2 cup of frozen Corn

1/2 red capsicum (pepper) diced

1/2 red chilli (optional) finely diced

small bunch of coriander (cilantro) chopped

1/2 small red onion finely diced

for the dressing 

4 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 clove garlic crushed ( I used a smoked garlic)

Direction 

Cook your rice in boiling salted water for as long as your packet instructions say about 12-15 minutes until tender adding your peas and corn for the last three minutes of cooking time. 

In the meantime dice up your red capsicum into pieces about the same size as your peas and corn and put in you mixing bowl. 

Finely dice your red onion and chilli (as this is going to be fairly raw you don't want it too large unless you love the taste of raw onion or chilli)

Chop up your coriander and also add to the bowl 

Finally crush your garlic and add to your mixing bowl and mix well. 

Once your rice, peas and corn is cooked drain and then rinse with hot water, drain again and then add to your mixing bowl with the rest of your prepared ingredients and mix. 

Finally add your olive oil, white wine vinegar and dijon mustard mix well make sure all the rice and veg is coated. Serve immediate as very delicious as is or leave in the fridge over night to develop more flavour... 

Notes/Variations

There are many ways in which to vary this recipe..

use pasta or cous cous instead of rice

use parsley instead of coriander

omit the onion or the chilli

use spring onions (green onions) instead of red onion

Use different capsicums (peppers) instead of just red or even a mixture instead of just one. 

Anyway hope you enjoy this recipe and give it a try 

Hugs Michelle