1. Grainy Summer Salads
There is nothing like a flavorsome bowl full of soft
and silky grains, crisp greens, soft cheese and
sweet fruits. If you enjoy fresh tortellini
to couscous salads, you sure will be amazed with
the nourishing experience grain salads can offer
you.
The textures are just very enjoyable and the blend
of mild and wild flavors of nature soaks your salad
into everything. Whether it is just a simple heap of
greens or a more colorful mix of your favorite
fruits, indulge your family with great summer
recipes. So if during winter you've made soups and
stews to warm everyone, this summer, do the
same with refreshing grain salads.
Chicken and Wild Rice
Ingredients
6-ounce of wild rice
3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
1 cup green grapes, quartered
½ cup toasted almonds, crushed
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
Kosher salt and pepper
Directions
Cook wild rice. In a large bowl, put together cooked rice, chicken, grapes, almonds, and mayonnaise.
Mix well. Season generously with salt and pepper; adjust to your desired taste. Serve warm or chill if
desired.
Brown Rice with Apples, Walnuts, and Cherries
Ingredients
1 cup brown rice
3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 red apple, cut into pea-size
1/4 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
1/3 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 bunch of chives, chopped finely
For the dressing:
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Directions
Cook the rice in about two cups of simmering water until tender. Allow to cool. Combine peas, apple,
cherries, walnuts, chives, and cooled rice in a large bowl. Whisk together ingredients for the dressing
and stir into the rice mixture. Make sure all the ingredients are coated. Garnish with extra chives and
sesame seeds. Serve.
Tips:
While you're free to mix up greens including a selection of herbs like fresh chopped parsley, basil or
mint, or even chive flowers, the secret to a more flavorsome salad is not to try to see how many
ingredients can be jumbled together; the lesser ingredients the better.
Try not soaking your greens in the dressing. For best results, have your lettuces thoroughly washed
and chilled first before slicing. Don't soak them in water, either, as soaking can leech minerals and
vitamins from them and reduce their food value. As soon as you're done cutting, combine all
ingredients right away, toss gently then serve with your favorite salad dressing.