Fried Rice Salad - Vegan & Gluten Free

During our last bout of warm weather I was craving fried rice, but I didn't want anything hot.  That got me thinking on how I could incorporate the flavors of fried rice into a salad.  This recipe is the one I came up with.

I started with some cooked brown rice I had in the freezer.  I thawed it and started adding veggies I had on hand until I reached the desired rice-to-veggie ratio, then started mixing and matching liquids for a dressing. 

I like to have more veggies than rice.  To me it is healthier and more filling, but you don't have to add as many veggies as I have.  Pick your veggies and their quantities to suit your tastes.

For a gluten free salad use gluten free tamari in place of soy sauce.

FRIED RICE SALAD

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups cooked Brown Rice, chilled or room temperature
3/4 C frozen Peas, thawed
2 small Carrots, sliced
5 brown Mushrooms, sliced
1 Zucchini, sliced into rounds or diced
1 cup small Cauliflower florets
1 cup small Broccoli florets
5 stalks of Asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces
1 cup shredded Cabbage, red or green
5 Green Onions, trimmed and sliced
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce or Tamari
3 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil,
1-2 minced Garlic

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large mixing bowl combine the brown rice, peas, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, and green onions.  Toss to combine.

2.  In small bowl whisk together the soy sauce or tamari, rice wine vinegar, lemon juice, sesame oil, and garlic.

3.  Pour dressing over rice/veggie mixture and stir.  I added half at a time to make sure I brought all the rice and veggies up from the bottom to get coated.  If you like a moister salad, feel free to double the dressing recipe.

This salad is best on the day it is prepared. While you can eat it the next day, the rice will absorb the dressing and you may need to refresh it with a little more soy sauce, tamari, or rice wine vinegar.

- Bon Appetit

" The greatest delight the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and vegetable.  I am not alone and unacknowledged.  They nod to me and I to them." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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