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Rice Salad with Oranges, Olives, and Almonds

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

50 minutes, plus 20 minutes standing

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Rice Salad with Oranges, Olives, and Almonds

Ingredients

For Boiled Rice

1 ½ cups long grain white rice or basmati rice1 ½ teaspoons table salt

For Salad

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small clove garlic, minced (about ½ teaspoon)¼ teaspoon grated orange zest 1 tablespoon orange juice from 1 small orange2 teaspoons sherry vinegar 1 teaspoon table salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ⅓ cup chopped green olives 2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into segments⅓ cup slivered almonds, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 2 minutes2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, minced

Before You Begin

Taste the rice as it nears the end of its cooking time; it should be cooked through and toothsome, but not crunchy. Be careful not to overcook the rice or the grains will “blow out” and fray. Aromatic basmati rice works well in any of the rice salads, but regular long-grain rice works fine, too.

Instructions

    for boiled rice

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large stockpot. Meanwhile, heat medium skillet over medium heat until hot, about 3 minutes; add rice and toast, stirring frequently, until faintly fragrant and some grains turn opaque, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add salt to boiling water and stir in toasted rice. Return to boil and cook, uncovered, until rice is tender but not soft, 8 to 10 minutes for long-grain rice or about 15 minutes for basmati. Meanwhile, line rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Drain rice in large fine-mesh strainer or colander; spread on prepared baking sheet. Cool while preparing salad ingredients.
  3. for salad

  4. Stir together oil, garlic, orange zest and juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Combine rice, olives, oranges, almonds, and oregano in large bowl; drizzle oil mixture over and toss thoroughly to combine. Let stand 20 minutes to blend flavors and serve.

Rice Salad with Oranges, Olives, and Almonds

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

50 minutes, plus 20 minutes standing

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

For Boiled Rice

1 ½ cups long grain white rice or basmati rice
1 ½ teaspoons table salt

For Salad

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small clove garlic, minced (about ½ teaspoon)
¼ teaspoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice from 1 small orange
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅓ cup chopped green olives
2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into segments
⅓ cup slivered almonds, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 2 minutes
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, minced

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

For Boiled Rice

1 ½ cups long grain white rice or basmati rice
1 ½ teaspoons table salt

For Salad

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small clove garlic, minced (about ½ teaspoon)
¼ teaspoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice from 1 small orange
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅓ cup chopped green olives
2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into segments
⅓ cup slivered almonds, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 2 minutes
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, minced

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

For Boiled Rice

1 ½ cups long grain white rice or basmati rice
1 ½ teaspoons table salt

For Salad

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small clove garlic, minced (about ½ teaspoon)
¼ teaspoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice from 1 small orange
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅓ cup chopped green olives
2 medium oranges, peeled and cut into segments
⅓ cup slivered almonds, toasted in a small dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 2 minutes
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, minced

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted a rice salad recipe with rice that was tender, fluffy, and light. To achieve that goal, we found a method for cooking long-grain rice that would preserve its fresh-from-the-pan characteristics once cooled: toasting the rice, then boiling it (like pasta) in an abundant amount of water, draining it, and spreading it on a baking sheet to cool and dry off. We then tossed the rice with a spare amount of dressing 20 minutes before serving to give the flavors time to develop and added ingredients to our rice salad recipe that would complement rather than overpower the rice.

Before You Begin

Taste the rice as it nears the end of its cooking time; it should be cooked through and toothsome, but not crunchy. Be careful not to overcook the rice or the grains will “blow out” and fray. Aromatic basmati rice works well in any of the rice salads, but regular long-grain rice works fine, too.

Instructions

    for boiled rice

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large stockpot. Meanwhile, heat medium skillet over medium heat until hot, about 3 minutes; add rice and toast, stirring frequently, until faintly fragrant and some grains turn opaque, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add salt to boiling water and stir in toasted rice. Return to boil and cook, uncovered, until rice is tender but not soft, 8 to 10 minutes for long-grain rice or about 15 minutes for basmati. Meanwhile, line rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Drain rice in large fine-mesh strainer or colander; spread on prepared baking sheet. Cool while preparing salad ingredients.
  3. for salad

  4. Stir together oil, garlic, orange zest and juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Combine rice, olives, oranges, almonds, and oregano in large bowl; drizzle oil mixture over and toss thoroughly to combine. Let stand 20 minutes to blend flavors and serve.

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