On hot summer nights, given that we don’t have air conditioning, I’m always looking for a meal that’s easy to prepare, doesn’t involve the oven and sounds good to me when it’s warm outside. This one is a family favorite that I thought I’d share.
Italian Rice Salad:
2 cups steamed white rice
1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
1 cup frozen corn (thawed)
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup good quality feta cheese (and you may want more than this, I love mine really cheesy, so I’d add more.)
1 cup ripe, sweet cherry tomatoes
handful of chunked Italian ham (optional) (you could add kidney beans, too, for protein, if you want a veggie salad)
1/2 cup sliced olives (optional)
Dressing:
1/2 cup prepared pesto
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 -1/2 cup red wine vinegar (start slow and add to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
Mix dressing in a small bowl, set aside. Combine the rest of the ingredients, then pour the dressing over it. Mix well. You can eat it immediately, but it’s better after an hour or so. Even better late that night!
I love to pair this salad with some warm, fresh rosemary focaccia from Trader Joe’s and a glass of raspberry iced tea. I’ll have some mango sorbet for dessert if I’m feeling like a sweet treat.
Mmmmm. Now I’m hungry. If you make this meal, let me know what you think!
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
YUM. I am always looking for new recipes.
Shannon
Thank you for posting this…. I have a bag of Harvest Grains (Israeli cous-cous, quinoa, garbanzo and orzo) from Traders staring me down from the pantry wondering when they will be used again in the famous game called “What’s for Dinner”? I cooked it alone (BIG MISTAKE) and it tasted like cardboard – no wait, that was way too generous of a compliment. Anyway, it needs some help and I think your additions will be the thing that takes it from the pantry to our table….. Thanks for the inspiration
That looks delicious! I may have to try that this week.
I have to say, every time I come to #hostname you have another interesting post up to read. One of my friends was talking to me about this topic a few weeks ago. I think I will e-mail my friend the link here and see what they say.