Black Rice is an exotic and healthy grain that can be found at your local supermarket, I buy mine at Costco. This rice is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin E, and fiber and tastes as good as it looks. Once cooked, it turns a beautiful shade of purple, which makes it seem very gourmet even though its as easy to make as boiling water. Here’s a super simple recipe that can be served as a family dinner or brown bagged for an impressive lunch. Feel free to get creative with the recipe; substitute olive or peanut for the sesame oil, swap out the chicken for salmon, if you’re out of walnuts, try almonds or pecans:)
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 cup uncooked black rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast- cubed after cooking
- sweet ginger garlic seasoning mix(also from Costco)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
- 3 scallions, white and light green parts, cut on diagonal ¼ inch pieces
- Your favorite ginger dressing, to taste (found in supermarkets)
Directions:
Season chicken with sweet ginger garlic seasoning mix and bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven or grill. Heat sesame oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the oil shimmers. Add the rice and toast it, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes. Add the water and salt: increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for about 35 minutes or until the rice is tender. Toss the rice with the dressing, chicken, walnuts, cranberries and scallions in a large bowl. Serve chilled, at room temperature, or warm.
Kathy Conlon serves as a First Impression Director and Assessor at TBBC in Farmingdale, NY.