There are so many renditions of picnic rice, and quite a few ways to modify this recipe. I love that this is a great family dish. It’s perfect for little hands to practice with plastic lettuce knives, or even just the stirring. It can be adjusted to your family’s personal tastes and is a great use for left-over rice.
I used fresh pairs, oranges, and grapes, but if you are throwing this together from your pantry canned fruit and even fruit cocktail would work just fine. Or simply exchange your favorite fresh and seasonal fruits.- This recipe also calls for roasted pumpkin seeds, (AKA pepitas, which I love and can barely keep my hands off long enough to get into the dish!) but any seed or nut of choice would work; try sunflower, pine nuts, chopped pistachio, or slivered almond.
- And lastly I used Thai basil, but mint, flat leaf parsley, cilantro, or any type of Mediterranean basil are great options. Perhaps even chives for a kick.
Fresh Fruit Picnic Rice
By:semiserious chefs
Serves:4-6
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked white rice, cold
- 1 orange, peeled and diced
- 1 pear, diced
- 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 2 T lemon juice (or lime or orange juice)
- 2 T honey
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
- fresh herb for garnish (see above)
Directions:
- Cook the rice according to package directions and let cool to room temperature.
- Chop the orange and pear into 1/4 to 1/2 inch cubes. Halve the grapes.
- To pan toast pumpkin seeds: first warm a skillet over medium high. Lay the seeds out in the pan, spritz lightly with cooking spray, and salt gently. With continuous gentle ‘shuffling,’ roast the seeds, while regularly ‘flipping’ them. They will puff and turn golden. Don’t over cook them, as they will continue to cook after removing from heat. Caution they hold their heat for a while.
- In a large bowl whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, and honey.
- Stir in the rice. Add the chopped fruit, turning it in gently.
- Garnish with pumpkin seeds and chopped fresh herb of choice.
Nathan helping chop oranges with a plastic lettuce knife. (And a music stand sword.)
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