Zen Rice Salad

Hot weather is upon us and I don't like to spend too much time in the kitchen heating it up. I like to eat simpler and fresher, so tasty, main-course salads are the ticket! This salad makes me feel so good eating it, bringing balance to my appetite and my health, hence the name.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups arborio rice
• 1 1⁄2 cups frozen green peas, cooked until tender
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans or 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can  corn niblets, drained
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tuna, drained and flaked
• 1  cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup red onion, minced (or any type of sweeter onion, like Vidalia)
• 1⁄2 cup celery, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup dill pickle, chopped
• 1⁄3 cup golden raisin, chopped

• Dressing

• 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄3 cup fresh lime juice
• 2  tablespoons  sweet chili sauce
• 1  tablespoon honey
• 1  tablespoon  balsamic vinegar
• 2  teaspoons ginger, freshly-grated
• 2  teaspoons Dijon mustard
•  salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Bring 1 1/4 cups rice and 2 1/2 cups water to the boil in a small saucepan. Add a dash of salt, lower heat to lowest setting, cover pot and cook rice for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to nearly room temperature, covered. Uncover and fluff with a fork (the arborio will not fluff like a pilaf does, but will have nice, toothsome chunks of sticky rice).
2. Empty rice into a large bowl. Add beans, corn, tuna, parsley, onion, celery, dill pickles and raisins. Combine.
3. Make dressing: Put all dressing ingredients in a mini-processor and whizz to emulsify. If you don't think it is tart enough, add more lime juice and/or balsamic. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Pour dressing over the salad and stir gently to coat all ingredients. Taste salad and adjust seasoning as it may need more salt and pepper, as per your preference.
5. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.