Peas and Rice Salad With Buttermilk Dressing

photo by Rita1652

- Ready In:
- 45mins
- Ingredients:
- 12
- Serves:
-
8
ingredients
- 1⁄2 stalk celery, chopped
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1⁄2 cup red pepper, chopped
- 1⁄2 cup brown rice, not instant
- 1 ounce mozzarella cheese, cubed
-
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (I used white)
- 2 1⁄2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 1⁄2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3⁄4 teaspoon honey
- 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1⁄2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
directions
- In a food processor, combine dressing ingredients and whiz until blended.
- In a saucepan, combine rice with 1 cup water.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer until tender (30-40 minutes).
- Cool.
- In a bowl, combine vegetables, rice and cheese.
- Toss with dressing.
- Chill before serving.
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Reviews
-
This was a nice-tasting salad but there were some problems. First of all, I didn't know if I was supposed to cook the peas or just thaw them and use them raw. I did cook them cause I didn't like the idea of eating thawed, frozen peas - if they had been fresh, I might have left them raw. Secondly, there is no way the recipe will make 8 servings as written, I'd say more like 4, and not very generous ones at that. Finally, I added an entire stalk of celery, 1/2 a stalk seemed a 'poor' amount and I think a sharper-tasting cheese would have been more interesting as the mozzarella was too bland to really contribute to the recipe and was just there for 'chew' factor. The dressing was right on, with just the right amount of sweetness. I will definitely make this again as it is a good base recipe and I think I would add a bit of chopped ham to it and make it a main-course salad next time. Good recipe.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Cathleen Colbert
Bakersfield, CA
Strangely enough, I've become a better cook to lose weight. I joined eDiets and lost 100 pounds. Now I'm on the look out for tasty recipes that are easy to fix (I teach and often don't get home until after 5PM).
In addition to my kitchen, my favorite place is my garden. I have a combination flower/herb/veggie garden and love to grow a variety of vintage or unusual plants.
Because I teach I actually DO get a month off. I get up early to garden, sleep the hot afternoons away, then cook, read and watch movies.
My favorite cookbooks are Crazy Plates and Looneyspoons. They are full of delicious, lowfat recipes with tons of trivia and humor.
I teach science in a converted home ec kitchen. I love to use food as a teaching tool - making cheese to teach enzyme action, pickles to teach osmosis and diffusion, fudge to demonstrate igneous rock formation.
I love kitchen gadgets, KitchenAid, Le Creuset cookware and my cats.