FIRST KITCHEN BLOGS

Summer Dill Rice Salad

It has been a looong, busy week and I have yet to do one productive thing around my house, including grocery shop! Here’s the problem: when I don’t go grocery shopping I spend money eating out. When I spend money on eating out, I usually over spend my calorie limit and my pocket book. SO, my challenge to myself today is to create a meal by using what I already have in my pantry. YIKES. Putting aside my thought to pick up the phone and speed dial a pepperoni pizza to arrive at my door in 20 minutes, I will make something in that same amount of time from the odds and ends that I ALREADY have in my kitchen. Time to get creative!

Here’s what I have: Minute brown rice, butter, can corn, lemon juice, garlic, fresh dill, peapods, green onion (all from farmer’s market last week), celery and salt. HMMMM.

Dill to me is summer. I love its distinctive flavor and I think it goes well with citrus.  If you don’t like dill, you could substitute any fresh herb such as basil, thyme or parsley.  I enjoy a cold rice salad when the weather is warm, however this dish could be eaten hot if you don’t want to wait for it to cool.

You will need: 

(makes about 4 servings)

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes                 

 ½ cup onions, chopped (yellow, white, or green)

2-3 garlic cloves, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

3 Tablespoon butter

1 cup *instant brown rice (*cook time will be longer if you use regular brown rice)

2 Tablespoon lemon juice (or ½ medium lemon squeezed)

2 cups water

1 cup pea pods or snow peas, chopped

1 cup corn (frozen or canned)

2 Tablespoons fresh dill, chopped fine

Salt to taste  

Sauté onions, celery and butter for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté another 2 minutes. Add rice and lightly brown the rice. Add lemon juice and water, bring to simmer. Add corn, peapods and dill. Turn heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes.

This is a great side dish for grilled fish or eaten plain for a light meal.

Please share your creative meals that you’ve cooked using the bare minimum left in your kitchen, meanwhile, I’m going to the grocery store!

PSSST: lots of tips to stock your cupboards in the FK DVD, also available to upload to ipod at the FK store!