FRUTTI DI MARE RICE SALAD

Frutti di Mare Rice Salad image

In the southern Mediterranean, savory rice salads are popular and are great for a light summer lunch or supper. The rice is first boiled in well-salted water like pasta and dressed with a zesty vinaigrette. This version is topped with a pile of briefly cooked shrimp, calamari and mussels, and summery ingredients like cherry tomatoes, green beans and basil. The salad is served at room temperature, and most of it can be prepared in advance, so it is exactly what you want when the weather is sweltering.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories salads and dressings, main course, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups short-grain Italian rice, such as Carnaroli or Arborio
1 large shallot, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, smashed to a paste
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 small bay leaf
1 sprig thyme
1/2 pound small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 pound cleaned squid, cut in thin rings
1 pound small mussels, scrubbed
1/2 pound slender green beans
1/2 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
Handful of basil leaves, for garnish
2 tablespoons finely cut chives

Steps:

Bring a gallon of well-salted water to a boil then add rice. Cook for about 15 minutes (as though it were pasta), until al dente. Drain and spread rice on a platter or baking tray to cool.
Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, combine shallot, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, vinegar and mustard. Let macerate 5 to 10 minutes, then whisk in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the seafood: Fill a medium saucepan with salted water and bring to a simmer. Add bay leaf and thyme. Add shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until just done, then remove and spread on a plate to cool. Cook squid rings for about 1 minute, then remove and spread on a plate to cool. Finally, simmer mussels in same pot, covered, until shells open, about 2 minutes. Drain and spread on a plate to cool. Remove mussels from shell if desired. (Reserve cooking liquid for another purpose.)
Cook the green beans: Boil a small amount of salted water (just enough to cover the beans) in a separate low pot or a skillet. Add green beans and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until tender but still firm, then drain and cool.
Put rice in a low salad bowl. Dress with half the vinaigrette and season lightly with salt and pepper; toss well to distribute dressing. Combine green beans and cherry tomatoes, then dress with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette, season lightly and scatter over rice. Arrange shrimp, squid and mussels over the top. Spoon remaining vinaigrette over seafood. Garnish with basil leaves (tear larger leaves into pieces) and sprinkle with chives. Serve salad at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 497, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 51 grams, Fat 21 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 25 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 748 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams