Brown Rice Salad (or Patties)

by Christina Pirella

This is a refreshing way to serve brown rice in warm weather. The light citrus-scented dressing flavors the salad in the most tantalizing way.
 
¼ cup each corn kernels, green peas, diced carrot
    and diced celery
Small handful of watercress sprigs
Pinch of sea salt
3 tablespoons brown rice vinegar
3 tablespoons umeboshi vinegar
½ cup fresh orange juice
Grated zest of 1 orange
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
2 cups cooked brown rice
 
Cook corn, peas, carrots, celery and watercress separately in the order listed by adding to boiling water, bringing back to a boil, removing with a slotted spoon, then cooling in iced water. Drain vegetables well and mix together in a bowl. Toss vegetables with sea salt and remaining ingredients except rice. Allow to marinate 30 minutes. Toss vegetables with rice just before serving or the rice will be soggy.
 
Variation: You may substitute any cooked whole grain or pasta in this recipe, and you may use any combination of vinegars, lemon juice, etc.
 
Makes 4 servings

Reprinted from Cooking the Whole Foods Way by Chritina Pirello

Christina Pirella is a dynamic personality: a woman who discovered the value of healthy eating when, at age 26, she cured herself from leukemia by changing her diet dramatically. She’s an expert chef, author and Emmy Award-winning television personality who is passionate about eating a plant-based diet to prevent cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other health-related epidemics. She also believes that a plantbased diet will help you look and feel younger and more vibrant. With a Masters Degree in Nutrition, she has a broad knowledge of the science of nutrition. Christina believes that much of the information released today is influenced by corporate interest rather than biological facts or in the interest of the health of humanity. She responds ardently every time a news story comes out about how to cure America’s health problems. In addition to being the keynote speaker for the United States Defense Department’s food service convention (Defending the Health of Our Nation’s Defenders), Christina hosts her own national public television show, ‘Christina Cooks’ and has been a regular guest on numerous occasions or network news
and daytime talk shows. She is the author of: This Crazy Vegan Life Christina Cooks: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Whole Foods, but Were Afraid to Ask (2004) Glow: Your Prescription for Radiant Health and Beauty (2001) Cook Your Way to the Life You Want (1999)
Cooking the Whole Foods Way (1997)
All published by Home, a division of Penguin Group USA