A light, fresh side salad packed with great flavours. It can be enjoyed all year round, but with the vibrant red and green colours it always makes a stunning addition to any Christmas table.
This recipe was thoroughly enjoyed by all on the November 2014 ThermoFun Cook Along.
Ingredients
- 70g pine nuts
- 1 red capsicum, quartered
- 220g risoni
- 1200g boiling water from kettle
- 50g olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin, ground
- 1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
- 1 teaspoon paprika, sweet
- handful fresh coriander leaves
- 1 cucumber
- 130g currants
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place pine nuts into TM bowl and dry roast 8 mins / 100°C / speed 1 / MC off. Set aside into a salad bowl.
- Place capsicum into TM bowl and chop 3 sec / speed 5. Add to salad bowl.
- Place risoni and boiling water into TM bowl and cook 8 mins / 100°C / speed 4 / Reverse / MC off.
- Strain risoni then run under cold water tap. Drain well and add to salad bowl.
- Place oil, cumin, turmeric and paprika into TM bowl and cook 5 mins / 100°C / speed 2.
- While oil and spices are cooking, chop coriander and dice cucumber and add to salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add currants to TM bowl and cook 2 mins / 100°C / speed 1 / Reverse.
- Stir the fragrant oil and currants gently through the other salad ingredients.
Notes
* If you are not a coriander fan this works well with parsley.
• Stir through pre-cooked shredded meat (eg. chicken, ham, lamb).
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If you have enjoyed this recipe then please consider leaving a comment. It’s always refreshing to see comments from people that have tried a recipe and found it a success or tweaked it to suit.
Denise says
Loved this salad but I boiled the risoni 8 mins in thermomix and it turned into porridge. So cooked it on stove top
thermofun says
Hi Denise, I have made this countless times and I too had that happen once - I'm sure it was the type of risoni I used at the time which may have been a no name brand. Can you recall the type you used?
Kellie Deeble says
My risoni turned tiny little bits and half went through the strainer so ended up cooking more in a saucepan.
thermofun says
oh no I'm sorry to hear that Kellie. Perhaps it was the brand of risoni you used? :(
Jenny says
Thought I’d make this for Christmas Day 👏👏👏To make it gluten free, would I just substitute quinoa for the risoni? And what quantity do you think?
Thanks:)
thermofun says
Hi Jenny I think I'd use brown rice. Maybe 300g rice + 1000g water for 35 mins.
Elizabeth says
This year I'm wanting to try new things and salad for us is the usual tomato lettuce cucumber type deal. This was a very tasty change and surprisingly easy to make. Husband was very impressed.
thermofun says
That's awesome to hear Elizabeth :D It's always nice to find new things to add to the list :D
Annette Bowers says
Yum! This is our side for tonight's dinner with naked sausages?
thermofun says
baaaa aaaa love it Annette, naked sausages.
Deb says
Loved this Salad and so did my Preschooler! Easy to make ahead.
I substitued red capsicum for yellow capsicum and steamed broadbeans (in varoma). And added Fetta sprinkled on top at the end.
Its a nice salad without an onion flavour!!
thermofun says
Thanks Deb - I always love to hear other people's tweaks! :)
Heidi says
hiya, husband has come back from shops with raisins instead of currents! Do you think they should be added? Also no turmeric ... What's a alternative.
Thanks H
thermofun says
Heidi raisins will be fine. Maybe try ground mustard instead of the turmeric. I haven't tried this though but would be keen to hear how it goes. :)
chezford says
I don't like coriander...any other herbs you think would go well?
thermofun says
Yes it works well with parsley :)
Bella says
I made this for Christmas lunch and had leftovers for Boxing Day lunch. It was a crowd pleaser, even the kids ate it. Thanks and looked fantastic on the Christmas table
thermofun says
Thanks Bella. Yes it's a lovely looking salad on a Christmas table. :)
Tania says
Family and friends at a BBQ really enjoyed this tasty salad when I prepared it during the November Cook Along. It's a great salad that can be made even a day before serving which is so handy when entertaining. I will definitely be making this for Christmas Day. Thanks!
thermofun says
Thanks Tania! I love the red/green colours in it for xmas! :)
Kylie says
I was wondering if made the day before, does it go soggy. ??
Sheina wibrew says
Please can ypu tell me what Risoni is please. Is it a type of pasta? I live innFrance and could do a hint!! Lol.
Thank you
thermofun says
Hi Sheina - risoni is very small pasta - (the size and shape of a pine nut actually).