BROWN RICE SALAD WITH AVOCADO
From Huka Lodge in New Zealand. The combination of crunchy peanuts, creamy avocados, and the sweet bite of ginger make for a dish that's full of complex flavors, yet easy to execute. Serve it on its own or with tofu for a vegetarian meal, or add grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp.
From: Saveur SERVES 4
1 cup short grain brown rice
Kosher salt, to taste
3 1/2 tbsp. dark soy sauce
3 1/2 tbsp. mirin
3 1/2 tbsp. sake
1 tbsp. sugar
1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup peanuts, toasted and roughly chopped
1/4 cup pickled ginger, thinly sliced
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded, halved lengthwise and sliced into 1/4” pieces
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Rinse rice in a strainer under cold running water for 30 seconds. Bring 12 cups water to a boil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid over high heat. Add the rice, stir it once, and boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Pour the rice into a strainer over the sink; cool to room temperature.
Combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar in a 2-qt saucepan over medium-high; cook until sugar has dissolved, 3-5 minutes. Cool teriyaki sauce slightly.
Combine rice, teriyaki sauce, the cilantro, peanuts, ginger, scallions, avocados, cucumber, and zest and juice in a bowl; transfer to a serving platter and garnish with cilantro.