One of the main reasons I started Gutsy Cooks was to push myself when it came to trying new things in the kitchen. Often time, we get comfortable with our favorite dishes and tend to make them over and over again, losing the opportunities to try new flavors, ingredients, and techniques.

The whole point of calling the cooking club Gutsy was to remind myself, and those that participate every week with me to be fearless in the kitchen. That is how good cooks are born.

It may be a total bust and you may not like it, but – you.tried.it. You were Gutsy. And then there are those times when something you have never thought would work becomes your new favorite thing.

This salad is my new favorite thing.

The hardest part of this recipe?

Cooking the rice - The only difference between cooking brown rice and white rice is the water to rice ratio. Because of the outer bran coating, more water and a longer cooking time is needed for brown rice.

In my case the cup that I used for this recipe (yes I halved) took almost 45 minutes of cooking time.

The best part of this recipe?

Everything else – it comes together rather quickly once you get the rice cooled off. I stayed pretty true to the recipe except, I added walnuts, and did not have green onions so instead I up the cooked onions that it called for. I went heavy on the curry, because I love curry. I did cook my corn with the onions, just to give it a pop and added the raisin to it at the last 5 minutes of cooking to get them plump. Instead of cooking oil for the dressing, I used olive oil.

I’m in total agreement with the original recipe owner, Sara, of The Kitchen. This is a great salad to make it your own. You can add anything to it. The sweet and sour dressing is a good match up to any combination. The next time, I’m adding a can of tuna to see what the results would be. Tom added some chopped chicken to make it a bit heavier for his dinner and it totally worked.

But whichever way you decided to make it, remember your gutsiness. All recipes out there started from something else, it’s up to you to make it your own.

SWEET & SOUR RICE SALAD
Adapted from Our Kitchen

Salad

1 cup brown rice – cooked and cooled
½ cup golden raisin
½ cup unsalted roasted peanuts
½ cup of walnuts
½ cup canned corn kernels, drained
3 spring onions, finely sliced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Dressing

1 teaspoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon of butter
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon caster sugar
2 medium onions, chopped
¼ cup white vinegar
½ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste

Make the brown rice by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Then drain and rinse under cold water.

Heat the cooking oil and butter in a saucepan. Add onions and cook over medium heat until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the corn and season with salt and pepper. Add the curry powder to the onions/corn and cook for a further 1-3 minute. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.

Make the dressing by mixing the sugar, olive oil, salt and white vinegar in a jar (or bowl), shake well until combined.

Combine the cooled rice with the walnuts, peanuts, corn/onion mixture, spring onion and parsley. Fold the dressing through the rice salad.

Check out what the other Gutsy Cooks have been making in their kitchens here.