I almost posted this recipe on my recent Blogging for Books post over Cooking for Picassosimply because my inspiration came from a Dorie Greenspan recipe. (If I’ve lost you, there are lots of great French dishes in Cooking for Picasso.). Alas, I just didn’t get it done in time.
There is not a lot of visual food in the film and by that I mean there are no long food-porn shots of delicious French dishes; there are, however, lots of food references. Here’s a list that I compiled:
Pizza (with cheese)
Eggs (Kate’s nest egg)
Vodka (that Luc swipes on the transatlantic flight)
Grapes (from Luc’s smuggled baby grape vine to the vineyards of his ancestral home)
Wine (of course…we’re in France)
Cheese Plate (as Kate discovers cheese and meets her lactose intolerance head on)
Baguettes (from the above cheese plate)
Currants, lavender, rosemary, and mushrooms (from Luc’s “bouquet” box)
Desserts (from the dessert cart that Kate so gracefully collides with)
SeaBreeze (the frou-frou drink that Kate orders when she confronts Charlie and Juliette)
Crudités (Kate swipes a carrot from the appetizer plate that Charlie and Juliette are sharing.)
I, of course, almost whipped up a SeaBreeze. Considering we are trying to eat healthier, I showed great restraint. Here is a Frenchie salad and our next installment for our 2017 Challenge or “Rice Bowls and Salads to $800 and a Sexier Husband.” The salad is loaded with veggies just like that crudités plate.
Red Rice Salad (Loaded with Veggies) inspired by Couscous Salad from Dorie Greenspan
1 c. red rice cooked according to directions
1/2 c. golden raisins (I used jumbo “crimson” raisins.)
1 cucumber, peeled and cubed
1 red sweet pepper, diced
1/2 c. shredded carrots (I used sliced carrots.)
1/2 c. brocolli slaw
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
zest of one lemon
Spiced Vinaigrette (see recipe below)
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Waiting for the rice.
Toss all ingredients and let set for a few hours before serving.
Dorie’s salad was made with couscous and added spices to the cooking process. I decided to experiment and try the flavors in a vinaigrette.
Spiced Vinaigrette an original recipe inspired by the flavors in Dorie’s salad
1/2 c. olive oil
4 T. fresh lemon juice
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 t. ginger paste
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. turmeric
sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Place all ingredients in a blender and emulsify.
I really enjoyed this salad and it was a nice change from our warm rice bowls. Although the raisins added a different texture and a bit of sweetness, I think the next time I make this I will add dried tomatoes instead. This salad definitely gets better the longer it sets. Any grain will work for this dish as well like the Dorie called-for couscous or quinoa.
As for the film, it’s fun. I won’t give the plot away anymore than I have but you can read a great introduction to the film at Food ‘n Flix. I did have a few problems as I watched the film, though.
I was watching a YouTube posted version so there were no subtitles (and I don’t speak French). I inferred that there was some sort of prior relationship between the police inspector (Jean Reno) and Luc. If any of you out there were not so cheap and rented the movie, can you please share this information with me?
I could not get past Kevin Kline’s accent. His accent kept making me think of a Monty Python sketch (perhaps because I was remembering scenes from A Fish Called Wanda with his co-star John Cleese).
Finally, there was his mustache which made him look like an 80’s porn star (not that I have experience watching those sort of things…)
In conclusion, I have to share my most favorite quote from the film:
“When people tell me they are happy, my ass begins to twitch.”—Luc
Please plan on joining Food ‘n Flix in February for the feature film Pan’s Labyrinth hosted at Pretty Cake Machine. Membership is open to anyone that wants to participate. For more information, click here.
Last but not least…you know I just couldn’t resist whipping one of these up.
Okay, so yes (I own the movie) – Luc once saved the inspector’s life (when the inspector is telling the story to his kids, he shows them a scar and says that Luc stopped the knife from going all the way across his neck), so he watches out for him and tries to keep him out of trouble, since he feels like he owes him his life.
I like the idea of a crudite tray-inspired salad – so healthy and perfectly French.
i love your compilation of food references in the movie – nest egg – made me smile i would not have spotted that as an inspiration idea. Clever.
Funny you say you watched the french subtitled version as i did find the original version in English on youtube. I totally agree with your observation on Kines accent and moustache!
I have had red rice and am unsure about it, but i do like this as it has chickpeas.
Hah! Yes I wanted to shave the mustache and cut that hair! 😉 Too funny. Your salad looks delicious–I love all of the different flavors and ingredients. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week too.
Oh Deb, you always make me laugh. I will never again be able to think of this movie without your 70’s porn star comment jumping into my head. Your salad looks great, I hope you enjoyed the sea breeze cocktail.
This looks so fantastic! I can’t wait to try it…without the chickpeas as my mini-boy is sensitive to them. I have green rice. Maybe I’ll try with that.
Comments & Replies
38 responses to “Red Rice Salad (Loaded with Veggies)”
Love this salad absolutely !!
Thank you, Gloria.
Okay, so yes (I own the movie) – Luc once saved the inspector’s life (when the inspector is telling the story to his kids, he shows them a scar and says that Luc stopped the knife from going all the way across his neck), so he watches out for him and tries to keep him out of trouble, since he feels like he owes him his life.
I like the idea of a crudite tray-inspired salad – so healthy and perfectly French.
Of course you own the movie! 🙂 Thanks for the close captioning. And, thanks for hosting this month.
This is a very nourishing and delicious salad!
Thank you, Angie!
Great salad and now I want to check out the movie! Thanks for the recipe and movie infor!
Fun film!
Yum, love everything in this salad and the dressing sounds wonderful too!
It’s a good versatile dressing.
That’s a great quote from the film. Quirky, but great. Lovely salad, too — tons of flavor. Thanks!
Yes, I love it, too. I wish I could use it at work!
Rice salads are so good and this one sounds really tasty.
I love red rice! It’s my new quionoa! 🙂
I have never had red rice but now I want it more than ever!
I love it. It’s a bit “toothier” than long grain brown rice. I think it tastes nuttier, too.
i love your compilation of food references in the movie – nest egg – made me smile i would not have spotted that as an inspiration idea. Clever.
Funny you say you watched the french subtitled version as i did find the original version in English on youtube. I totally agree with your observation on Kines accent and moustache!
I have had red rice and am unsure about it, but i do like this as it has chickpeas.
I watched the English version with NO subtitles for the French parts. If I had watched it all in French, I would have been sooooooo lost. 🙂
I love how veggie friendly this rice salad is! Even though it’s freezing in Winter it makes me feel like it’s garden season!
I think it would be good with any veggies. The jumbo raisins were delicious in it.
Loads of delicious flavors and textures in this salad. I have not ever made red rice—you’ve inspired me to give it a try!
I hope you do give it a go, Liz.
Hah! Yes I wanted to shave the mustache and cut that hair! 😉 Too funny. Your salad looks delicious–I love all of the different flavors and ingredients. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week too.
I think there was a lot of that! Thanks, Deb.
A great rice salad for sure!
Thanks, Evelyne!
Oh Deb, you always make me laugh. I will never again be able to think of this movie without your 70’s porn star comment jumping into my head. Your salad looks great, I hope you enjoyed the sea breeze cocktail.
Sorry about ruining the movie with that image! 🙂 We did certainly enjoy the SeaBreeze!
Wow…you really did pay attention to the food references! I think I way too busy laughing at Meg Ryan!
I laughed at her character but kept my eye on the food! 🙂
A beautiful salad! I’m with you, shave the mustache and cut the hair!! Ew!!
Hands in the air who likes Kevin Kline clean shaven! The hands have it! Thanks, Terri.
This looks so fantastic! I can’t wait to try it…without the chickpeas as my mini-boy is sensitive to them. I have green rice. Maybe I’ll try with that.
I hope you try it (sans the chickpeas). Green rice would be interesting. You’ll have to tell me how it is.
I think I watched this movie right after it came out. Need to watch it again. Another great salad!!!
Thanks, M.J.!
Yum! That looks amazing!!
[…] GET THE RECIPE […]