Black Rice Salad with Roasted Cauliflower

I think its safe to say that when it comes to rice, black rice is my favorite. It has this amazingly distinct, nutty flavor which makes it delicious on its own but even better when tossed with roasted cauliflower and juicy oranges in a tangy lemon vinaigrette.
Variations of this salad have become a staple in our house and you can almost always find one in our fridge. I usually start each week with a huge batch that I end up serving as a side dish at dinner then enjoying for lunch the rest of the week. And confession- it gets better and better the longer it sits!

This salad is made from black rice, roasted cauliflower and orange all tossed together with a handful of parsley and a simple lemon vinaigrette. Golden raisins add a touch of sweetness which is the perfect compliment to the nutty flavor of the rice and slivered almonds add just the right amount of crunch.

Black Rice Salad with Roasted Cauliflower:

Ingredients:
– 1 cup black rice, cooked as directed
– 1 cup cauliflower (about 1/2 the cauliflower) cut into small pieces
– 1 orange peeled and cut into segments
– 1/3 cup parsley, roughly chopped
– 1 green onion, finely sliced
– 1/4 cup slivered almonds
– 1/4 cup golden raisins
– glug of olive oil
– salt
Lemon Vinaigrette
– Juice from 1 lemon about 1/3 cup
– 1/4 cup olive oil
– 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
– 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
– salt and pepper

Directions:
– Cook rice as directed on the package. Let cool.
– Toss cauliflower in olive oil and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Roast for 40 minutes in a 400 degree oven tossing half way through. Let cool.
– In a large bowl combine all salad ingredients together.
– Mix the ingredients for the Lemon Vinaigrette together and toss with the rice salad. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!