Rice salad recipe
 This colourful rice salad gives you different flavours and textures in every mouthful. It really doesn’t take long to make, but you do have to let the rice cool after cooking, and then leave the salad to chill for an hour to allow all the flavours to mingle. Perfect for a picnic or party table. 125g/4½oz basmati rice75g/75g/2⅔oz red rice25g/1oz flaked almonds25g/1oz pecans, roughly chopped2 tbsp pumpkin seeds100g/3½oz podded peas100g/3½oz podded broad beans125g/4½oz cherry tomatoes 1 small ridged cucumber12 breakfast radishes, trimmed6 spring onions, trimmed1 large roasted red pepper from a jar, drained½ small bunch mint, roughly chopped1 small bunch dill, roughly chopped1 small bunch flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped1 handful wild rocket leaves200g/7oz feta, crumbled (optional) 125g/4½oz basmati rice 75g/75g/2⅔oz red rice 25g/1oz flaked almonds 25g/1oz pecans, roughly chopped 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds 100g/3½oz podded peas 100g/3½oz podded broad beans 125g/4½oz cherry tomatoes 1 small ridged cucumber 12 breakfast radishes, trimmed 6 spring onions, trimmed 1 large roasted red pepper from a jar, drained ½ small bunch mint, roughly chopped 1 small bunch dill, roughly chopped 1 small bunch flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped 1 handful wild rocket leaves 200g/7oz feta, crumbled (optional) 1 large garlic clove, crushed2 tbsp pomegranate molasses1 tbsp lemon juice4 tbsp extra virgin olive oilsalt and freshly ground black pepper 1 large garlic clove, crushed 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses 1 tbsp lemon juice 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Bring two small saucepans of salted water to the boil. Cook the rice in the boiling water according to the packet instructions – usually the basmati rice will take 10–12 minutes and the red rice about 30 minutes. Drain into a sieve and refresh under cold running water; when the rice is completely cold, leave to drain in the sieve in the fridge for 1 hour.Toast the nuts and seeds in a dry frying pan over a low–medium heat for 2 minutes until crisp; leave to cool. Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil and cook the peas and broad beans for 2 minutes or until just tender. Drain and cool under cold running water; when cold, drain well.Meanwhile, quarter the cherry tomatoes and tip into a large bowl. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds, cut the cucumber into 1cm/½in cubes and add to the bowl. Finely slice the radishes and spring onions and add to the bowl.Cut the roasted red pepper into 1cm/½in wide strips and add to the bowl with the chopped herbs and rocket leaves. Add the rice, peas, beans and toasted nuts and seeds to the bowl and mix to combine. To make the dressing, in a small bowl combine the crushed garlic with the pomegranate molasses and lemon juice. Add the olive oil, season well with salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad, stir well, cover and chill for 1 hour before serving.Just before serving, sprinkle the crumbled feta, if using, over the salad. Bring two small saucepans of salted water to the boil. Cook the rice in the boiling water according to the packet instructions – usually the basmati rice will take 10–12 minutes and the red rice about 30 minutes. Drain into a sieve and refresh under cold running water; when the rice is completely cold, leave to drain in the sieve in the fridge for 1 hour. Bring two small saucepans of salted water to the boil. Cook the rice in the boiling water according to the packet instructions – usually the basmati rice will take 10–12 minutes and the red rice about 30 minutes. Drain into a sieve and refresh under cold running water; when the rice is completely cold, leave to drain in the sieve in the fridge for 1 hour. Toast the nuts and seeds in a dry frying pan over a low–medium heat for 2 minutes until crisp; leave to cool. Toast the nuts and seeds in a dry frying pan over a low–medium heat for 2 minutes until crisp; leave to cool. Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil and cook the peas and broad beans for 2 minutes or until just tender. Drain and cool under cold running water; when cold, drain well. Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil and cook the peas and broad beans for 2 minutes or until just tender. Drain and cool under cold running water; when cold, drain well. Meanwhile, quarter the cherry tomatoes and tip into a large bowl. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds, cut the cucumber into 1cm/½in cubes and add to the bowl. Finely slice the radishes and spring onions and add to the bowl. Meanwhile, quarter the cherry tomatoes and tip into a large bowl. Cut the cucumber in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds, cut the cucumber into 1cm/½in cubes and add to the bowl. Finely slice the radishes and spring onions and add to the bowl. Cut the roasted red pepper into 1cm/½in wide strips and add to the bowl with the chopped herbs and rocket leaves. Cut the roasted red pepper into 1cm/½in wide strips and add to the bowl with the chopped herbs and rocket leaves. Add the rice, peas, beans and toasted nuts and seeds to the bowl and mix to combine. Add the rice, peas, beans and toasted nuts and seeds to the bowl and mix to combine. To make the dressing, in a small bowl combine the crushed garlic with the pomegranate molasses and lemon juice. Add the olive oil, season well with salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad, stir well, cover and chill for 1 hour before serving. To make the dressing, in a small bowl combine the crushed garlic with the pomegranate molasses and lemon juice. Add the olive oil, season well with salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad, stir well, cover and chill for 1 hour before serving. Just before serving, sprinkle the crumbled feta, if using, over the salad. Just before serving, sprinkle the crumbled feta, if using, over the salad.