Adventures in Cooking: Hawaiian Rice Salad

I went to a party a few years ago at my friend Elaine's house and I met a new friend...Hawaiian Rice Salad. It was instantly something I knew I had to have the recipe for!  I just could not stop eating it!  I did some investigating and found out that Elaine's friend Kari had made it...I had not met her before then (I don't think), but I wiggled my way into a conversation with her and managed to get the recipe - which quickly made her a friend of mine (it's a pet peeve of mine...people who won't share recipes). Anyway, so, I've made it many times since then and I never get tired of it.  The latest occasion...I made it for my the Wii/Jell-O Party last night. 

It's really a chicken salad, sort of, but not.  It's different.  Now I love lots of chicken salads...so long as they don't have onion in them - YUCK!  But this one is not like other chicken salads.  It's not chicken salad at all according to it's name.  In fact, after eating half the bowl a few bites at Elaine's house, then asking what was in it...I was shocked!  First of all, I had assumed it was a chicken salad, because that's what it tasted most like, but that's not technically what it's called.  I was also shocked because I'm not a fan of raw crunchy celery (which this has but I hadn't noticed), and I wouldn't have dreamed it had rice in it (and that's part of it's name).  Anyway - if the ingredient list doesn't sit right with you, but you like chicken salad - give this one a shot!  I don't think you'll be sorry!

I included a few pics scattered through the recipe.  I was attempting to do it Pioneer Woman style.  But it's not like that. At all.  Her writing is funnier.  Her pictures are spectacular.  Her blog is famous.  Her cookbook is my favorite (for now).  I liked  her cookbook so much that I bought 5 copies.  Two for me, three for gifts.   Anyway, I like her.  Can you tell?  In my attempt to be like her, I forgot the 'dressing' picture and a pic of the chicken, and something else, I'm sure.  Oh well, you'll get the picture (no pun intended).  Yes, I'm a dork.

Hawaiian Rice Salad

3 cups of cooked brown rice

2 cups pineapple tidbits, drained (but save the juice)

2 cups diced celery

2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces

3/4 cup mayonnaise

Salt & Pepper to taste

Celery or Sesame Seeds (optional)

Combine rice, pineapple, celery, and chicken in a bowl. 

 

Blend 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice with mayonnaise; whisk until smooth.  

Pour over rice & chicken mixture.  Toss lightly until mixed well.   Chill for at least 2 hours!

Sprinkle with celery seeds or sesame seeds if desired.  Serve on croissants or with Ritz crackers.

And that's it!   Yummy, yummy...Hawaiian Rice Salad!