Refreshing Summer rice salad with fruits and crab meat

Tasty, light and refreshing this salad is a great idea during the Summer months! It can be served as a light meal as well and easily packed and taken with you at a picnic, adding the dressing the last moment. If you don't like crab you can replace it with shrimps

Recipe of Dimitris Andreou,

from "Cook Book" magazine of "ETHNOS" newspaper

Ingredients (for 4 people)

For the salad:
170gr. of long grain rice
1 banana (not ripe)
1 tin of crab meat
1 tbsp. of black raisins
2 handfuls of fresh white sweet grapes, no seeds
1 small cucumber, cut in small cubes
1-2 tbsp. of peanuts (unsalted)
5 sprigs of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
 

For the dressing:
4 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, the zest
1 tsp of honey
½ tsp of ground cumin
salt
pepper

Method:
Boil the rice in plenty of salted water, drain in a colander and leave aside to cool down.

Cut the grapes in half or leave whole if the berries are small. Drain the crab meat thoroughly. Cut the banana in small cubes or thin slices.

Transfer the boiled rice in a salad bowl, add the rest of the ingredients and gently toss with two spoons.

Put the dressing ingredients in a bowl (or a blender) and whisk thoroughly to blend well.

Pour over the salad and serve immediately.