Go Back
Birds Nest

Bird's Nests

Crispy little rice cups filled with finely diced fresh vegetables marinated in a wasabi mayo make the best appetizer.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Comfort food
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Small metal strainer

Ingredients
  

Nests

  • 1.5 cups white rice or thin rice noodles
  • 2 cups water
  • pinch salt
  • frying oil

Filling

  • 1 medium finely diced cucumber
  • 5-6 cherry tomatoes finely diced
  • 2 medium shallots peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 avocado diced
  • 1/3 cup black olives
  • fresh cilantro

Wasabi Mayo

  • 1/3 cup vegan mayo
  • 1-2 tsp wasabi paste
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • pinch of salt

Instructions
 

Cook the rice

  • Prepare the rice the day before or in the morning so that it has time to cool down.
  • Cover 2 cups of white rice with water and swosh it well. Drain and repeat until the water comes out clear to remove excess starch.
  • Bring the water to a boil and add the rice (1 cup of rice with 1.25 water with a pinch of salt) cover and simmer for 12 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and keep it covered for 5-10 minutes.

Prepare the filling

  • Finely dice a peeled cucumber, cherry tomatoes, shallots, avocado and place in a bowl.
  • Prepare the wasabi dressing: mix 2-3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise with 2 tsp wasabi paste, 1 tbsp maple syrup and a pinch of salt. Add a little water if you want it thinner.
  • Pour the dressing and mix the vegetables.

Make the nests

  • Place some paper towels on a plate.
  • Heat up a few cups of oil in a small pan. You will know the oil is hot enough by dropping a grain of rice and see if it sizzles. If it does you are ready.
  • Place a heaping tablespoon of cooked cold rice in a small metal strainer. Push down the middle with a spoon or your thumb to create an indent.
    frying the nests
  • Gently lower the strainer in the hot. Be careful to always keep the handle up so that no hot oil trickles down the handle.
  • Fry for a minute until the the nests are crispy.
  • Using a soup spoon and gently lift the nest and place on a plate lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil.
  • Repeat with the rest of the rice or noodles. Let the nests cool down before filling them up.

Fill the nests

  • Spoon some of the fresh vegetables in each nest and top with some fresh cilantro leaves.
  • Serve immediately.
Keyword gluten-free appetizer