What dressing/spices/flavours can I put with rice, nuts, dried fruits etc

[soupfiend]

I fancy making some sort of salady lunch pot thing using rice, chopped nuts, chopped dried apricots/prunes/sultanas etc.

What sort of spices or dressing would go nice with this, Im guessing middle eastern flavours but how to proportion them?

I could put bits of chicken in it perhaps, or chickpeas. What veg would be nice in it, cauliflower perhaps, I dont think I want tomatoes in it, doesnt feel it would be right somehow.

Any ideas?

With grated carrots, pineapple and maybe some yellow pepper - plus peanuts or cashews. Use asian based honey/ soy flavours.

With chicken dried fruit etc, go with ras el hanout.

Ras el hanout is a Moroccan seasoning you could use. Otherwise a bit of turmeric and cumin? Coriander for herbs, or parsley if you don't like it. Maybe a bit of mint. Mix the herbs and spices with some olive oil (spices are better if pan fried for a bit first. Otherwise a lemon and tahini dressing might work.

I would probably use cous cous rather than rice and add some roasted peppers and chickpeas.

Love this idea

You do sound like you are veering into Coronation Chicken territory. Which is a fave although perhaps not what you were going for.

Yes like these flavours, and I have tahini. Roasted peppers is a good idea

I dont eat couscous/pasta

I do like coronation chicken!

But no, I dont what indiany flavour spices on this dish and I want nuts and might not even add chicken, Im thinking very light and open as a dish, not too claggy (although Im not adverse to claggy in the right circumstances)