Spicy Sausage Salad

• 2 tablespoons long-grain rice (optional)
• 1 pound hot or sweet Italian sausages, or Thai sausages
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
• 1 bird chile, minced
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 large shallot, thinly sliced crosswise and separated into rings
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped mint

1. Light the grill or preheat the broiler.
2. In a small skillet, toast the rice over moderately high heat, shaking the skillet, until the rice is golden brown, about 3 minutes.
3. Transfer the rice to a plate to cool completely.
4. Grind the rice to a fine powder in a spice mill.
5. Grill or broil the sausages about 5 inches from the heat for about 4 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through.
6. Let cool, then slice the sausages crosswise 1/3 inch thick.
7. In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, fish sauce and chile.
8. Season the dressing with pepper.
9. In a shallow bowl, toss the sausage slices with the shallot rings, cilantro and mint.
10. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well.
11. Just before serving, sprinkle the salad with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the roasted rice powder.

longgrain rice, sausages, lime juice, fish sauce, bird chile, freshly ground pepper, shallot, cilantro, mint

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spicy-sausage-salad (may not work)