ROASTED GRAPE, CARROT & WILD RICE SALAD WITH BALSAMIC MAPLE DRESSING

Roasted grape, carrot & wild rice salad with balsamic maple dressing image

Enjoy the contrasting flavours and textures of this vegetarian rice salad with nuts, feta cheese and sweet dressing

Provided by Cassie Best

Categories Lunch, Main course, Side dish

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

200g brown basmati & wild rice mix
300g baby carrot , peeled
250g red seedless grape , picked from the stalk
1 tbsp extra virgin olive or rapeseed oil
200g green bean
100g bag pecan
2 good handfuls rocket leaves
200g pack feta cheese , crumbled into chunks
2 tbsp maple syrup
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
juice ½ lemon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive or rapeseed oil

Steps:

Cook the rice following pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Place the carrots and grapes on a large baking tray, keeping the grapes at one end and the carrots at the other (the grapes will bleed some of their juice onto the tray, which will stain the carrots). Drizzle the carrots with the oil and season. Roast for 10 mins, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool a little. When the rice is cooked, drain and run under the cold tap to cool a little, then set aside to drain completely.
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil, add the beans and cook for 2 mins or until just tender. Drain and set aside to cool a little. In a large bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together with some seasoning. Add the rice, carrots, beans, pecans, rocket and half the feta, and toss everything together. Transfer to a serving plate, then scatter over the remaining feta and the roasted grapes. Drizzle any juice from the baking tray over the salad and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 446 calories, Fat 25 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 43 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 16 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 11 grams protein, Sodium 1.3 milligram of sodium