Best Romantic Wild Rice Salad Recipes

ROMANTIC WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. You could use chicken broth instead of water.
• In a bowl whisk together vinegar, oil, mustard, honey, salt, pepper, garlic and terragon.
• As soon as the rice is done, mix it with the dressing.
• Fold in the scallions.
• Chill in the refrigerator 30-60 minutes. This salad tastes great when it is not too cold.
• Taste and adjust seasonings. Mix in half of the walnuts. Sprinkle rest on top. You could roast them first if you wanted.
• Thinnly slice strawberries and arrange them on top.

WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the wild rice in a medium pot with 4 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes, until the rice is very tender. Drain well and place the rice back in the pot. Cover and allow to steam for 10 minutes. While the rice is still warm, place it in a mixing bowl. Peel the oranges with a sharp knife, removing all the white pith. Cut between the membranes and add the orange sections to the bowl with the rice. Add the olive oil, orange juice, raspberry vinegar, grapes, pecans, cranberries, scallions, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the pepper. Allow to sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Taste for seasonings and serve at room temperature.

BALSAMIC ROASTED WINTER SQUASH AND WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse the wild rice. Bring the water or stock to a boil in a medium saucepan, add salt to taste and the rice. Bring back to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes, until the rice is tender and has begun to splay. Drain through a strainer, return to the pot and cover the pot with a clean dishtowel. Return the lid to the pot and let sit for 10 minutes
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the squash in a bowl or directly on the baking sheet and toss with salt to taste, the balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spread on the baking sheet in an even layer and make sure to tip all of the liquid remaining in the bowl over the squash. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so that the squash browns evenly. The squash should be tender all the way through. Remove from the heat
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, salt to taste and mustard. Whisk in the remaining olive oil and the walnut oil
• Combine the wild rice, squash, herbs and celery in a large bowl. Toss with the dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste. Line a platter, individual plates or a wide salad bowl with the baby spinach or arugula. Top with the salad and serve

WILD RICE SALAD WITH CELERY AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Bring the water or stock to a boil in a large saucepan, add salt to taste and the wild rice. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender and splayed. Drain and toss in a large bowl with the remaining salad ingredients.
• Mix together the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk in the walnut oil, olive oil, and buttermilk or yogurt. Toss with the wild rice mixture. Taste and adjust seasonings, and serve.

WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt or substituting seasoned salt if desired. Drain well; cool to room temperature. Spoon into a large bowl; add chicken, grapes, water chestnuts and mayonnaise. Toss gently with a fork. Cover and chill., Just before serving, add cashews if desired. Serve on lettuce leaves or line a bowl with lettuce leaves and fill with salad.

CHILLED WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Consult the packaging on your wild rice for actual cooking directions, following the ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part orange juice. These directions match my rice. Add water and juice to a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add wild rice and let it return to a boil. Lower to just simmering and cover. Cook 60 minutes. Check at about 45 minutes and if the mix seems a little dry add a bit more water.
• Toast the pecans on an ungreased cookie sheet for 5-7 minutes in the oven at 375 degrees. Allow to cool and give them a coarse chop.
• Rinse and clean the baby spinach, removing stems. Cut into ribbons about 1/2 inch thick.
• Once the rice is cooked allow it to cool a bit, about 20 minutes. You want it to lightly wilt the spinach but not actually cook it.
• Mix the spinach, cranberies, and pecans into the wild rice. If youa re serving that day, you can store on the counter. Otherwise, place in fridge until ready to serve.
• To prepare the dressing, whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.
• A half hour before serving, toss the salad and dressing together. Let stand so that the flavors can meld together.

COLD WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Discard seasoning packets from the rice and place rice in a large saucepan. Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Spread rice on a baking sheet to cool.
• While the rice is cooling, toast pine nuts in a dry frying pan over low heat until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove to a large bowl.
• Add walnut oil to the same pan, then add walnuts. Toast until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add walnuts to the pine nuts.
• Add cooled rice to the nuts, along with bell peppers, celery, cranberries, and scallions; toss well.
• Blend rice vinegar, basil, Dijon, garlic, and pepper for dressing in a food processor. Slowly drizzle olive oil and walnut oil through the chute with the motor running until combined.
• Add dressing the the rice salad and toss well. Chill for 4 hours before serving.