Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad Recipe with Nutty Flavor

Wild rice salad bursts with Mediterranean charm, offering a tantalizing blend of textures and tastes.

Nutty grains mingle with crisp vegetables, creating a vibrant culinary masterpiece that dances across your palate.

Colorful ingredients weave together in a symphony of freshness, promising both nutrition and incredible flavor.

Every forkful tells a story of culinary creativity, challenging traditional salad expectations.

Seasonal produce transforms this dish from simple to spectacular, infusing each bite with unexpected delight.

Hearty and light simultaneously, this salad breaks through ordinary meal boundaries.

Serve Wild Rice Salad Warm or Cold

• Pair with Protein Power: Serve this wild rice salad alongside grilled chicken breast, seared salmon, or roasted turkey for a complete and satisfying meal that balances flavors and textures.
• Elevate with Fresh Herbs: Garnish the salad with chopped fresh mint, parsley, or basil just before serving to add a burst of bright, aromatic freshness that complements the citrusy dressing.
• Create Party-Perfect Presentation: Arrange the salad in a large glass serving bowl or on a beautiful platter, allowing the colorful ingredients to shine and create an eye-catching dish that's perfect for gatherings and potlucks.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the salad components in advance and store separately in the refrigerator, combining just before serving to maintain the crisp texture and vibrant flavors of the ingredients.

Wild Rice Storage Suggestions

• Preserve Freshness: Store this wild rice salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Crisp orange segments and delicate pecans maintain their texture best when consumed within the first two days.
• Meal Prep Magic: Prepare rice and chop ingredients ahead of time to streamline weekday lunch assembly. Separate wet and dry components until ready to serve, preventing soggy textures and maintaining optimal crunch.
• Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Keep dressing separately if planning to store salad for multiple days. Add fresh dressing just before serving to revive flavors and prevent ingredient breakdown.
• Temperature Transition Tips: Let chilled salad rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to enhance natural flavor profiles. Gently remix ingredients to redistribute dressing and restore original texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Calories: 380 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients for Ina Garten’s Wild Rice Salad

• Long-Grain Wild Rice: Choose plump, uniform grains with rich, earthy color for best texture and nutty flavor.

• Navel Oranges, Fresh Orange Juice: Select firm, heavy oranges with bright, glossy skin and sweet fragrance.

• Pecans, Dried Cranberries: Pick pecans with golden-brown color and crisp texture; choose plump, deep-red cranberries without discoloration.

• Scallions: Look for bright green, firm stalks with crisp white bottoms and no wilting.

• Seedless Green Grapes: Select firm, glossy grapes with vibrant green color and no soft spots.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Choose cold-pressed, bright green oil with grassy aroma.
• Raspberry Vinegar: Pick high-quality vinegar with clear, sharp fruity notes.

• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Use freshly ground pepper and high-quality kosher salt for enhanced flavor.

Tools to Prep Rice and Toss Salad

• Fine-mesh strainer: Perfect for rinsing rice thoroughly and draining water cleanly.
• Medium saucepan: Ideal for cooking rice with precise heat control.
• Sharp chef's knife: Essential for peeling oranges and cutting segments precisely.
• Cutting board: Stable surface for preparing ingredients safely.
• Medium bowl: Catches orange segments and collected juice during preparation.
• Small mixing bowl: Great for whisking dressing ingredients smoothly.
• Large serving bowl: Spacious container for combining and mixing salad components.
• Whisk: Helps blend dressing ingredients evenly and quickly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.

Step-by-Step for Ina’s Wild Rice Bowl

• Cook Wild Rice Perfectly

Wash wild rice thoroughly under running water. Transfer to a pot, add water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cover. Let simmer for about an hour until rice splits and becomes tender. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.

• Prepare Citrus Burst

Peel oranges carefully, removing all white membrane. Slice between segments over a bowl to catch juices. Squeeze membranes to extract extra flavor. Collect orange pieces and juice separately.

• Whip Up Tangy Dressing

Blend olive oil, fresh orange juice, and raspberry vinegar in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, whisking until smooth and well combined.

• Assemble Vibrant Salad

Combine cooled wild rice with orange segments, halved grapes, chopped pecans, cranberries, and scallions in a large bowl. Pour dressing over ingredients and gently mix to distribute flavors evenly.

• Finish and Serve

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Let salad sit for a few minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve at room temperature or chilled for a refreshing and nutritious meal.

Flavor Layering Tips for Wild Rice

Mix and match ingredients to create your perfect salad masterpiece.

Replace pecans with almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds for a crunchy twist and different nutritional profile.

Trade oranges for fresh berries, diced apple, or pomegranate seeds during different harvest times to keep the recipe exciting and varied.

Boost the salad’s heartiness by adding grilled chicken, seared shrimp, or crumbled goat cheese for extra protein and flavor complexity.

Elevate the dish with fresh herbs like mint, parsley, or basil to introduce bright, aromatic notes that complement the wild rice’s earthy base.

Elegant Wild Rice Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s wild rice salad combines earthy grains with crisp vegetables and a zesty dressing. Refreshing herbs and crunchy nuts elevate this Mediterranean-inspired dish that serves as a perfect side or light meal for summer gatherings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup (6 oz / 170 g) long-grain wild rice
• 2 navel oranges
• ½ cup (75 g) seedless green grapes, cut in half
• ½ cup (50 g) pecans, toasted
• ¼ cup (40 g) dried cranberries
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) good olive oil
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) raspberry vinegar
• 2 tbsps (6 g) scallions, white and green parts, chopped
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Rice Preparation: Cleanse wild rice under cold water, then combine with water and salt in a saucepan, bringing to a vigorous boil before reducing heat and simmering until grains become tender and slightly burst.
2. Rice Cooling: Drain excess liquid and spread rice on a plate to cool, halting the cooking process and preventing mushiness.
3. Citrus Segmentation: Meticulously peel navel oranges, removing all white pith, and carefully slice segments over a collection bowl to capture natural juices.
4. Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk extra virgin olive oil, fresh orange juice, and raspberry vinegar, seasoning with salt and black pepper to create a harmonious dressing that complements the rice’s earthy notes.
5. Salad Assembly: Merge cooled wild rice with orange segments, green grapes, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and scallions in a spacious serving vessel.
6. Flavor Infusion: Gently drizzle prepared vinaigrette over the salad, delicately tossing to ensure each ingredient is evenly coated and seasoned.
7. Final Touch: Adjust seasoning with additional black pepper and salt, then serve immediately at room temperature or chill briefly to allow flavors to meld and intensify.

Notes

• Rinse Thoroughly: Remove excess starch from wild rice by rinsing under cold water to improve overall texture and flavor complexity.
• Cook with Precision: Simmer rice covered on low heat for 50-60 minutes, watching for tender grains that slightly burst, indicating perfect doneness.
• Orange Segment Technique: Remove all white pith meticulously when peeling to prevent bitter undertones and maximize sweet citrus flavor.
• Flavor Melding Strategy: Let salad rest in refrigerator for an hour before serving to allow ingredients to harmonize and develop deeper, more integrated taste profile.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 46 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg