This gorgeous Wild Rice Salad is a celebration of vibrant colours and textures! Made with wild rice, pomegranate, pecans, rocket / arugula, green onions, dried cranberries and feta, dressed with a simple vinaigrette to let the salad flavours shine. A great holiday and Christmas salad – or for weekend brunch to impress!
“That was the most amazing salad I’ve ever had! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!” <– Text message from she who received a container of this. 🙂
If you’re new to wild rice – once you’ve wild riced it, you never go back.
Though the irony in all this wild rice talk is that it isn’t actually a rice. It’s a grain. I’m guessing the rice-powers-that-be decided to call this Wild Rice because it looks like rice and it’s…err…. grown in the wild? 😂
Here’s an up close and personal of the star ingredient in this dish. It’s cooked like pasta, boiled in water. But it tastes so much more exotic than normal rice. Nutty and toasty. It’s so good, you’ll be picking at it while it’s cooling – or wait, is that just me who has such a lack of self constraint?
Yes it costs more than ordinary rice. It $4.70 for 150g/5 oz which is 1 cup which is the amount required to make this salad.
It’s “exotic”! 🙂 And it’s worth it, for a celebratory salad – or a salad for a special occasion. 🙂
And yes, pomegranates are a splurge too. Let’s say it as it is – they make anything you scatter them over look gorgeous, the pops of fresh pomegranate juice from every bite can take any ordinary salad to another level, but they are not cheap. Usually $3 to $4 each here in Australia.
Worth it? For this Wild Rice Salad – YES.
I saw a video recently where a store bought pack of pomegranate seeds were tossed into a salad. We don’t have packaged pomegranates here in Australia (as far as I know), and I’m totally cool with that. Because part of the joy of indulging in pomegranate is the art of getting the seeds out.
You spank it with a wooden spoon. It is childishly satisfying. I used to do a section for an Australian recipe magazine, and for a recipe with pomegranate in it, I included instructions to “spank it firmly with a wooden spoon to remove the seeds.”
That step was edited out. Apparently, “spanking” is a no-no term for use in a G-rated recipe magazine! 😂
Wild Rice and pomegranate aside, this Wild Rice Salad is filled with all manner of deliciousness that gives it that glorious kaleidoscope of colours and textures. I’d rather not list them, prefer to show you instead:
I know it looks like there’s bugger all rocket / arugula in it, but actually, there’s quite a mound of it. I like to chop it up roughly which makes this a scoopable salad, and this reduces the considerable mound once tossed through everything else.
I made a deliberate choice to keep the dressing for this Wild Rice Salad very simple. It’s just a basic white wine vinaigrette – though you could switch the vinegar for any other clear vinegar. I like to keep the dressing simple to let the flavours of the things in the salad to shine through – especially the wild rice.
I think of this Wild Rice salad as a “special” salad, because the ingredients cost a bit more than the usual run-of-the-mill salads I share. And it’s worth it, because this IS a special salad. In both looks and flavour.
I see this on your Thanksgiving and Christmas table! 😉 – Nagi x
MORE SUMMER SALADS to take to gatherings
Pearl Couscous Salad <– personal fave!
Everybody’s favourite Macaroni Salad
Browse all Pasta Salads and Rice Salad
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WILD RICE SALAD
Ingredients
- 150g (5oz / 1 cup) wild rice , uncooked (Note 1)
- 120g (4oz) baby rocket / arugula , roughly chopped (~2 giant handfuls)
- 1 pomegranate , seeds only (see video, Note 2)
- 100g (3.5oz) feta , preferably soft Danish, crumbled (Note 3)
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries (or similar)
- 3/4 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans
- 1 cup green onions , sliced (or chopped red onion)
Dressing:
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar (or cider vinegar, or other clear-ish vinegar)
- 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 garlic clove , minced
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Wild Rice
- Boil 1 litre/quart+ of water in large saucepan (no need to be exact). Add rice, lower heat so it’s simmering gently. Cover then cook for 40 minutes (Note 4), or until rice is tender but not super soft (some will burst).
- Drain then leave to steam dry and cool.
- Salad
- Shake Dressing in a jar, set aside for 15 minutes+.
- Place rocket, rice, cranberries, pecans and green onions in a bowl. Add some of the feta and pomegranate. Pour over most of the Dressing, toss gently.
- Transfer into serving bowl, top with remaining feta and pomegranate. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
LIFE OF DOZER
Beach, bush walk, dog park, marina – same, same, but different.
Hi Nagi
This looks yum! I’m going to make it on the weekend for a party.
Woolies has frozen pomegranate seeds in their freezer section. I eat them sometimes as a snack. Delicious! The brand is Pomlife and it weighs 150g.
This looks amazing. I feel bad for asking as it really goes seem rice is the Star of the show…but if I had to sub…what would you recommend??
Don’t feel bad! 😂 Hmm, I would probably use brown lentils cooked in chicken broth, the way it’s done in my lentil salad. Next would be chickpeas, then after that would be quinoa 🙂
Thank you! I’ll keep looking too.
Hi Lei! I had same problem and used a long grain wild rice mix and it was a hit with my guests!
Hi Nagi
I made a similar salad last week which included roasted dutch carrots as well. I was able to get a frozen tub of pomegranite in the frozen fruit section of Woollies Carlingford FYI.
Thanks for the tip Karen! I’m going to keep an eye out for them! N x
Hey Nagi!
This salad looks amazing! But my family keeps kosher, so I’ll need to keep it dairy free… Any idea on how to substitute the cheese?
Hi Adi! Just leave it out! 🙂 Enough flavour in this. N x
Looks amazing! What do you recommend as a substitute for Pecans, if someone has a nut allergy?
Hi Christi! Almonds would be my next choice, or macadamia! N x Wait – or walnuts
This looks soooo good! I’ve never had wild rice but after seeing this, I want to go out now to find some wild rice & make this salad.
You just you must! Wild rice is amazing 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi, I love your recipes, I use them all the time!
Do you think spinach would be a good substitute for the arugula? I really do not like the taste of arugula!
Thank you!
Yes 1 x million!!! 🙂 N x
Hi Rebecca! Yep, perfect sub! N x
Hi Nagi both Coles & Woolworths sell frozen pomegranate seeds (just with the other frozen fruit) . They are brilliant I’ve used them lots of times when the fruit is out of season. Will def be trying this recipe
OMG how did I not know that?????
There’s a fruit shop in Ivanhoe that sells pomegranate seeds in a small packet, my kids love them.
Great recipe, look forward to making it.
I love that your kids love pomegranate seeds! It’s a good thing we don’t have them in packs here, I would tilt my head back and pour them straight into my mouth…. 😂
Hi Nagi, this looks amazing and I would love to make it but need to omit the onion due to a big onion allergy. I imagine that the onion adds a lot of flavour, so is there an alternative ingredient you can suggest please?
Oh – one idea – use lemon juice instead of white wine vinegar. That will provide a little extra freshness in the dressing that might make up for leaving out the green onion! N x
Hi Lydia! I use green onion in this i.e. shallots / scallions. Is it those you are allergic to, or onions? They don’t actually add alot of flavour, they just provide that “fresh” element that I think is needed to balance it all out. I would just omit it if you can’t have any type of onion or eschallots. 🙂 It will still be fantastically delicious! And also if you are allergic I expect that you won’t miss it because you don’t ever have it! N xx
Love your receipes Nagi. This will definitely be
a winner at Christmas. Ever thought of a
hard cover cookbook? Would make a fantastic
Christmas gift! – just a thought…….
Thanks for the compliment Adele!!! Believe it or not, I’m in early discussions with a publisher…. 😂 But the lead time is AGES! It will take ages and ages before it is published!!
Love the stuff! Can’t afford it as often as I would like . . . but your recipe is so special it will be made as a Christmas treat. I am certain it is grown more widely now but when I began using it way back it was described as a rye-like grain basically grown in the Great Lakes area of N America . . . perhaps there it is more affordable 🙂 ! Oh, lucky Dozer – wish I was there . . .
Same Eha! I think of this as a bit of a treat salad!! N xx
Huh! ‘Course this ‘came first’ Sorry about same’ boring’ Eha 🙂 !
This looks awesome, I just purchased frozen pomegranate seeds from Coles. 🙂
WOAH!!!! Frozen seeds?? I have to check it out!
Maaate!
I have spanked my pomegranates for years…and still they misbehave. Thanks you Nagi for all your fabulous recipes. I look forward to serving this on Christmas Day. I will lift a glass and say ‘Beauty Mate’! Cheers
“I have spanked my pomegranates for years…and still they misbehave” <--- BURST INTO LAUGHTER!!!
OMG, this looks amazing!!! Love all the ingredients (except the onion). This will be made for Christmas if not sooner! And yes, v Australian to say “bugger all”. I’m teaching my Cdn friends to talk Arstralian and they’re reteaching me Cdn…it’s fun!
Fair dinkum!!! Stoked to hear that! 😂
I’m Scottish, and I’d say “bugger all” as well, though I might think twice when writing a blog!!
😂
Thank you! That’s my kind of food. Have been using wild and pink rice for long time. As for pomegranate once upono time had tree in my garden, love it, has gorges red flowers. In this area there are few pomegranate trees but no one is putting it to use, it’s just wasted. Nagi in Melb. you can find pomegranate seeds in good green grocer and from time to time supermarket has as well but I prefer whole one. At moment they are cheep over here only £02.00 dollars. It’s good am having both rice in pantry and it’s hot, hot weather. Dozer is doing inspection duty so, ha, haa. Have good week.
WHAT?? You mean there are pomegranate trees where the fruit is going to waste?? WHERE IS THIS PLACE??!!! 😂
My neighbours are wasting pomegranate, come to Melb to see it to be lived. Years ago when we lived in big house next door would waste whole plumb tree but when I start making jam and stewed plumbs than we were fighting who will get fruit. Sometime people do not know what they got until is gone. Sad but true we do waste way too much of food every day.
Wild rice salad is one of my favorites, Nagi, and I like the addition of pomegranate seeds and cranberries to make it holiday-perfect! Definitely saving this to make when the opportunity presents itself–hey, why not make it for myself and add leftover chicken for a perfect lunch!
Are you home, are you home???!!
Yes, returned two weeks ago. Wonderful to see you. Am taking the TamTams with me to Boston to share with the family over Thanksgiving; they made it home OK. I am continuing to post trip reports, although slowly. Got sick the last week in NZ and it’s taken forever to get over the bad cough etc.
Oh Nagi, Of course you are in Australia. What other nation describes a quantity as “bugger all “?
Onya
😂 Seriously BURST OUT LAUGHING!!!
I’m Scottish, and I’d say “bugger all” as well, though I might think twice when writing a blog!! I posted this already above – I meant to post it here :/
Hi Nagi! We have wild rice quite often. I like the nutty taste and the texture. I stuff Cornish hens with a mixture of wild rice and mushrooms. This salad is a beauty, perfect for holidays! I like the way it looks before you combined, it showcases all the individual ingredients. I think I would bring it to table to be admired and then toss it together. What do you think?
Oooh DOROTHY! What a way to use wild rice, you have me hankering for stuffed Cornish hens now! I LOVE YOUR IDEA to bring it the table like that, I’m going to do that next time! N xx
Nagi I look forward to your emails so much! And this looks amazing.
If you was to have it as a side dish, what would you choose for it to go with?
I can’t wait to try this. Thank you x
Hi Laura!! Thank you for the compliment 🙂 I plan to include this in our Christmas menu alongside turkey and ham, prawns and oysters!! I will be sharing my Christmas menu in early December 🙂 If I was to have this for a meal, all I would add is a simple piece of protein – like crispy pan fried fish (https://promotown.info/crispy-pan-fried-fish/%3C/a%3E%29, garlic prawns (https://promotown.info/garlic-prawns-shrimp/%3C/a%3E%29, any simple seasoned or marinated chicken from my chicken collection (https://promotown.info/indexes/recipe-index/chicken-main-ingredients/%3C/a%3E%29 using things like just the chicken from my Chicken Burger recipe, any chicken from any of the salads, any non asian pork (https://promotown.info/indexes/recipe-index/pork/%3C/a%3E%29 or a simple steak. 🙂 The list is long!! N xx