Cold Wild Rice Salad

A refreshing twist on traditional rice salad, this cold wild rice salad is perfect for warm weather gatherings! Combining the nutty flavor of wild rice with juicy chicken, crunchy veggies, and tangy feta, this recipe is a flavor and texture sensation that’s sure to impress your friends and family.

Ingredients

• 1 cup wild rice
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast
• 1 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Rinse the wild rice in a fine-mesh strainer and drain well.

In a medium saucepan, combine the wild rice and water.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 40-45 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Let it cool completely.

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.

Set aside.

In a separate large bowl, combine the cooled wild rice, chicken breast, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and feta cheese.

Pour the dressing over the rice mixture and toss gently to combine.

Stir in the chopped fresh dill.

Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Serve chilled, garnished with additional parsley and feta cheese if desired.

Notes

This recipe makes 10 servings, so feel free to adjust the ingredient quantities as needed if you’re serving a smaller or larger crowd.

For the wild rice, make sure to rinse it thoroughly before cooking to remove any impurities.

Also, be patient and let it cool completely before adding it to the salad – it’ll help the flavors meld together better.

Don’t over-dress the salad! The dressing ingredients can be adjusted to taste, but start with the recommended amounts and add more as needed.

Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to get the best flavor.

If you can, make it a day ahead – the flavors will meld together beautifully overnight.

Feel free to customize the salad with your favorite ingredients – this recipe is a great base, but go ahead and add or subtract as you like! Some other great additions might include chopped hard-boiled eggs, diced apples, or chopped pecans.

Nutrional Value

• Calories: 320
• Total Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5g
• Cholesterol: 30mg
• Sodium: 200mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 30g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 5g
• Protein: 20g