Persian Flavored Wild Rice Salad Recipes

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.

PERSIAN CUCUMBER AND PURPLE RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring rice, water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Spread rice evenly in a lightly oiled 4-sided sheet pan and cool completely. Coarsely smash coriander seeds with side of a large knife.
• Toss rice with coriander, remaining ingredients, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

PERSIAN RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring broth to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Mix in rice. Return to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook without stirring until rice is tender, about 40 minutes. Spread out rice in large baking pan and cool.
• Transfer rice to large bowl. Add cashews, dates, and green onions; toss to blend. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, chopped cilantro, and ground cinnamon in small bowl. Add to rice and toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

PERSIAN-FLAVORED WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Cook wild rice according to package directions, substituting stock for water. Cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, gently dry-toast the walnuts in a skillet, keeping a close eye on them. This should take 10 or so minutes.
• Toss the cooled rice with oil, then syrup. Salt to taste.
• Garnish with toasted walnuts.

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.

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.

VEGAN WILD RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Stir water and rice together in a medium saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until rice is soft and starts to split, about 40 minutes. Note: leave rice slightly undercooked so it does not fall apart.
• Drain and place in the refrigerator to cool for about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice green onions as thinly as you can. Set aside a portion of the greens for garnish. Toss remaining green onions in a bowl with grapes, chickpeas, cranberries, garlic, and rosemary.
• Squeeze lemons into a separate bowl; watch for seeds! Stir in salt and oregano until oregano is crushed and begins to steep in the lemon juice. Whisk in maple syrup and olive oil until dressing begins to emulsify.
• Add cooled rice to the salad mix. Add dressing and toss lightly. Garnish with reserved green onions.