Cold Wild Rice Salad with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

This hearty and nutritious wild rice salad is so easy to make. It's packed with nutritious ingredients, is naturally vegan, and gluten free. It's one of those salads that is must during autumn. Once you try it, you'll be making it time and time again. It's truly goodness in a bowl!

Just like my apple arugula salad and fall quinoa salad, it's also a festive side dish that needs to make an appearance at your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holiday dinner table.

And speaking of the holidays, you might also like one of these side dishes: skillet green beans, air fryer carrots, butternut squash and goat cheese salad, gluten-free butternut squash mac and cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.

Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below. Here are some specific notes and substitutions.

• Wild rice - You can either use all wild rice or a wild rice blend. I use all wild rice, but either will work.

• Dried cranberries/craisins - These add a tangy sweet pop of flavor!

Clean food tip: Most craisins are loaded with added sugars! Look for dried cranberries without any added sugar. I always use Honestly Cranberry (I have seen these at my local grocery stores cheaper than Amazon).

• Extra-virgin olive oil - You can use either EVOO or avocado oil in the dressing.

• Maple Syrup - Make sure you are using pure maple syrup and not the artificial stuff.

• Orange juice - Fresh orange juice is best, plus you need the zest from an orange so you can just use the juice from the orange as well.

What Is Wild Rice?

What is wild rice? Wild rice actually comes from an aquatic grass and grows naturally in waterways all over the united states. And it’s not actually a “rice,” but the seeds that come from the grasses it’s harvested from. You won’t find it growing in a field somewhere, like other “grains." It's technically not even a grain, even though it’s referred to as a grain.

Wild rice has an earthy nutty flavor that lends amazing flavor and texture to the dishes it's in. The grains are much longer than typical rice and have a slight crunch to them when cooked properly.

What are the benefits of wild rice? There are so many advantages when it comes to including wild rice in your diet. Wild rice is a high-antioxidant food and also high in fiber, zinc, iron, and a plethora of other nutrients.

What's the difference between wild rice and black rice? First off, as mentioned, wild rice is actually a grass, whereas black rice is a grain. Black rice is a little more "earthy" when it comes to flavor and is typically grown in China. Both have their uses and are extremely beneficial to your health.

How to Make

Step 1: Start by cooking the wild rice according to package directions. After rice has cooked, spread out on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to help the rice cool down.

Step 2: Next, toast your pecans. You can either toast them in the oven or on the stove top. I typically use the oven, but both work. See directions in recipe card below for both options. After pecans are toasted, chop, and set aside.

Step 3: Prepare the dressing. Add all dressing ingredients together in small bowl and whisk to combine.

Step 4: Chop the celery, scallions, apple, and parsley. Add this, along with the cooled wild rice, craisins, and pecans to a large mixing bowl.

Step 5: Add the orange vinaigrette dressing and toss to combine. You can serve right away, or store in the fridge until ready to eat.