Easy Homemade Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad Recipe for Beginners

Wild rice salad stands as a vibrant culinary canvas waiting to transform your dining experience.

Mediterranean influences dance through this remarkable dish, blending nutty grains with bright, fresh ingredients.

Complex textures interweave seamlessly, creating a symphony of crunch and smoothness.

Nutritional powerhouses emerge in each carefully selected component, promising both satisfaction and wholesome delight.

The salad represents more than mere sustenance – it’s a celebration of balanced, innovative cooking.

Seasonal ingredients elevate this recipe from ordinary to extraordinary, promising a memorable meal that sparks conversation.

Each forkful promises a journey of unexpected flavor combinations:

Handy Advice For Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

• Preserve Crispness: Sprinkle chopped scallions and toasted pecans right before serving to maintain their delightful crunch and prevent sogginess.
• Customize Flavor Profile: Experiment with ingredient ratios to dial up sweetness through extra cranberries or boost sharpness by adding more scallions.
• Capture Citrus Essence: Collect orange juices while segmenting fruits to create a zesty dressing base, maximizing ingredient potential and minimizing waste.
• Amplify Rice Depth: Transform basic rice cooking by using chicken or vegetable broth instead of water, infusing deeper, richer undertones into each grain.
• Clean Rice Foundation: Thoroughly rinse wild rice before cooking to eliminate dust and debris, ensuring a pure, clean starting point for your delicious salad.

Storage Tips For Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

• Meal Prep Strategy: Separate wet and dry components before storing to maintain optimal crispness and prevent sogginess. Place chopped herbs, dressing, and rice in different sealed containers, mixing just before serving to preserve texture and flavor intensity.
• Flavor Enhancement: Allow salad to rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving after refrigeration. This technique helps ingredients release their full aromatic potential and softens any chilled flavors, creating a more vibrant taste experience.
• Container Selection: Choose glass or high-quality plastic containers with tight-fitting lids to prevent moisture absorption and preserve the salad's original taste. Clear containers enable easy visual monitoring of ingredient quality and help track storage duration efficiently.

Innovative Twists On Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

• Citrus Herb Upgrade: Swap raspberry vinegar with lemon juice and add fresh chopped basil and mint leaves for a brighter, herbaceous profile.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Replace pecans with toasted pine nuts, add crumbled feta cheese, and incorporate diced cucumber for a Greek-inspired version.
• Tropical Transformation: Substitute oranges with diced fresh mango, use macadamia nuts instead of pecans, and add a splash of coconut vinegar for a Hawaiian-style twist.
• Protein Power Salad: Mix in grilled chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken, replace cranberries with chopped dried apricots, and sprinkle with sunflower seeds for extra protein and crunch.

Parting Thoughts On Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

Wild rice salad becomes more than mere sustenance – it’s a culinary canvas celebrating seasonal ingredients and balanced flavors.

Ina Garten’s recipe whispers gourmet complexity through simple, harmonious components.

Mediterranean-inspired techniques merge with midwestern comfort, creating a dish that sings with citrus brightness and nutty undertones.

Pecans provide elegant crunch while dried cranberries offer subtle sweetness against earthy wild rice grains.

Scallions introduce gentle onion notes that elevate each refreshing bite.

Essential ingredients dance together, promising an unforgettable taste experience that connects palates with pure, honest cooking.

Savor this recipe, share its delightful narrative with friends, comment below about your wild rice adventure, and let culinary inspiration spark your next kitchen exploration.

Embrace The Fresh Flavors Of Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

• Craft Vibrant Flavor Symphony: This wild rice salad bursts with a delightful combination of sweet orange segments, tangy raspberry vinegar, and earthy pecans that dance together in perfect harmony.
• Enjoy Effortless Gourmet Prep: With simple techniques like orange segmenting and toasting pecans, home cooks can easily create a restaurant-quality dish without complicated cooking skills.
• Embrace Versatile Serving Options: Whether served immediately at room temperature or chilled for an hour, this salad offers flexibility for impromptu gatherings, picnics, or elegant lunch presentations.
• Celebrate Nutritious Texture Delight: Wild rice provides a hearty, slightly chewy base packed with nutrients, while grapes, cranberries, and pecans add delightful crunch and varied mouthfeel to every delectable bite.

Essential Ingredients For Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

• Long-Grain Wild Rice: Hearty and nutty base for the salad, provides a robust texture and earthy flavor.

• Navel Oranges, Green Grapes, Dried Cranberries: Fresh and sweet components that add brightness, color, and contrasting textures to the dish.

• Pecans: Adds crunch and rich, toasted nutty flavor to complement the rice.
• Scallions: Provides a mild, fresh onion-like taste and green color to the salad.

• Olive Oil, Orange Juice, Raspberry Vinegar: Creates a light, tangy dressing that ties all ingredients together with a balanced acidity.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance and balance the overall flavor profile.

How To Prepare Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad

Step 1: Prepare Rice Base

Rinse of long-grain wild rice under cold water in a fine-mesh strainer. Transfer rice to a medium saucepan and add of water and of kosher salt. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 50-60 minutes until rice grains become tender and start splitting open. Drain any remaining water and let cool slightly.

Step 2: Segment Fresh Oranges

Using a sharp chef’s knife, carefully peel 2 navel oranges. Remove all white pith from the fruit. Hold the orange over a medium bowl and slice between the membrane segments to release clean orange pieces. Squeeze remaining membranes to extract juice and set aside both orange segments and collected juice.

Step 3: Create Vibrant Dressing

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh orange juice
• Raspberry vinegar

Whisk ingredients together. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to personal taste.

Step 4: Combine Salad Ingredients

• Cooled wild rice
• Orange segments
• Halved seedless green grapes
• Toasted pecans (roughly chopped)
• Dried cranberries
• Chopped scallions

Step 5: Dress and Season Salad

Pour prepared dressing over salad ingredients. Gently toss to ensure even coating. Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper and additional salt as desired.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Serve salad immediately at room temperature for optimal flavor. Alternatively, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to harmonize. The salad can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature.

Ina Garten Wild Rice Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s wild rice salad blends Mediterranean flavors with hearty grains, creating a refreshing ensemble of textures and tastes. Fresh herbs, roasted vegetables, and tangy dressing mingle perfectly, inviting you to savor each delightful forkful of this elegant side dish.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Grains:

• 1 cup (6 ounces / 170 grams) long-grain wild rice

Fruits and Nuts:

• 2 navel oranges
• ½ cup (75 grams) seedless green grapes, cut in half
• ½ cup (50 grams) pecans, toasted
• ¼ cup (40 grams) dried cranberries

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) good olive oil
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) raspberry vinegar
• 2 tablespoons (6 grams) scallions, white and green parts, chopped
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Kosher salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Thoroughly rinse 1 cup (240 milliliters) of long-grain wild rice under cold running water to remove excess starch, ensuring cleaner flavor and better texture.
2. Transfer the rinsed rice to a medium saucepan, adding 4 cups (960 milliliters) of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 grams) of kosher salt, creating a flavorful cooking liquid.
3. Heat the rice mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce temperature to low, covering the pan with a tight-fitting lid, and allow the rice to simmer for 50-60 minutes until grains become tender and slightly burst open.
4. Drain any remaining water from the cooked rice and spread on a large plate to cool and prevent continued cooking.
5. Prepare the oranges by carefully peeling two navel oranges, meticulously removing all white pith with a sharp knife to prevent bitterness.
6. Slice orange segments by cutting between the membrane sections over a collection bowl, capturing released juice during the process.
7. Create the vinaigrette by whisking 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of freshly squeezed orange juice, and 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of raspberry vinegar in a small mixing bowl.
8. Season the vinaigrette with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
9. Combine the cooled wild rice with prepared orange segments, 1/2 cup (75 grams) of halved seedless green grapes, 1/2 cup (60 grams) of toasted pecans, 1/4 cup (40 grams) of dried cranberries, and 2 tablespoons (10 grams) of finely chopped scallions in a large serving bowl.
10. Gently pour the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, carefully tossing to ensure even distribution and coating of all ingredients.
11. Final seasoning with 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) of freshly ground black pepper and additional salt as needed.
12. Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for one hour to allow flavors to harmonize and intensify before serving.

Notes

• Prep Like a Pro: Chop all ingredients in advance to streamline the cooking process and reduce last-minute stress. Keep prepped items in separate containers in the refrigerator.
• Flavor Boosting Trick: Reserved orange juice from segmenting can transform your dressing into a zesty, bright companion that elevates the entire salad’s taste profile.
• Texture Matters: Combining crunchy pecans, tender wild rice, and crisp greens creates a multi-dimensional eating experience that keeps each bite interesting.
• Smart Storage: Store components separately to prevent sogginess, mixing only when ready to serve for maximum freshness and optimal texture.
• Customization Corner: Swap ingredients based on seasonal availability or personal preference. Vegetarian? Replace chicken broth with vegetable stock. Nut allergy? Try sunflower seeds instead of pecans.
• Temperature Wisdom: Allow cooked wild rice to cool completely before mixing with other ingredients to prevent wilting delicate greens and maintain distinct textures.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg