Description
Barefoot Contessa’s wild rice salad combines nutty grains with crisp vegetables and a zesty vinaigrette. Mediterranean flavors shine through this refreshing dish that delivers complex textures and bright herbal notes, inviting you to savor each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup wild rice
- 480 ml (16.2 fl oz) water
- ½ tsp salt (for cooking rice)
- 1 (175g) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained
- 1 (175g) green peas, drained
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- ⅓ cup green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 320 ml (10.8 fl oz) rapeseed oil
- 120 ml (4 fl oz) white vinegar
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp celery seed
- ½ tsp ground white pepper
- ½ tsp dry mustard
- ¼ tsp paprika
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Combine water and salt in a pot, bring to a boil. Add rice, stir to prevent clumping, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45-60 minutes until tender and fluffy.
- Dressing Creation: Combine all dressing ingredients in a sealed jar, shake vigorously to blend, and refrigerate to meld flavors thoroughly.
- Salad Assembly: Transfer cooked rice to a large mixing bowl. Layer artichoke hearts, green peas, bell peppers, green onions, and tomatoes throughout the rice, creating a vibrant vegetable mosaic.
- Flavor Infusion: Pour prepared dressing over the rice and vegetable mixture, gently fold to ensure complete coating. If possible, incorporate reserved marinade for additional flavor depth.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle toasted slivered almonds across the salad surface for a delightful crunch and nutty accent. Serve warm or chilled, adjusting seasoning to taste before final presentation.
Notes
- Rice Cooking Precision: Wild rice requires patience and low heat to achieve perfect tenderness, typically taking 45-60 minutes for optimal texture and flavor absorption.
- Dressing Technique: Shake ingredients vigorously in a sealed jar to guarantee complete emulsification and flavor integration, enhancing the overall taste profile.
- Temperature Flexibility: Enjoy the salad warm immediately after preparation or refrigerate to develop deeper, more complex flavor nuances and allow ingredients to meld together.
- Topping Enhancement: Sprinkle toasted slivered almonds just before serving to add a delightful crunch and nutty dimension, elevating both taste and textural experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg