Wild Rice Harvest salad is overflowing with lots of satisfying crunchies, and you'll enjoy eating the rainbow of toppings. Dressed with this easy to prepare maple Dijon vinaigrette.
Pour veggie oil into blender, jar or bowl; I like using grapeseed oil or avocado oil, both delicious and high in omega's and nutrients. Add Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and balance of ingredients and blend until lighter, creamy and smooth.
Refrigerate until ready to use and refrigerate any leftovers. For more detail and variation ideas on dressing, see post.
Wild Rice
In a medium pot, pour chicken broth and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Stir in wild rice and sea salt. Reduce heat to low/simmer and cover for about 45-60 minutes, until rice is split open and curly.
You will probably have leftover broth, wild rice won't absorb all the liquid. Remove rice with slotted spoon to bowl to cool and place in fridge until ready to use. Save leftover rice broth to use in a soup or give as a treat to your pet.
Prep and Assemble Salad
Wash and dry apple -- cut in quarters, slicing out core, the slice into thin slices. Place in covered glass container or ziplock baggie; squeeze fresh lemon juice; toss gently to coat, refrigerate until ready.
Wash and pat dry your grapes, slice in half and place in separate baggie or covered glass container, place in fridge until ready to use.
Fry or bake bacon (350° on foil lined cookie sheet for about 12-18 minutes depending on thickness), drain and cool, crumble into small pieces, set aside. Seed pomegranate, or purchase pre-packaged pomegranate arils. Make sure you have your desired nuts, cheese.
Assemble the Salad
On desired platter or plates, place a layer of greens. Arrange the balance of the ingredients in pretty patterns, whether in straight rows, or in patterns, or toss together. When ready to serve, drizzle with maple Dijon vinaigrette, toss and serve.
Easily adjust (increase/decrease) this salad according to needs!Variations and Substitutions for the SaladYour imagination is the limit with these salads, make it your own! Here are some swaps and suggestions.
Try a hearty quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, barley or farro cook according to package directions substituting recommended liquid with chicken broth.
Substitute apples with pears, or go the citrus route with oranges or grapefruits.
Instead of pomegranate arils, try blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or strawberries.
Replace the goat cheese with crumbled blue cheese, gorgonzola or even feta cheese.
Try adding pistachios, cashews, walnuts, or almonds in place of, or in addition to the pecans. Also, roasted pepitas, pine nuts and/or sunflower seeds would add a fun crunch. Any roasted and salted nut or seed would work great, or try candied nuts or a spiced nut as well.
Replace the grapes with any grape variety (though keep seedless), any berry or even melon balls.
Making vegetarian or vegan? Omit bacon (unless you are like some of my vegetarian friends who make an exception for bacon...tee hee) and cheese as desired.
Or try substituting the bacon with turkey bacon, a firm chopped pepperoni or salami, or crispy prosciutto (ooh with cantaloupe, yum)