Did you know that wild rice is not really a true rice, but rather it is a type of grain producing grass? To be even more specific, they are the actual seeds of a variety of aquatic marsh grass native to the Great Lakes region of the US. Wild rice is characterized by its distinctive nutty taste & slightly chewy texture. Wild rice is both healthy & nutritious – being a good source of protein, vitamins, minerals & also dietary fiber.

My Wild Rice Salad is a delicious dish full of wonderful flavors. It works well as a side dish with any grilled food & also great for potlucks/picnics. Wild rice is a great canvas for flavors so you could basically add any spices & vegetables to this dish – feel free to get creative!

If you have never made wild rice before, wild rice cooks more similarly to brown rice. I also prefer the long grain wild rice variety. Wild rice is readily available in most large grocery stores, supermarkets, health food stores & specialty markets.


WILD RICE SALAD

Ingredients:

1½ cups long grain wild rice, washed & drained well
1 small yellow onion, finely minced
1” piece of ginger, peeled and finely minced
salt & pepper, to taste
2 tbsp butter or ghee (clarified butter)
4 cups vegetable stock (or you can use chicken stock or water)
½ red onion, finely diced
1 small Persian cucumber, diced (or ½ Kirby/Hothouse cucumber)
1 green onion stalk, finely chopped
½ cup of toasted pine nuts (or you can use, pecan pieces, cashew nut pieces or sliced almonds)
juice of ½ lemon
freshly chopped cilantro or mint leaves for garnish

METHOD:

In a large deep skillet on medium high heat, add the butter or ghee. When melted, add the onion & ginger. Stir & let cook for a bout 5-6 minutes or until the onions have softened. Now add in the wild rice, mix well to coat all of the wild rice grains with the aromatics. Let the wild rice cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, stirring every so often. The wild rice will become very fragrant with a nutty aroma. Remember to season the rice with salt & pepper. Then add the vegetable stock, cover & reduce the heat to low. Do not open or stir the rice for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Lastly, remove from the heat & allow the rice to rest for at least 5 minutes or so. Fluff the wild rice with a fork & transfer to a large mixing bowl. When the wild rice has cooled, add in the red onion along with the cucumber, green onion, toasted pine nuts & lemon juice. Mix well to combine & season with salt & pepper, as needed. Garnish with the cilantro or mint leaves & serve hot with your favorite dishes as part of any delicious meal.


VARIATIONS:

Feel free to add some halved grape tomatoes to this dish along with your favorite herbs such as freshly chopped parsley or basil.



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