I like rice salads and pilafs too. This recipe is a staple in our house. I also have pilafs that use multiple grains as well as beans.

SAVOURY RICE PILAF

2 ½ cups chicken broth
1/3 cup wild rice
1 cup white rice
1 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp butter
½ cup chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 ½ cups sliced mushrooms
½ cup finely diced red pepper
½ cup slivered almonds, toasted
¾ tsp thyme
¾ tsp sage
½ tsp pepper

In a heavy saucepan with a lid, bring the broth to a boil. Add the wild rice, turn off heat, cover and let soak for 10 minutes. Add the white rice, return to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook until done and liquid is absorbed.

In a skillet, heat the butter and oil. Add the onion, celery, mushrooms, thyme, sage and pepper. Saute the vegetables and seasonings over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Add the diced red pepper and slivered almonds. Stir the cooked vegetables into the cooked rice. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and adjust for salt if necessary.

awwww, lovely styling with this - the bowl so beautifully compliments the background and makes the rice salad look so vibrant and healthy. Yum-oh!

This looks delicious.

I make a similar salad using all wild rice. Instead of peas and pine nuts, mine has cooked turkey, julienned carrots and lots of parsley. The other ingredients are fairly similar. It's always a big hit and I like that the inclusion of the turkey makes it more of a main dish salad.

This has been my favorite wild rice salad forever, it's always a hit at Minnesota potlucks.

Most of us only have access to cultivated wild rice, whose grains are quite dark and regular in color, like black spears. It takes about 40 or more minutes to cook and even then is quite chewy. Natural wild rice is lighter and more varied in color, only takes about 20 minutes to cook and is much softer. Natural wild rice is hard to find but a wonder in flavor, especially just after the late-summer harvest. Even in Minnesota, lots of people pick up locally grown but cultivated rice, it's cheaper, usually $5 a pound. The natural wild rice will be $7 or $8 a pound but as of last year, it's my personal choice, I'll be stocking up this fall.

Hi Elise, your salad looks and sounds wonderful and I will be making it soon. Here is another recipe you will probably like and its very easy to make. Its called slaw, I guess because of the cabbage,but its really more like a salad.

Oriental Slaw
1 pkg. cut cabbage
2 pkg(s) oriental ramen noodles (save seasoning packet for dressing)
1 cup nuts (walnuts,pecans, almonds, whatever)
Crunch noodles, mix with nuts and roast 8 minutes at 350° Cool.

Dressing:
1 cup vegetable oil (don't use olive oil)
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
2 pkg(s) oriental seasoning

Mix and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes.
Pour over slaw and toss.

This does look delicious. I'm a huge fan of wild rice. Can't wait to meet Chigiy at BlogHer!

Yum! I'm going to try this tonight... it is going to be about 95 here today, so a cool dinner is in order. I'm going to serve with some grilled chicken on the side, and instead of peas, use edamame (since that is what I have in the freezer). Will report back!

I've been reading your blog for a while (found it while looking for a lasagna recipe, and i have to say that I love it).

This a recipe for a rice salad, you will have to excuse my english if it is not perfect !

For the Salad:

2 Tablespoons of Margarine
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
2 cups of Jasmine Rice *
2 Cups of Chicken Broth

For the Dressing:

¼ Cup of Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of Balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons of Vinager
½ Cup of Raisins
½ Cup of Cranberries
½ Cup of chopped apricots
½ Cup of roasted almonds
½ Cup chopped arugula
½ Cup of chopped white onions
½ Cup of diced red bell Pepper

Preparation:

On a hot saucepan melt the margarine and add the olive oil, add the rice with the chicken broth and mix well. Let it dry. Cover the saucepan and let it cook for 20 minutes.

Apart mix all the ingredients of the dressing, add the rice and mix well.

* Jasmine Rice sometimes known as Thai fragrant rice, is a long-grain variety of rice. Jasmine rice is originally from Thailand.

This looks absolutely delicious but I'm curious about cooking the two rices together. Doesn't wild rice need double the cooking time of white rice?

You would think, yes it would. But it works. ~Elise

I make something quite similar to yours and have used barley....even husband likes it.

Hi Elise! Long time reader, first time commenter. I love your recipes and use them extensively. Many are a hit at potluck parties. I have a sort of metacognitive question: What constitutes a "picnic salad" vs. some other type? For instance, I use your cucumber feta salad (a lot) at potlucks, and it is always a hit. Why not include it in the picnic salad tag? This one looks good, too. I'll be sure to try it soon.

Hi Ben, great question! I think of picnic salads as salads that you can make in advance, can easily double or triple the ingredients, and that can hold up okay at an outdoor picnic for a couple of hours. I wouldn't classify the cucumber feta salad as a picnic salad because the cucumbers tend to get limp the more they sit around in the dressing, not the best for making ahead. Great that you've had a good experience with it though, good to know! ~Elise

Looks delicious! I had a rice salad from Whole Foods that had similar ingredients and it was great. I must try out this recipe!

Elise,

Is that toasted sesame oil or raw sesame oil? Big difference in flavors.

Paul

Hi Paul, toasted. You're right, big difference. I've clarified the ingredient list to say "dark" sesame oil, which should do the trick. ~Elise

Everyone was raving about this salad at the party.
Now that my tooth is a little better I'll have to try this recipe.

I have made a sweet mustard rice salad for a few years now, that I like to bring along to many of my potlucks and back yard BBQ's. I think I got this recipe off of epicurious a while back, but I know I have modified it enough to really call it my own.

2 Tbsp red wine or red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus 1 Tbsp canola oil
3 cups sweet corn removed from the husk (use the elise method!)
1 cup chopped green onions
2 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups basmati/wild/jasmine rice or any combonation of the 3

1 1/4 cups chopped toasted pecans or black walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries or apricots or a little of both.

Whisk red wine and mustard in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add green onions and sauté 30 seconds. Add corn. sauté until corn is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Bring 2 1/4 cups water to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Add rice to boiling water. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until water is absorbed and rice is tender (do not stir), about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.

Mix rice, corn mixture and nuts in large bowl. Mix in wine/mustard mixture and dried fruits. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. (I too like this chilled.)

I have never had a "rice salad" and after looking at your photo, it looks like I've been missing out! Can't wait to try this!!!

I have never made a rice salad. The closest I have come is cous cous salad.

This looks like a winner.

Oh my gawd this looks really divine. Thank you.

Hi again, Elise! Thanks for clarifying the sesame oil issue.

For those who find the hulls of wild rice too chewy, an alternative cooking method may help. I forget where I learned this but I poach wild rice by placing it in my favorite cast iron rice pot, adding boiling water, allowing it to sit for an hour, draining it through a sieve and repeating two more times. Yes, it is time consuming but it allows the hulls to fully "bloom" and expose the inner starch. The end product doesn't even look like wild rice but it absorbs stock and dressings better and has a much softer texture. I often make this as a side dish with sauteed shallot, toasted chopped hazelnuts and fresh herbs to everyone's amazement that it is 100% wild rice.

I will definitely be taking your salad to our next historical society meeting. Should be a hit!

Paul

This looks delicious.
I make a simple yet tasty rice salad that's great for lunch on a hot summer day.

2 cups cooked white rice
2 cups cooked lentils (preferable the small green ones)
1 large tomato diced
1 large cucumber diced
green onions

Mix all ingredients, dress to your taste with olive oil, vinegar, salt and paper.
Serve chilled.

Wow, this salad WILL be tried this weekend. A good buddy, Jared, suggested this to me because he knows I'm a fool for rice, and it is delish. Just cook your favorite rice your favorite way (I do long-grain white in vegetable or chicken broth) but add a couple of generous pinches of saffron threads to the cooking medium. About 5 minutes before the rice is finished, sliver about 3 halves of sundried tomato (really dry, not oil-packed) and toss the bits in. Finish rice and let it cool. Add a handful of chopped flat leaf parsley and something crunchy...scallions, about 1/4 cup, or inner leaves/stems of celery. Dress with simple oil and vinegar. Great beside grilled fish. Your site if fabulous, Elise.

Good Morning, This salad looks awesome. To me whatever you can do with rice and add sesame oil to has to be tasty. Thank you for helping me for my dinner salad. This will go great with my grilled salmon. The one thing I can always count on is you comming up with great recipes You all never let me down. Thanks again Elise Anna

My favorite rice salad is this recipe from The Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking by Mai Pham, featuring favorite recipes from her Lemon Grass Restaurant and Cafes in Sacramento. Her introduction: “I always make this colorful salad for parties because the bright yellow rice laced with green cucumbers, red bell peppers and purple grapes looks festive and beautiful. It’s also a great dish for potlucks because it seems to go with everything.” Note: makes a large amount/could be halved.

Curried Rice Salad
Serves 6-8

Rice:
2 cups long grain rice
3 cups water
1/2 Tbsp. salt
2 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. ground turmeric
Dressing:
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. minced shallot
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp. dried chili flakes (optional) -- I used 1 tsp.
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salad:
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper -- I added some green and orange pepper
1 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup finely minced yellow onion -- I used part green onions
2 to 3 cups champagne grapes or small seedless red or green grapes, washed -- I used 3 cups
Added extra cilantro leaves

Place rice, water, salt, curry powder and turmeric in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Using a wooden spoon, stir the rice so the ingredients are well blended. Let the rice boil gently for 3 minutes, then reduce heat to very low simmer and cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook until the water has evaporated and the rice is fluffy, 25 to 30 minutes. Do not lift the lid before then.

While the rice is cooking, make the dressing. In a food processor, blend all the ingredients together except for the olive oil. Process until a little creamy, about 1 minute, then slowly drizzle in the oil with the motor running. Set aside.

Once the rice is cooked, fluff with fork, and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside to cool. Just before serving, combine the red bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, grapes, dressing and rice and toss gently. Salad may be refrigerated, although it loses flavor the second day.

Funny that I saw this recipe. Was getting tired of my normal summer salads to have with our bbqs so I made Tabouli yesterday and thought how refreshing. I am a Minnesota girl as well and wild rice can easily be found but on the expensive side. I will have to try this one now, it sounds wonderful! I love almonds but I am wondering how toasted pine nuts would work as well and hold up against the flavor of the wildrice. Love your website, it introduced me to the world of recipe blogs! Thanks!

Nice recipe!

Rice is a staple for Southern India. We can't think a meal without rice.

We can make this salad a quicker one by using "Rice Flakes" for long grain rice. These flakes will absorb liqids in few minutes and no cooking needed. usally 2:1 ratio of Flakes and liqid will give fluffier flakes. We just soak the flakes in liquid and wait until all of the liquid is absorbed, before using in recipes.

Until I read this post, I haven't even thought about making a rice salad! It looks amazing!!!!

Elise, have you tried making this salad with couscous? I am just wondering if you think the flavors would be the same. Sometimes I'm too impatient for rice. BTW, I passed along your website to some friends and they love it.

Yum! I love rice salads. They are so refreshing. I also have a recipe on my site for one that contains grapes, gorgonzola cheese, and toasted nuts. Delish!

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/07/gorgonzola-walnut-and-grape-rice-salad.html

My favorite rice salad is a Moosewood recipe, "Lentil, Rice and Fruit Salad" from the Moosewood Daily Special book. It includes brown lentils, brown rice, apples, bell peppers, grapes, scallions and a dijon vinaigrette. I don't think I can just post it but I do recommend it!

I did my own variation using red lentils, summer fruits and a lime vinaigrette - you can find it at http://watchoutformama.blogspot.com/2005/07/margarita-red-lentil-salad.html.

We had a family get together last night and my Sister-in-Law made the Wild Rice Salad. It was absolutely yummy and was a big hit (even with the kids). She decided to add cut up cooked carrots. I saw the print out of the recipe and couldn't wait to get home to add to my favorites. I can't wait to cook it myself. Thank you!

What a Wonderful Rice Salad! I made it yesterday to go with our dinner of lime-garlic grilled shrimp. My husband is not a fan of rice salads, so I don't make them often, but he went back for seconds on this one. Score!! Even the teenage daughter went back for more, twice! I will be making this one again for sure. I just recently found your site and will be a repeat visitor.

There used to be a terrific little restaurant in Northampton, MA, called Curtis & Schwartz. They had a rice salad on their lunch menu, the salad composed of white rice with green peas, diced red onion, bits of scrambled egg, coarsely grated parmesan cheese, and ribbons of basil, all dressed with lemon juice and olive oil (with lots of ground black pepper). Oh, Lord, just writing about it makes my mouth water. I'm going to have to mix up a batch this week.

Hi! I am a rice salad fan. One reason is that I can clean my veggie drawer by making one. I simmer my rice in lots of water and stock and sometimes some ginger pieces. When it is done I drain the water from the colander. The rice seems less sticky that way. I put all sorts of things in the salad, but always seem to include herbs like flat parsley or cilantro and lots of crunchies like diced carrots, celery, red pepper. I like edamame, onion, sometimes fennel. I sometimes add black beans or chick peas (depending). I always add nuts usually walnuts, but some pine nuts if it has an Italian or Middle Eastern feel. Also, nobody has mentioned this I think, but avocado and soft fresh goat cheese... YUM! I always dress it with a sweetened vinaigrette sometimes with some cumin tossed in. My husband likes back rice salad with green onion, edamame, celery, pumpkin seeds and avocado (all green against a black/purple backdrop) - Plus maybe blue cheese or goat or feta with vinaigrette.

Who knew rice could be so glorious? Toss in chicken, salmon or shrimp the next day and you have another meal.

Would you believe I have never made a rice salad??? Crazy but true. This one looks delicious and I will have to try it!!

Made this tonight for dinner. It was my favorite thing at dinner. Really liked it. I could swear somewhere I've got some wild rice, but couldn't find it, so I used a box of Rice-A-Roni long grain and wild rice that I had. Worked great. Thanks for the recipe. YUM.

I've been dying to get some purple wild rice, but just can't find it anywhere!!:( any suggestions?? the salad looks gorgeous, btw!:)

Hey, tried this recipe on Sunday with a few modifications for taste. Replaced the chicken broth with vegetable broth, omitted celery, substituted toasted almond slivers for pine nuts. also used calrose rice instead of long grain.

IT WAS DELISH.

Thank you SO much. A huge hit.

Hi Elise,

Your wild rice salad is simple not too many spices. I love red peppers in salads or stir fry or just to snack on.

Another great recipe, Elise! I made this today to take to a new Mom - my only substitute was to use veggie broth to make it vegetarian. I will definitely be adding this to my summer salad recipe file!

I've made this salad now four times in the last month or so. Since my sis-in-law, who is allergic to onions, was going to consume it, I made it without the green onions and I sub'd corn for the peas.
It was devoured all four times, and I know I'll be making it again for the next family fuction/office potluck/friendly get together.