This light, flavorful Cold Wild Rice Apple Salad is teeming with bright freshness, and perfect for any backyard cookout or family dinner. The combination of crunchy apples, chewy wild rice, and honey Dijon dressing will make it a show stopper!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
If you're looking for a delicious and nourishing salad that brings together the best of autumn flavors, then look no further than this Cold Wild Rice and Apple Salad.
Filled with nutty wild rice, tart apples, crisp celery and chopped pecans - all tossed in a zesty Honey Dijon dressing - this salad recipe is sure to to be popular with your friends and family!
Plus, it's so simple to whip up that you can have a nutritious meal on the table in under 20 minutes.
- Easy to make. The ingredients are simple and easy to find, and the recipe is straightforward to follow.
- It is healthy. Wild rice is a good source of fiber and protein, and apples are a good source of vitamins and minerals.
- Versatile. You can customize the recipe to your liking by adding or removing ingredients.
- Delicious. The flavors of the wild rice, apples, pecans, and dressing come together perfectly to create a delicious and satisfying salad.
- Casual or Holiday menu option. This salad is perfect for a light lunch, a healthy snack, a outdoor BBQ, or a side dish at a holiday meal.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Cold Wild Rice Salad Ingredients
- How to Make Cold Wild Rice and Apple Salad
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Food Safety
Cold Wild Rice Salad Ingredients
The nutty flavor of the wild rice is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the apples. The addition of peas, red onion, and chopped pecans just add more crunch and flavor.
Top off everything with our Honey Dijon salad dressing for a delicious flavor blast.
Wild Rice Salad Ingredients
- Cooked wild rice
- Celery - Diced.
- Apple - Cored and diced.
- Peas - Frozen, thawed.
- Red onion - Diced.
- Green onions - Sliced thinly.
- Pecans - Chopped.
Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Honey
- Salt
- Black pepper
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Cold Wild Rice and Apple Salad
This wild rice and apple cold salad great on its own or as a side dish. It's also a great addition to a picnic or potluck as there is no mayonnaise to worry about spoiling in the hot weather.
PRO TIP: If you need to cook the wild rice, add 1 ½ cup wild rice to a rice cooker with 3 cups water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Allow to cool completely before making the salad.
For more detailed instructions for making rice with a rice cooker, see our Aroma Rice Cooker Instructions post.
Prepare The Salad Dressing
- Prepare the salad dressing and chill in the refrigerator so that flavors can marry together.
- Combine the salad dressing ingredients in a small jar.
- Whisk together until completely combined. Chill.
Prepare The Wild Rice Apple Salad
- In a large bowl, add the cooked wild rice, diced celery, thawed green peas, diced read onion, diced apple, sliced green onions, and chopped pecans.
- Toss until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
Dress With Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
- Pour the Honey Dijon dressing over the bowl of ingredients and stir well to coat and combine.
Chill and Serve
- Cover the dressed salad with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
Whether you're hosting an outdoor summer barbecue or just trying to jazz up dinner on any regular night of the week, this easy-to-make cold wild rice salad recipe is guaranteed to be a hit with friends and family alike.
Serve this delicious chilled salad with a variety of main dishes like our recipes for:
- Moo Ping (Thai Pork Skewers)
- Air Fryer Chops (No Breading)
- Garlic Butter Cast Iron Scallops
- Oven Shrimp Skewers
- Longhorn Salmon Recipe
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations when making this cold wild rice and apple salad recipe.
- If you don't have wild rice, you can substitute brown rice or quinoa.
- If you don't have pecans, you can substitute walnuts or almonds.
- You can also add other ingredients to this salad, such as walnuts, grapes, or feta cheese.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this cold wild rice and apple salad recipe.
Storage and Reheating
- This salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Do not freeze, as the apples will turn mushy when defrosted.
Tips for Success
- This salad is best served cold, so it is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck.
- You can substitute maple syrup or agave nectar if you're vegan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, substitute the honey with maple syrup or agave syrup.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Cold Wild Rice Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cup cooked wild rice
- ½ cup Celery diced
- 1 medium Apple seeded and diced
- ½ cup Peas frozen, thawed
- ½ small Red onion diced
- 3 Green onions sliced thin
- ½ cup Pecans chopped
Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 ts honey
- ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Instructions
Prepare Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
- If you need to cook wild rice, add 1 ½ cup wild rice to a rice cooker with 3 cups water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Allow to cool completely before making the salad. Prepare the salad dressing and chill in the refrigerator so that flavors can marry together.¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 ts honey, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Combine the salad dressing ingredients in a small jar. Whisk together until completely combined. Chill.
Prepare Wild Rice Apple Salad
- In a large bowl, add the cooked wild rice, diced celery, thawed green peas, diced read onion, diced apple, sliced green onions, and chopped pecans.3 cup cooked wild rice, ½ cup Celery, 1 medium Apple, ½ cup Peas, ½ small Red onion, 3 Green onions, ½ cup Pecans
- Toss until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Pour the Honey Dijon dressing over the bowl of ingredients and stir well to coat and combine.
- Cover the dressed salad with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- This salad is best served cold, so it is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck.
- You can substitute maple syrup or agave nectar if you're vegan.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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