Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruit and Almonds

Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruit and Almonds makes the perfect vegan sweet-savory side! This lemony wild rice dish highlights toasted almonds, dried apricot and currant. Start by softening onion and garlic, then add lemon zest and juice. Measure in the rice, toast, then add vegetable stock and cook. Fluff, then stir in dried apricots, dried currants and toasted almonds. Enjoy at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, dinner parties and more! 

wild rice salad in a yellow bowl

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I am a meat-and-potatoes kinda girl.

My husband is a meat-and-rice kinda guy.

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    Our differences are never so apparent than when we’re deciding what to serve with an entree, especially a holiday meal. I’ll pitch potatoes while Winston suggests rice.

    These personal preferences always make me smile because I believe they go back to our families and where we were raised.

    wild rice salad in a yellow bowl

    When I was growing up, my family paired mashed potatoes with everything.

    Pot roast? Potatoes. Chicken? Potatoes. Fish? Potatoes.

    Winston’s family, on the other hand, did that with rice. His great grandparents were rice farmers, so instead of serving potatoes, their former family crop is often highlighted. (I believe they have some sweet potato farmer blood, too, which explains their love for those.)

    wild rice salad in a yellow bowl with a spoon

    For Easter, we’re having both potatoes and rice; and today is all about this flavorful rice.

    It’s a little fancier than a traditional rice salad, and I like that in an Easter (or holiday!) meal.

    When I say fancy, I mean that the flavors are elevated. Fancy does not necessarily translate to complicated because this rice? Not complicated and full of flavor.

    The addition of dried apricots and currants adds a certain je ne sais quoi. The lemon juice and zest adds brightness and tang. Then when the rice is all nice and fluffy, you toss in the toasted almonds, which add a crunch and beautiful toastiness.

    Talking about this is making me hungry!

    wild rice salad in a yellow bowl with a spoon

    A container of Wild Rice Salad sits on a tabletop, with Pinterest text

    So who’s ready for a big ‘ol serving of this rice salad?

    Here’s how you can make your own:

    wild rice salad in a yellow bowl

    Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruit and Almonds

    Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
    Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruit and Almonds makes the perfect vegan sweet-savory side! This lemony wild rice dish highlights toasted almonds, dried apricot and currant. Start by softening onion and garlic, then add lemon zest and juice. Measure in the rice, toast, then add vegetable stock and cook. Fluff, then stir in dried apricots, dried currants and toasted almonds. Enjoy at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, dinner parties and more!
    4.43 from 14 votes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 214 kcal
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 yellow onion diced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • Zest of 1 lemon
    • Juice from ½ lemon
    • 1 cup wild rice
    • 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
    • ½ cup diced dried apricots
    • ¼ cup currants
    • ¼ cup toasted almond slivers

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    Instructions
     

    • In an everyday pan (or a skillet that has a lid) over medium-high heat, add the olive oil.
    • When the oil shimmers, add the diced onion.
    • Move around the pan and cook until translucent, then add the garlic.
    • When the garlic becomes fragrant after about 1-2 minutes, add the lemon zest and lemon juice, then the rice.
    • Stir the ingredients together, allowing the rice time to toast slightly, before adding the vegetable stock.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to the lowest setting and cover.
    • Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until all the liquid has been soaked into the rice. Be sure to leave the skillet covered, so the heat won’t be lost. (If you’re uncertain if the liquid has soaked completely into the rice, lift off the heat and tilt to the side. If there is moisture remaining in the pan, you’ll be able to see it through the lid and cook for longer.)
    • Once the rice has cooked through, toss in the apricots, currants and almond slivers.
    • Using a fork, fluff the rice.
    • Serve warm and enjoy immediately!

    Notes

    Can substitute chicken stock in place of vegetable stock if not serving vegetarians.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 298mgFiber: 4gSugar: 18g
    Keyword Christmas recipe, easter, easter rice, festive rice, rice with almonds, rice with fruit, side dish, Thanksgiving recipe, wild rice, wild rice recipe
    Course Side Dishes
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Rice or potatoes?

    Would you ever try a sweeter rice dish like this one?

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    4.43 from 14 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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