This “Wild Rice and Arugula Salad” is an amazing meal all on it’s own: wild and brown rice, greens, roasted chicken, grapes and pepitas make it a complete and satisfying meal.
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The Salad:
This is the perfect salad to make the day after you roast a chicken. You can use the leftovers or you can just use organic rotisserie chicken from the market. This salad is less about the greens and more about the combination of flavors we add to the greens with: sweet grapes, savory chicken, salty pepitas, and nutty brown and wild rice are the perfect combination when served with peppery arugula!
The Dressing: Three Options!
The Pear Chardonnay dressing is light, sweet and ‘barely there’, adding just enough flavor to enhance but not overwhelm the salad ingredients. If you don’t want to order the vinegar or can’t can’t find a Pear Chardonnay in a store near you, you can always sub with Champagne Vinegar or While Balsamic vinegar.
This salad is truly amazing anytime but I love to serve it at showers, brunches and casual dinner parties. It’s so pretty and definitely unique! The best part is it’s a complete, delicious, healthy meal!
The Recipe: Wild Rice and Arugula Salad
Tips and what you will need: If you can’t find a quality Pear Chardonnay Vinegar at the grocery store you can have it delivered to your door! Or opt for a traditional, good quality Champagne Vinegar or While Balsamic vinegar.
A complete meal salad with just the right combination of sweet, savory and salty!
- 3 cups wild or baby arugula (or baby greens spring mix)
- 3 cups Wild and basmati rice blend rice (1-1/2 cups wild rice cooked to package directions)
- 1 cup red grapes, cut in half
- ⅓ cup roasted and salted Pepitas (or cashews)
- 2-3 cups shredded Roasted chicken, or use rotisserie
- 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese (optional)
- ½ cup extra virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Tablespoons Pear Chardonnay vinegar (or use good quality champagne or white balsamic vinegar)
- 1 Tablespoons honey
- 1 generous pinch sea salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
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Cook rice according to package instructions and allow to cool.
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Tear or cut chicken into bite size pieces.
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Place arugula, chicken, grapes and pepitas (or cashews) in a bowl and toss with Pear Chardonnay dressing. Sprinkle with goat cheese, if using.
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Place all ingredients into a lidded container and shake or whisk till well blended. Leftovers can be saved in the fridge for 3 weeks.
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To plate individually: Place a layer of wild rice on a plate, spoon dressed salad mixture on top and serve.
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To serve to a large group: Place all rice on a platter, then top with dressed salad.
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Post tags: Gluten free, dairy free
Post tags: salads, dairy free, gluten free, vegetables
WOW this recipe is amazing!! I love the idea of pear champagne vinaigrette- super fancy pants.
I be fancy!
This looks like an amazing salad to have for summer. I am always trying to find different salads. This recipe is a definite keeper. Thanks!
Sounds fancy, looks fancy, but yet, so simple! Love it!
Oh my gosh does this salad sound so good. Yep recipe box here it comes.
My goodness this looks delicious and beautiful as usual. You always rock the salads. So yummy!
YUM! I’m all for grains in salads
You always have the most beautiful salads! The pear champagne vinegar sounds wonderful too!
Thanks Tash!
I love salads like this that mix greens, grains, fruit, nuts & seeds, and protein. Yummy! And that pear chardonnay vinegar sounds amazing!
What really gets me about this salad is the textures! yum and pinning!
Thank you! I always appreciate a pin!
This is so beautiful! Wish I could be eating it right now.
Wow, what a beautifully colored plate! We have an abundance of native wild rice where I live, so I can’t wait to try this out!
Nice! I wish we had wild rice growing around LA …:)
Beautiful salad and that Pear Chardonnay Vinegar sounds divine! I have been craving chicken {roasted, grilled, poached…} lately, so I will definitely be making this soon!
Excellent dressing for this salad!
This sounds like a lovely salad. The flavor combos are great! I think the vinaigrette sounds wonderful, as well!
Oh my goodness! I need to find that pear chardonnay vinaigrette. It sounds amazing. I love every ingredient in this amazing salad. Add wild rice is brilliant. I never think to add rice to salad. Yum!