Description
Topped with hearty wild rice and a sweet cherry vinaigrette, this deliciously satisfying spinach salad can be served as a main course or simple side.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup wild rice
- 5–6 cups spinach
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3–4 green onions, chopped
- ½ c red onion, chopped
- ½ c fresh/dried cherries
- ¼ c toasted walnut halves
For the Cherry Vinaigrette:
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- ½ cup fresh/frozen (thawed) cherries
- ½ tsp dry mustard or 1 tsp dijon mustard
- black pepper and sea salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil and stir in wild rice. Lower heat, cover and cook the rice until grains are tender (approx. 40 minutes).
- While the rice cooks, blend apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cherries (thawed if frozen) and mustard in a blender for the dressing. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine spinach, celery, green onions, red onion, dried cherries and nuts.
- Toss salad with ½ of the cherry vinaigrette dressing.
- When the rice is finished, drain any excess liquid and let cool.
- Add the rice to the salad; toss again with the remainder of the cherry vinaigrette and serve.
Notes
*If serving as a main course, feel free to top the salad with grilled or rotisserie chicken for additional protein.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: lunch
- Cuisine: salad