Name: Summer Wild Rice Salad with Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup wild rice, uncooked; 2 1/2 cups water or vegetable broth; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 small zucchini, diced; 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels (fresh or thawed from frozen); 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped

Summer Wild Rice Salad with Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette

CitrusyCarrot5102

This vibrant wild rice dish is the perfect summer meal—colorful, refreshing, and packed with texture. Wild rice brings a nutty chewiness, complemented by juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp zucchini, and sweet pops of corn. A zesty lemon-Dijon vinaigrette ties it all together, while toasted pecans add a delightful crunch. This recipe is ideal for picnics, barbecues, or easy weeknight dinners, and it tastes great warm or chilled. With no mushrooms in sight, it’s allergy-friendly and celebrates the best of summer produce. Serve it as a hearty side or a light main—either way, it’s a seasonal crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Instructions

Rinse wild rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine wild rice, water or vegetable broth, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until rice is tender and some grains have burst.
While the rice cooks, prep the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the zucchini, finely dice the red onion, and chop the parsley.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and black pepper to make the vinaigrette.
Once the rice is done, fluff with a fork and let cool for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine cooked wild rice, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, corn, red onion, and parsley.
Pour the vinaigrette over the rice mixture and toss gently to combine.
Top with toasted pecans just before serving.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Enjoy!