Best 4 Holiday Rice Salad Recipes

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It's the holiday season, and that means it's time to start thinking about all the delicious food you're going to enjoy. One of the best things about the holidays is the opportunity to gather with family and friends and share a meal together. If you're looking for a dish that is both festive and delicious, a holiday rice salad would be the perfect option. With its colorful ingredients and flavorful dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

HOLIDAY RICE SALAD



Holiday Rice Salad image

It's nice to prepare a cold salad like this when entertaining because it can be made ahead and doesn't take up valuable oven space.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 10m

Yield 14 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

7 cups cooked wild rice, cooled
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried cherries or additional dried cranberries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint or 1 teaspoon dried mint flakes
DRESSING:
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Combine the first 9 ingredients. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine dressing ingredients; shake well. Pour over rice mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, for 2 hours or until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 245 calories, Fat 11g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 175mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

WARM WILD RICE SALAD



Warm Wild Rice Salad image

Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 to 5 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 1/2 cups water
2 cups rice (1 cup long-grain brown rice and 1 cup wild rice)
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 red bell pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3/4 cup frozen peas
1 1/4 teaspoons red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves

Steps:

  • Bring 3 1/2 cups of water to a boil in large saucepan. Add rice and reduce heat to medium. Cook until just tender about 35 to 40 minutes. Fluff with a fork when ready.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions, celery, carrots, peppers, salt and pepper. Saute until softened, about 5 minutes.
  • In a separate pan over medium-low heat, toast almonds. Stir occasionally until browned.
  • Add peas and red pepper flakes to the vegetables. Add rice to skillet. Mix together and allow to cook for a few minutes. Remove from pan. Add almonds and top with parsley.

FESTIVE RICE SALAD



Festive Rice Salad image

I once had a similar salad at a friend's house and I was determined to re-create it at home. After several tries, I came up with this sweet-tart concoction. It's easy to prepare and colorful, too. -Terri Simpson, Palm Harbor, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

3/4 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
3/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup dried cranberries
DRESSING:
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Cook rice according to package directions; cool. In a large bowl, combine the rice, peas, red pepper, onions and cranberries. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 198 calories, Fat 14g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 115mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

COLD WILD RICE SALAD



Cold Wild Rice Salad image

A refreshing, delicious, colorful wild rice salad that is served cold. Great as a main dish or side dish.

Provided by Karen Quinn

Categories     Rice Salad

Time 4h45m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 18

4 (6 ounce) packages long grain and wild rice mix (such as Uncle Ben's®)
8 ½ cups chicken broth
½ cup pine nuts
2 teaspoons walnut oil
1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1 medium green bell pepper, minced
1 medium yellow bell pepper, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, minced
1 cup minced celery
1 cup dried cranberries
½ cup thinly sliced scallions
⅔ cup rice vinegar
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup walnut oil

Steps:

  • Discard seasoning packets from the rice and place rice in a large saucepan. Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Spread rice on a baking sheet to cool.
  • While the rice is cooling, toast pine nuts in a dry frying pan over low heat until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove to a large bowl.
  • Add walnut oil to the same pan, then add walnuts. Toast until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add walnuts to the pine nuts.
  • Add cooled rice to the nuts, along with bell peppers, celery, cranberries, and scallions; toss well.
  • Blend rice vinegar, basil, Dijon, garlic, and pepper for dressing in a food processor. Slowly drizzle olive oil and walnut oil through the chute with the motor running until combined.
  • Add dressing the the rice salad and toss well. Chill for 4 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.3 calories, Carbohydrate 43.5 g, Cholesterol 3.2 mg, Fat 22.1 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 7.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 1296.1 mg, Sugar 8 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients. Fresh, flavorful ingredients will make your rice salad taste its best. Look for ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and fragrant herbs.
  • Cook the rice perfectly. Rice is the foundation of your salad, so it's important to cook it properly. Follow the package directions for the best results.
  • Let the rice cool completely before assembling the salad. This will help prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
  • Add a variety of vegetables and herbs. The more colorful and flavorful your salad is, the better. Try adding diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, or corn. You can also add fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or cilantro.
  • Use a light dressing. A heavy dressing will weigh down your salad and make it less refreshing. Try using a simple vinaigrette or a light yogurt dressing.
  • Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later. Rice salad is best when served fresh, but it can also be chilled for later. If you're making the salad ahead of time, be sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Conclusion:

Rice salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or a side dish. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. With so many different variations, there's sure to be a rice salad recipe that everyone will love.

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