Wild Rice Salad with Ginger and Lime Dressing
PREP: 15 MINUTES COOK: 20-45 MINUTES SERVES 6-8
A salad you could happily eat on its own, with its kaleidoscope of flavours and textures. The wild rice (not actually a rice, but a grain!) has a lovely nutty taste and firm texture that contrasts with the soft, sweet melon. Add in crunchy radishes and creamy feta, and give it all a boost with a bold and zesty dressing, and you have a salad that doesn’t hold back. The dressing is fabulous on any salad.
Ingredients:
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150g (5½oz) wild rice or wild rice mix (ready-cooked rice mixes make this very quick and easy)
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100g (3½oz) radishes, sliced
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100g (3½oz) feta cheese, crumbled
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¼ small watermelon or cantaloupe melon, total weight 300g (10½oz), cut into small chunks
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30g (1oz) dried cranberries
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juice of 1 lime
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4cm (1½ inch) piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
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½ garlic clove, crushed
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1 teaspoon honey
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4 tablespoons rapeseed oil
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70g (2½oz) mixed nuts and seeds, toasted
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100g (3½oz) mixed salad leaves
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salt and pepper
Method:
STEP 1: Cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
STEP 2: Drain in a sieve and cool under cold running water.
STEP 3: Tip the rice into a large mixing bowl.
STEP 4: Add the radishes, feta, watermelon or melon and cranberries.
STEP 5: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, ginger, garlic, honey and oil.
STEP 6: Season to taste and whisk again. Pour the dressing over the wild rice salad.
STEP 7: Add the nuts, seeds and mixed salad leaves, then toss again. Transfer to a serving bowl or platter.