Name: Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked wild rice blend, cooled to room temperature; 4 cups baby kale, chopped; 1 apple, diced; 1 orange, peeled and diced; 2 stalks of celery, diced; 2 green onions, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup dried tart cherries or dried cranberries; 1/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped; 1/4 cup minced onion; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice

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This Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad is full of seasonal ingredients, loads of texture and tossed in a maple dijon vinaigrette. This hearty and delicious salad can be served as a main dish or side dish with your next meal!

Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad in a white serving bowl with a small bowl of the vinaigrette behind it and a dish towel.

This recipe and photos have been updated from the original post on 11/30/2014

Is it cliche to start the new year off by sharing a salad recipe? Maybe, but when you love salads as much as I do, you do it anyways.

If you’re unsure about salads in winter, let me assure you that this Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad really hits the spot. Plus, you can serve it with a bowl of this creamy red lentil butternut squash soup if you need something cozy to go with it.

Ingredients used to make the Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad on a sheet pan.

Ingredients Needed to Make Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad

wild rice blend
baby kale
apple
oranges
celery
green onions
dried tart cherries or dried cranberries
pecans
shallot
dijon mustard
maple syrup
apple cider vinegar

closeup photo of the Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad

How to Make Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad

Since there’s a lot of texture in this salad, it does require some prep work, but I assure you it’s worth the chopping.

Cook the wild rice according to package instructions and then let it cool. Place the cooled rice in a large serving bowl. Chop all of the fruit and vegetables and add them into the bowl with the rice along with the dried cherries (or cranberries).

Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad in a serving bowl with spoons

In a small bowl or jar whisk together the minced shallot, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, pepper and olive oil. Just before serving add in the toasted pecans, baby kale and toss the salad in the vinaigrette. Season with extra salt and pepper if needed and it’s ready to eat.

a serving of Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad with a bowl of the vinaigrette and the serving bowl behind it.

Tips for Success

If you plan to make the salad to eat for multiple days, add the baby kale in as you eat it. The kale will quickly wilt once it’s tossed with the vinaigrette.
Segment the orange if you don’t want any of the membrane in the salad. Here’s an easy tutorial on how to segment an orange if you’re unsure.
If you’re looking to save time, cook the wild rice ahead of time. Unlike white rice, wild rice takes approximately 45 minutes to cook, plus another 10 to steam.
Choose a firm, tart, sweet apple such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady or Opal.

A serving of Winter Kale and Wild Rice Salad on a white plate with a fork.

Ingredient Substitutions

Wild Rice Blend – If you don’t have wild rice, try substituting with brown rice, quinoa or farro.

Pecans – Substitute with toasted slivered almonds, walnuts or pistachios. For a nut free option use pepitas.

Oranges – I used naval oranges in the recipe, but any variety of orange would be good. A ruby red grapefruit would also work if you’re looking for something more tart.

Shallot – Substitute with a finely diced yellow onion.

Baby Kale – Arugula stands in well for baby kale as it has a peppery flavor similar to the kale. You can also use baby spinach.