For many, the holiday centers around the main course — ham, roast beef, turkey — but for millions of other Americans, it’s all about the sides. A good salad, bursting with an assortment of flavors and textures really completes a perfect meal, and this hearty salad is full of the best flavors of fall, as savory wild rice combines with crunchy celery, nutty pumpkin seeds, and tangy orange slices. And the sweet grapes soaked in red wine contrast perfectly with a slightly-tart balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Add some fresh herbs like mint, basil and parsley and you have got a dish that is complex and filling, but also light and fresh tasting.
This salad recipe is also a great way to use up grapes that have seen better days, as they will return to their former plump glory after soaking in a little wine. The leftover vinaigrette also makes the perfect marinade for your grilled or baked chicken or pork. This salad is great for entertaining or for lunches-on-the-go, because it can be made well ahead of time and stored in your fridge for up to two weeks! Served as a side, or as a meal on its own, this is a dish your family is sure to love. Notes
- Use hard wild rice, not quick cooking. ** This is a good way to use grapes that are beginning to shrivel. *** May also be used as a sauce with grilled/baked chicken or pork.
