Wild Rice Orzo Cranberry Salad is a robust salad with layer upon layer of flavors. Wild Rice, Orzo, Wheat Berries are topped with currants, almonds, and dried cranberries tossed with bell peppers and fresh herbs add freshness to this hearty salad that is dressed with a champagne vinaigrette.
If you like chaos.
Happy Monday! Are you all set for Thanksgiving? I made the mistake of heading to the grocery store yesterday to pick up just a few items. You know an in and out trip.
What was I thinking? First off, the store didn’t have half of the 10 items I needed, so frustrating, but the people.
I swear it was like an obstacle course to walk down an isle. I was on a mission, get my items and get out.
Well, the determined look I had on my face must have made me look like someone who knew something. Because I had three different people ask me if I knew where certain ingredients were located.
One was a sweet older lady who looked almost frightened by the mass of humanity walking through the store. I took her to the isle where the nuts were located and bid her the best of luck after we laughed at all the crazy going on around us, but then I had to make it back to the aisle where the item was that I needed.
AHHHH, why is it when we are in the biggest hurry, everything gets in our path and when I have the time it’s a clear path.
I am a grocery store addict.
Nonetheless, I will be heading back to the store tomorrow to get my last few items. The stock boy assured me that the truck was to arrive last night to restock. Wish me luck.
Home from the grocery and I started on this salad.
I had actually had this salad at J. Alexander restaurant. I knew after just a few bites that I wanted to figure out this recipe.
I picked the salad apart like a detective. Writing down the ingredients as I identified them. I even asked the waitress for the recipe which she told me they do not give out. Humph!
After a few trials with flavors, I believe this is almost exactly what I enjoyed at the restaurant.
I think this would be awesome served on Thanksgiving but is awesome as lunch or a side during your weeknight dinner.
The hardest part of making this salad is having three pans to cook the three grains. Once the grains are cooked it is a bit of chopping and then tossing and this gorgeous salad is ready to eat.
Want more salad recipes? Click (here)
Wild Rice Orzo Cranberry Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 cups cooked wild rice prepared according to package directions
- 2 cups cooked orzo prepared according to package directions
- 1 1/4 cups cooked wheat berries or farro prepared according to package directions
- 3/4 cup currants
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup frozen corn rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup red pepper diced {medium size pepper}
- 1/2 cup yellow pepper diced {medium size pepper}
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup Italian parsley leaves picked and chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves picked and chopped
Champagne Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup Champagne vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
- Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients and pour over salad. Toss to coat. Serve or store refrigerated in an air-tight container until needed.
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Dear Amy, this would be perfect alongside my Thanksgiving spread. What a delicious salad…sounds wonderful dear! Wishing you and your family a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving holiday xo, Catherine
Thank you Catherine, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I’ve never combined rice and orzo together in a dish but this looks delicious- The texture would be amazing!
Uggh, I avoided stores this weekend but I wouldn’t have guessed they would be that busy already. Guess I’ll try and hit the store EARLY in the morning this week. Your salad looks so gorgeous and hearty! I love the combination of these ingredients! Even when we go out to eat we can’t seem to not think like food bloggers. I love that you made a list of the ingredients and then did a bit of research to perfect your own re-creation!!
Absolutely gorgeous! Call it telepathy, but I just made the same salad a few days ago for a Christmas inspired recipe! AND for Thursday! AND I LOVE IT! haha 😀
This is such a beautiful dish, I’ll definitely have to try it soon! 🙂
I hope you do Kristyn.
I love everything about this salad, especially the champagne vinaigrette!
Thank you Lauren.
Totally putting this on the menu for sometime next week! I have tons of orzo and wild rice that I’ve been meaning to use! Thanks love!
Enjoy Jenn.
I had an equally frustrating grocery store trip yesterday – I wished I had ordered my groceries online. 😉 Luckily, I have all of these ingredients on hand!
Oh thank goodness it wasn’t just me! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
This looks so yummy! I really want to use more wild rice in my cooking, so this salad looks like something I need to give a go! Thank you for the recipe xx
Thanks Genya. My husband is always asking me to make wild rice, so he was thrilled when this showed up on his table.
This is so gorgeous!
Thanks Michelle.
What a beautiful fall salad! I absolutely adore all of the colors and flavors in here!
What a fantastic side dish for autumn! Anything with orzo and cranberries gets my vote.
Thank you!
Such a fun and festive salad for Thanksgiving! Can’t wait to share!!
Thanks Stephanie
We love the J Alexanders dish and I can’t wait to try this. However, there are only two of us and my partner doesn’t really do leftovers. Does this dish freeze well?
Laura, I have never frozen this dish. However I believe it will hold up well. Amy