Curry Rice Salad

Name: Curry Rice Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 package long grain & wild rice mix ((6 ounces)); 4 cups water; 1 cup pecans ((chopped)); 2 green onions ((chopped)); 1 cup dried apricots ((chopped)); 1/2 cup golden raisins; 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 Tablespoons sugar; 2 teaspoons curry powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley (minced)

Jump to Recipe

Curry Rice Salad is a delicious blend of wild rice, pecans, apricots, green onions and golden raisins tossed with a savory curry dressing. You'll love this wild rice salad recipe that can be served cold at summer picnics or warm at your holiday table!

Curry Rice Salad held up by a spoon over a pot.

Jump To

Why You'll Love It
Recipe Highlights
Ingredient Notes
How to Make Curry Rice Salad
Recipe FAQs
Variations
Storage and Freezing
More Salads to Love
Recipe Card
Reviews

Why You'll Love It

can be made ahead on the stove top and refrigerated for later
made with a delicious wild rice blend and warm curry spice
perfect cold rice salad to pack for picnics or tailgates
great vegetarian and vegan option for your Thanksgiving table
can be served cold as a main dish salad or warm as a side dish

Recipe Highlights

Curry Wild Rice Salad is one of those delicious side dishes you can't stop eating! It's packed with whole grains, dried fruits and crunchy pecans that will tickle your tastebuds. But, the flavorful curry salad dressing steals the show in this great recipe!

Since wild rice pilaf goes with just about everything, it's my first choice when I want to serve a cold salad that's packed with flavor. During holidays and special occasions, it tastes great with oven roasted turkey or glazed ham.

curry rice salad served cold in a baking dish with wooden spoon.

The curry in this recipe also makes a nice accompaniment to chicken or salmon. When summer rolls around, it's the perfect salad to go with pork tenderloin or smoked chuck roast on the grill.

What's the best part? This cold wild rice salad can be made ahead and kept for several days in the fridge, which allows room in the oven for holiday casseroles!

Ingredient Notes

See quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

long grain & wild rice mix - purchase a 6 ounce box of pre-packaged wild rice mix
chopped pecans - can use a rough chop or small dice if desired
green onions - feel free to substitute chopped sweet onion
dried apricots - this ingredient gives the salad tons of flavor
golden raisins or dried cranberries - use whatever dried fruit you love most

The curry dressing is made with apple cider or red wine vinegar, sugar, curry powder, olive oil and salt. You can use fresh or dried parsley as a garnish if desired.

How to Make Curry Rice Salad

Start by stirring a package of wild rice mixture with 4 cups of boiling water in a stock pot or dutch oven. (ad) Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over medium low heat, stirring often.

While the wild rice cooks, chop green onions, a few apricots, and a cup of pecans and place in a large bowl or add to dutch oven. Add some golden raisins or dried cranberries for sweetness.

Next, gather the ingredients you'll need for the dressing which includes apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, curry and salt.

Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl, then pour over cooked wild rice in the dutch oven.

Add the remaining ingredients and give it a big stir with a wooden spoon. Garnish with fresh or dried parsley. Serve immediately as a warm salad, or refrigerate to cool it down.

Once this hearty salad chills in the fridge for at least 4 hours, it absorbs all of the different flavors, which makes it taste even more amazing. It's actually better when refrigerated over night and eaten the next day!

Serve Warm or Cold!

Curry Wild Rice Salad can be served warm or cold, which makes it a very versatile dish. It tastes great as a cold salad when served as a main entree, or it's also delicious as a warm side with poultry, beef, seafood and pork.

Recipe FAQs

Is wild rice healthier than regular rice?

Wild rice has a variety of vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins and magnesium. Research has proven that its antioxidant activity is 30 times greater than white rice.

What type of rice is anti-inflammatory?

Wild rice is low in cholesterol and considered to be an anti-inflammatory food. It has been found to be a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids.

Is wild rice gluten free?

Any form of rice, such as white, brown or wild, is considered to be gluten-free. Wild rice is a great option for people who are sensitive to gluten, and for anyone who suffers from celiac disease.

Is this dish vegetarian?

Yes, this dish has no animal products, and it's also dairy free, so it qualifies as vegan as well. Be sure to check the ingredients in the wild rice mix to make sure it is vegan friendly. If not, use plain wild rice instead.

bowl of curry rice salad with dutch oven in the background.

Variations

add lemon zest and fresh greens such as spinach or kale
include pomegranate seeds, orange zest and fresh herbs
squeeze lime juice over the salad and top with pine nuts
make it a hearty vegetarian meal by adding roasted sweet potatoes
turn it into a warm wild rice stuffing by adding diced sweet apples
add feta cheese or goat cheese crumbles with dried cranberries
stir in leftover turkey or diced rotisserie chicken for a complete meal

Storage and Freezing

Make it ahead! You can store this cooled wild rice recipe in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to stir it well before serving.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Freeze cold rice salad in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.