• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet Cayenne
  • ABOUT
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • RECIPES BY CATEGORY
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Main Entree
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Cooking Tips
    • How-To Guides
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • NEWSLETTER
    • CONTACT
    • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Salads

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

    Published: Mar 15, 2015 · Modified: Apr 22, 2020 by Whitney Reist · This post may contain affiliate links |

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad #vegetarian #glutenfree www.sweetcayenne.com

    Disclosure Notice

    “By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by USA Rice Federation and am eligible to win  prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

    Warm weather has been good to my kitchen, you guys. We have been supremely blessed for the entire past week to enjoy temperatures in the high 60's-low 70's; which has prompted me to leave the windows open all day and do some deep cleaning. My "happy place" has been cleansed from the inside out - and little touches of spring are adding sparkle and sending out an invitation to create fresh, clean dishes that speak of new birth and the beginning of a new season.

    Herb and Citrus Marinated Feta

    As you may have noticed, the past week I've been creating and sharing dishes that feature rice as part of the "Think Rice for National Nutrition Month" Recipe Redux campaign; sponsored by the USA Rice Federation. I've really enjoyed focusing on the versatility and ease of preparation that this wholesome grain has brought to our meals; not the effect on my grocery bill! Rice is so affordable; and the minimal effort required to cook up a large batch goes such a long way in the variety of meals you can make with rice as the backbone of the dish. We've enjoyed rice for breakfast in the Coconut Rice Pudding with Matcha; for an easy-to-pack lunch or vegetarian entree in the Edemame Fried Rice; and today as a gorgeously vibrant entree-sized salad.

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad #vegetarian #glutenfree www.sweetcayenne.com

    This salad really gave me a boost this week as I enjoyed every step of the process of shopping for the colorful ingredients, smelling the refreshing aromas of herbs and citrus as I prepared the ingredients, and then tasting the cleansing flavors of greens, fresh berries, nutty rice, creamy feta, and crunchy pistachios. Feta really is everything when it's marinated in fruity olive oil, refreshing basil and mint, and zippy orange zest.  Oh, and don't even get me started on the sweet-tart orange poppy seed dressing - it elevates all of the already mouth-watering flavors of this dish to a level that will make you roll your eyes in bliss over the first bite. It's made with my favorite Cara Cara oranges, and I literally could eat it all with a spoon. Orange poppy seed dressing on everything for me, please!

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad

    I chose to try a new rice in this salad and went with a deep red Wehani rice. It's a California-grown variety of long grain brown rice that has a hearty, chewy texture and fresh, nutty flavor. My friend, healthy food like this is the real "soul food." It's elements speak to all the senses and the nutrition a dish like this provides goes such a long way in helping you feel good about what you're putting into your body. I hope you will try it and add your own twist. Remember to snap a pic of your salad and post it to Insta with the tag #sweetcayenne so we can see your beautiful creation!

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad #vegetarian #glutenfree www.sweetcayenne.com

    Connect with us with the newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

    Strawberry Wild Rice Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing is everything you could want in a spring salad - the flavors of citrus, fresh herbs, and vibrant colors come together in a satisfying, hearty dish that can stand alone as a meal or an elegant side dish.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcayenne5 or tag #sweetcayenne!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
    Servings: 6 as side

    Ingredients

    For the salad:

    • 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
    • The zest of 1 Cara Cara orange reserve the orange for juicing in the vinaigrette
    • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
    • ¼ cup fresh mint chopped
    • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 ½ cups cooked US-grown red wild rice - cooked according to package directions such as Wehani rice
    • 6 cups baby arugula about a 5 ounce box of lettuce
    • 1 cup diced strawberries
    • ⅓ cup roasted unsalted pistachios shelled and chopped

    For the dressing:

    • Juice from 1 Cara Cara orange about ⅓ cup
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or neutral flavored oil of your choice
    • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

    Instructions

    • Combine the feta, orange zest, herbs, olive oil, and pepper in a small, airtight container. Toss to combine and refrigerate for a few hours to let the flavors marry. This would be a good time to cook your rice and let it cool while the cheese marinates!
    • Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a mason jar or other sealed container and shake vigorously until thoroughly incorporated. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Dressing will keep up to 3 days.
    • In a large salad bowl, add the rice to the bottom, then the marinated feta, strawberries nuts, and finally the arugula to the very top. Dress the salad with the vinaigrette and toss to combine thoroughly. Serve at room temperature.
    • **Note: I like to prep these salad ingredients and store them separately in my fridge so I can throw individual servings of the salad together as I need them. This is a great salad to layer in a Mason jar to pack for lunch in the following order from the bottom: dressing, rice, cheese, nuts, berries, greens, and seal with a lid. Dump contents of jar out onto a plate and toss lightly - lunch is served!

    Notes

    Nutrition Information per serving: Calories 307, Total Fat 13.1g, Saturated Fat 3.8g, Cholesterol 17mg, Sodium 225mg, Potassium 394mg, Total Carbohydrates 39.5g, Dietary Fiber 4.0g, Sugars 7.9g, Protein 10.8g
    Serving: 1g | Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.5g | Protein: 10.8g | Fat: 13.1g | Saturated Fat: 3.8g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7.9g

    [inlinkz_linkup id=490418 mode=1]

    Don't miss these recipes!

    • Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
    • Summer Pasta Salad with Zucchini
    • Simple Honey Mustard Dressing
    • Thai Cucumber Mango Salad

    Want more?

    Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get exclusive content (like menus, cooking downloads, and more!), blog recaps, and a chance to connect or be featured!

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Many of the links in my posts are affiliate links, which means I can get a small commission for any click or purchases made through the links. I am also an Amazon Associate and I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Camille Thomas says

      March 30, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      I'm completely obsessed with this salad! So delicious! I did swap out the feta for a white cheddar with dill & chives I had on hand. I don't think I've ever been so excited for lunch!

      Reply
      • Whitney Reist says

        March 31, 2015 at 8:46 am

        Cheddar + dill is a favorite combo of mine too - great idea! So glad you liked the salad!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello there!

    I'm Whitney, the chef, photographer, dietitian, and blogger-extraordinaire behind Sweet Cayenne. Welcome to my online kitchen!

    About Whitney & Sweet Cayenne

    What's In Season

    • St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board
    • Easy Potato Leek Soup
    • Small Batch Strawberry Jam
    • Fresh Strawberry Balsamic Pie
    • Strawberry Pretzel Chicken Wraps
    • Simple Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

    Free cookbook and menu planners!

    Subscribe to my weekly newsletter & receive a free e-cookbook of my 25 best recipes along with menu planning sheets!

    Privacy Policy

    The Latest & Greatest:

    A wire rack with a sheet of parchment paper on top and cinnamon biscuits.

    Cinnamon Biscuits with Vanilla Icing (Bojangles Copycat)

    A white bowl filled with pizza pasta salad garnished with fresh basil leaves.

    Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad

    A pink bowl on a cutting board filled with sweet potato lentil curry and rice.

    Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Coconut and Spinach

    A St. Patrick's day themed snack board with corned beef, sauerkraut, soda bread, and other charcuterie items.

    St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board

    A white bowl of potato leek soup topped with croutons, bacon, cheese, and scallions.

    Easy Potato Leek Soup

    Square-red-velvet-cheesecake-bars

    Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

    Travel Here Next:

    • Nashville Finds: Lemon Laine Oil Bar
    • Positano, Italy: Budget-Friendly Travel Guide
    • The Best Tuscan Road Trip Itinerary + Tips on Driving in Italy
    • A Foodie's Guide to Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    Cooking Guides

    • Cookbook Club: Super Simple Cookbook Review
    • Sweet Cayenne Cookbook Club | Tips for Planning and Hosting
    • 5 Ways to Become a Better Cook
    • Facts About Food: Where to Go for Answers & Guidance

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Photography Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 SweetCayenne