Sometimes, you crave something unique but not too out of the ordinary. When I came across this Wild Rice Salad from The Silver Palate, I instantly knew the blend of wild rice, pecans, raisins, and mint, paired with a fresh orange juice dressing, would be incredible.

And I was right! While it’s labeled a “salad,” it also works beautifully as a chicken stuffing or a flavorful side for steak.

This Wild Rice Salad comes together effortlessly, though you’ll need some time to cook the rice.

Once all the ingredients, including the dressing, are combined, it’s important to let the salad sit at room temperature to allow the flavors to meld. Don’t skip this step—giving it at least two hours makes a noticeable difference!

This dish is a perfect balance of nutty, sweet, slightly salty, crunchy, and satisfying. The blend of ingredients, paired with the orange and olive oil dressing, is simply irresistible—I found it hard to take photos without sneaking a bite (purely for ingredient leveling, of course!).

I almost forgot to mention the orange zest! It truly stands out, and when combined with the mint, it adds incredible depth to the rice. This Wild Rice Salad is definitely going on repeat, especially in the summer when I want something delicious without turning on the oven.

I’ve known about The Silver Palate for years and always thought of it as a more traditional cookbook. But after making Pasta Sauce Raphael a few weeks ago and now this Easy Wild Rice Salad, my perspective has completely changed.

The Silver Palate continues to thrive with a current website and fresh recipes, but the classics from their older cookbooks remain timeless and absolutely worth exploring.

I made a few tweaks to this recipe to suit our tastes, but if you’re curious, you can always check out the original in the book.