Wild Rice Salad With Dried Cranberries, Pickled Apples, and Pecans Recipe
Whether you call it a salad, a dressing, or a stuffing, this wild rice side dish studded with plump cranberries and tart pickled apples is a perfect addition to the Thanksgiving table.

[Photographs: Vicky Wasik]
Earthy and flavorful wild rice is studded with two bright and fruity elements in this salad—sweet-tart dried cranberries and tangy pickled apples. Toasted pecans add a rich and nutty note, while sautéed onion and celery contribute some aromatic depth. It's perfect for the Thanksgiving table.
Why It Works
- Cooking rice in stock imbues it with deeper flavor.
- Cranberries both add their own kind of pleasant tart sweetness.
- Yield:Serves 6 to 10 as a side
- Active time: 1 hour
- Total time:1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 14 ounces wild rice (about 2 1/3 cups; 396g)
- Chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water, for cooking the rice (see note)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 6 ounces (350g) crisp apple (about 1 medium), cored and diced
- 1 cup white wine vinegar (8 ounces; 235ml)
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar, divided
- 4 ounces (115g) dried unsweetened cranberries
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter
- One 8-ounce (225g) red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- Three 2-ounce (55g) stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
- 1 tablespoon minced chives
- 8 ounces (225g) pecans, toasted then roughly crumbled
Directions
-
1.
In a large pot, combine wild rice with enough stock and/or water to cover by at least 2 inches. Season lightly with salt. Bring to a simmer, then continue to cook at a simmer until rice grows tender and many of the grains have ruptured, about 50 minutes; add more water at any point as needed to keep the rice covered.
-
2.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine white wine vinegar with 1 cup (235ml) water, 2 tablespoons (25g) sugar, and 1 teaspoon (4g) kosher salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt.
-
3.
Place apples in a stainless steel mixing bowl nested in a larger mixing bowl full of ice water. Pour hot vinegar brine over apples, stirring to chill rapidly. Once cool, press a clean paper towel against the surface to fully submerge apples. Set aside or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
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4.
In a separate heat-resistant bowl, pour about 1 cup boiling water over cranberries. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons (25g) sugar until dissolved. Set aside.
-
5.
In a medium skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat until foaming. Add onion, celery, and thyme sprigs, and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, about 4 minutes. Discard thyme and set aside.
-
6.
Using a fine-mesh strainer, drain wild rice well; let cool to near room temperature. Transfer to a large bowl and mix with sautéed vegetables. Drain cranberries and add to rice. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pickled apples to wild rice, reserving the pickling brine.
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7.
Add parsley, tarragon, chives, and pecans to rice. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in 1 tablespoon reserved pickling brine at a time until salad tastes bright and flavorful. Serve.
This Recipe Appears In
Two Riffs on Wild Rice Salad for ThanksgivingThis post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.
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