Description
Capture the essence of autumn in a bowl with this hearty harvest salad. Featuring earthy wild rice, caramelized roasted sweet potatoes, and sweet fresh figs, this dish offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors. It is tied together with a vibrant, homemade apple cider vinaigrette that uses fiber-rich dates for sweetness rather than processed sugar. This nutrient-dense meal is as satisfying as a cozy sweater, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or as a festive, colorful centerpiece for your next fall gathering.
Ingredients
3/4 cup wild rice, rinsed
2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into wedges with skin on
1/2 lb fresh figs, halved
4 cups kale, chopped
2 cups radicchio, shredded
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 pitted dates
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Toss sweet potato wedges with 2 tablespoons olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet; roast for 25-30 minutes until tender and caramelized.
While potatoes roast, combine wild rice with 2.5 cups of water in a pot, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 40-45 minutes or until tender.
In a blender, combine apple cider, apple cider vinegar, dates, and Dijon mustard; blend until smooth, then slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup olive oil while blending to emulsify.
In a large serving bowl, combine the kale and radicchio.
Top the greens with the cooked wild rice, roasted sweet potatoes, and fresh figs.
Drizzle the apple vinaigrette over the salad just before serving and toss gently.
Notes
You can prep the rice and roast the sweet potatoes up to three days in advance for quick assembly. If figs are out of season, seedless red grapes chopped in halves make an excellent, juicy substitute. Ensure the wild rice is thoroughly rinsed to remove excess starch.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg