Today I tried something a little different with Martha’s Wild Rice Salad from page 259 of the Midwestern section.
Wild rice, which is not actually a rice at all, it’s a grain producing grass, happens to be very rare and therefore very expensive. According to Martha’s book, wild rice is plentiful and more affordable in Minnesota where this dish was made popular. But here in Florida it’s hard to find and even harder to afford, so I used a mix of brown and wild rice that was quite hearty and tasted great.
I’d say I’m at least familiar in passing with at least 85% of the recipes in Martha’s American Food, but this recipe was brand new to me. The use of dried cherries, ginger and shallots lent a unique flavor that mixed with the rice gave this dish a kind of Asian flair. I always enjoy finding new and exciting flavor profiles, and this was definitely the kind of thing I would never have thought of putting together on my own but now I can’t wait to try different ways to work with these ingredients together!
Eating healthy doesn’t need to be boring. Martha’s wild rice salad is a great way to fill your tummy with a treat that’s as delicious as it is nutritious!
