Rice Salad with Fruit and Nuts
Elevate your salad game with this vibrant and wholesome Rice Salad with Fruit and Nuts! Featuring fluffy basmati rice as the base, this dish is loaded with sweet dried cranberries, crisp green apple, juicy orange segments, and a medley of toasted almonds and walnuts for the perfect blend of textures. A light yet flavorful dressing made with olive oil, fresh orange juice, honey, and a hint of cinnamon ties everything together, while a sprinkling of parsley adds a pop of freshness. Perfect as a refreshing side dish or a light main course, this easy-to-make recipe is ready in just 35 minutes and is ideal for those seeking a healthy, gluten-free option packed with nutrients and bold flavors. Serve it fresh or chilled—either way, it’s guaranteed to impress!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup dried cranberries
- 1 medium diced green apple
- 1 medium orange segments (peeled and chopped)
- 0.25 cup slivered almonds
- 0.25 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, water, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Remove the rice from heat, fluff it with a fork, and let it cool to room temperature.
While the rice is cooling, prepare the other components. Dice the green apple, chop the orange segments, and toast both the slivered almonds and walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant (about 2-3 minutes). Let the nuts cool before adding them to the salad.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh orange juice, honey, ground cinnamon, and black pepper to create the dressing.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled rice, dried cranberries, diced green apple, orange segments, toasted nuts, and chopped parsley.
Pour the dressing over the rice mixture and gently toss until all the ingredients are well-coated.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1314 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 65.7 g | 84% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.6 g | 38% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2409 mg | 105% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 168.9 g | 61% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 20.0 g | 71% | |
| Total Sugars | 89.4 g | ||
| Protein | 21.5 g | 43% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 239 mg | 18% | |
| Iron | 6.4 mg | 36% | |
| Potassium | 1066 mg | 23% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
