Description
This Brown Rice Salad with Cranberries and Sweet Potato is totally doable for a family dinner, but it’s special enough to hold court at your Holiday table!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup long grain brown rice, such as brown basmati
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
- 1 large orange, 1 teaspoon zest and 1/3 cup juice
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped and preferably toasted
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Cook brown basmati rice according to instructions on packaging.
- Meanwhile, toss sweet potato with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until coated. Spread out in a single layer onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once or twice, until tender and darkened in spots, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk orange zest and juice, vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, the shallot and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil until well combined.
- Re-whisk the dressing to combine then add warm rice, pecans, cranberries and parsley to the orange juice mixture and gently stir to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Make Ahead
Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. For the best flavor stir well and bring to room temperature before serving.
To make in advance, omit parsley and pecans and store in a re-sealable container for up to one day. To serve, bring to room temperature and stir in pecans and parsley just before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Stove top/Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cups
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 437 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g