We had a lovely family gathering to celebrate Spring and Easter this past weekend, with lots of family, cooking, good food, egg coloring, and enjoying the sunshine. It’s always nice to have (most of) my whole brood together, including some of my nieces and nephews.
A thieving crow!
I colored eggs with my two granddaughters, and the eggs were hidden the next morning when they awoke. Because my youngest granddaughter was sleeping over at my house, her parents asked to not have the hunt until they got there. Well, a very large crow had other ideas in the morning, and started stealing the eggs! I ran outside and shooed him away, but he returned several times, successfully carting off a beautifully colored egg each time. I must admit, he had us all in stitches, and we didn’t begrudge him an egg or two. But apparently, he had hoarding in mind, so we had the hunt early, else there would have been nothing in the gathering baskets!
Eggs everywhere
It seems like the house was filled with eggs, not only the colored ones, but the deviled eggs, my mom’s recipe, that we make every year, and the requested Eggs Benedict, my oldest granddaughter’s favorite. I was good, I stuck to my egg-white omelet, saving my cholesterol cheat for a deviled egg, which all disappeared quickly. There are always the colored eggs left over.
Time for some relief
After a long meal of rich foods we don’t normally consume, the next day, I always look for something a little lighter to get back on track. The splurges are important in life, but it is equally as important to begin again the next day.
Mint and Lemon, of course
We’ve had this salad, or rather a version of it, previously, and loved the strong mint and lemon flavor. There was a lot of mint left over from making a pesto, so with a bit of wild rice and some other veggies on hand, this pretty salad came to mind again.
A unique and ancient food
Wild rice has a nutty flavor and interesting texture, which make it great in a salad. According to Healthline, it is an aquatic grass similar to rice, but not a rice at all. Most varieties are native to North America, and were used extensively by the indigenous population for centuries.
A nutritious grain
A nutrient dense food, wild rice is a good source of Vitamins and minerals including B6, folate, magnesium, zinc, and copper. High in fiber, this seed is also a good protein source. A 3.5 ounce serving has 4 grams of protein, and it is a complete protein with all amino acids present. Consuming this humble grain supports heart health and is beneficial for those with Type II diabetes.
Lots of options here
Just what we need after a weekend of feasting. The radishes and carrots are from our CSA, and you can substitute with what you have available locally. You can make this salad many ways, adding sugar snap peas rather than shelled peas, or maybe some broccoli or broccoli rabe. No scallions? Toss in some shallots or finely minced onion. Pumpkin seeds were delicious here, but any nut or seed would do. You can also swap out the wild rice for any favorite or left-over grain: regular rice, farro, barley, etc.
Great for a potluck, or just lunch
This salad is lemony and minty and very refreshing. Lovely textures will keep you interested in every bite. It works great as a side, especially if you have a potluck or large gathering. But it is also delicious as a stand-alone lunch or snack. Serve it warm, room temperature, or cold.
Be quick!
For lunch, top it with a boiled egg if you like, if the crows don’t get them first.
Wild Rice Salad with Lemon and Mint
- 1 cup wild rice
- 2 cups veg stock or water
- 2 large watermelon or other spicy radishes, diced, about 1 ½ cups
- 2 scallions, whites and greens, thin sliced
- A few baby carrots, thin sliced
- 1 cup mint leaves, minced
- 1 cup thawed frozen peas, or cooked fresh if in season
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- Zest and juice of one lemon, about 3 tbsp.
- ¼ cup fruity olive oil
- 1 tbsp. native honey or maple syrup
Cook the rice according to directions. You want the rice to be a bit chewy with a nice texture. Cool.
Prep all the vegetables while the rice is cooking. Add them all to a large mixing bowl, then add the rice once cooled. If you are impatient, you can toss the hot rice right in and serve this as a warm side.
Whisk together the lemon zest and juice, the oil, and the honey, then add to the rice mixture mixing well. Season with salt and pepper. It’s so good, and is even better the next day. Serve as a lunch or snack with a little boiled egg.
“People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can’t rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right.”
~ James O’Barr, “The Crow”
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Thank you, looks beautiful and tasty!
Joanna
Thank you Joanna! We really enjoyed it.
You are right, that is a VERY large crow. The salad looks delicious.
Thanks Bernadette! He was a really big daddy!
That was quite the tale! Smart crow he was!
It’s going to be a fun family Easter story!
An amazing crow finding his breakfast! We appreciate wild rice at our home and this recipe looks very scrumptious!
Thanks my friend! He actually paid for his thievery with a piece of aluminum foil!
Dorothy, you have the most interesting recipes. I would like to try this. I always forget about how much mint adds to salads and such.
Thanks my friend! The mint is so wonderful here, but it doesn’t dominate, all the flavors shine through.
So funny to read about the crow thief!
Wild rice is such a unique and tasty ingredient. Pairing it with crunchy veggies, and topping it with lemon-mint dressing, is a great way to make it even tastier. Will definitely make it soon! 🙂
I absolutely love this one! I think it’s a great one to keep in the refrigerator for lunch and snacks. Next time, I’m grating in a bit of fresh ginger as well! I know you’d love that!
What a fun Easter you had! And what a radcally crow. I love wild rice, and your recipe sounds so good.
Thanks dear! The crow definitely wants to be our friend!
Absolutely! Ginger would be perfect here. 🙂
Loving the various textures in this one, Dorothy. A mouth full of pleasure! 😉 😉
Thank you my friend!
Yum! I love a wild rice salad. To be fancy I’d serve the salad with deviled eggs.
My family would heartily agree with you on that one!
This looks wonderful! It is odd that wild rice isn’t a rice!
I know! You learn something every day! I always thought it was an uncultivated wild variety.
Crows and Ravens are so smart, I’m glad you were able to get a couple photos! And glad they left some eggs for your grandchildren to find. After Easter I’m glad for a lighter meal as well, this rice salad hits all the right notes!
Thanks! I had the leftovers today for lunch and it was even better!
The crow came back, with some aluminum foil! I guess they like to make payment. My niece told me this, and she was right!
So deliciously festive! You made it happen. Ravens are watchful thieves, egg hunts, food, gardens, you name it.
Oh, you could tell he was experienced at thievery!
Oh do I know them well.🤣
Thank you! It was really delicious!
That is too funny about the crow stealing your Easter eggs! This salad is so creative and the combo of textures, colors and flavors sound wonderful Dorothy~
Jenna
Thank you Jenna! It was really tasty, and the crow enjoyed its feast.
I am laughing a sci write this. That crow was a thief! A big thief! I am glad you all had a lovely and somewhat entertaining Easter. 😊
This salad looks delicious and refreshing. Thank you.
Happy April!
I loved every word of this post, from the crow stealing eggs, to the granddaughter sleeping over, kids, and egg hunts and yummy foods. Over indulging is just part of life! I love you. That salad looks fabulous but your life is even more delicious, thanks for sharing it with us. Hugs, C
Thanks darlin’! Life is indeed luscious with our family and friends around us! You got to have the great treats, and when you try to be good most of the time, the indulgences are even more special!
I love that this salad is healthy and so colorful, too! It looks so appetizing! 🙂
It really is as pretty as it used to tasty! Thank you!
I can imagine the mixed feelings as you watched the uninvited crow take over hunting for Easter eggs. I’m glad he didn’t get to eat all those delicious egg dishes. Sleepovers with grandkids bring back wonderful memories. Fun times.
All true Judy! I was angry at the crow and chasing him, and I was also laughing along with everyone else because it was so darn funny!
I love wild rice and how versatile this recipe is! Your picture is so colorful and makes me want to dig right in!
Hello
An eggs-cellent dea for a post-Easter detox 🙂
There were eggs everywhere!
That salad looks so colorful and delicious!
Thank you! We really enjoyed it a lot.
Wow! What a stealer! This salas looks so beautiful! Lemon and mint, a combination made in heaven!
Thank you! This one was really delicious!
Deliciously perfect!❤️
And I saved you some!