Wild Rice Salad with Pecans and Preserved Fruits

Recipe courtesy of Georgia Pecan Commission.

Recipe Ingredients:

3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large lemon, juiced (about 1/3 cup)
1/8 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil - divided use
1 shallot, minced
2/3 cup Georgia pecan halves, cut in half lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried apricots, diced
1/4 cup currants
2 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
2 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
6 green onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
Kosher salt
White pepper

Cooking Directions:

1. Place orange juice and sugar in a small pot over medium-high heat and reduce in volume by half. Cool completely. Add lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
2. In large skillet, heat 1/8 cup olive oil and sauté shallots until slightly tender; add pecans and toast in the pan for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat. Add tarragon and all of the dried fruits. Cook slowly for another 5 minutes or so. Season to taste with Salt and ground black pepper. Chill this mixture, about 1 hour
3. Once all components are cold, mix rice, fruit mixture, green onions, and dressing. Season to taste with kosher salt and white pepper.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of Georgia Pecan Commission.