Northwoods Chicken Wild Rice Salad

A NORTHWOODS CHICKEN WILD RICE SALAD

Cooking Tip: One cup of uncooked wild rice makes about three cups of cooked rice. Cook wild rice in 3-1/2 cups of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt for 45 minutes. Substitute chicken or vegetable broth for water as it adds more flavor. A time-saver is to make the wild rice the day before, let it cool and refrigerate.
Cook's Notes: Northwoods Chicken Wild Rice Salad is a versatile salad with lots of options. Turkey can be substituted for chicken. Use a deli rotisserie chicken as a time saver. If looking for a vegetarian dish add in more wild rice with cooked corkscrew pasta. Dried cranberries can be substituted for dried cherries. Substitute avocado slices for pea pods or sugar snap peas
It's a perfect salad for lunch, brunch, or as an accompaniment to a grilled meal.
The recipe serves 4-6 but ingredients can easily be increased to serve more as well as the dressing. 

Salad Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked wild rice
• 3 cups cooked meat, diced
• 1/2 cup each mini sweet red peppers and celery
• 3/4 cup sweet onions, diced
• 1 cup red grapes, halved
• 1 small package of dried cherries or cranberries
• 2 cups pea pods or sugar snap peas
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds or walnuts

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sherry
• 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
• 1 teaspoon each Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce 

Directions:

• Cook wild rice the day before and store it in a plastic container or zip loc bag. Wild rice freezes well and can be used at another time for soups and side dishes.
• Mix dressing in a small bowl with a whisk and set aside.
• Blanch pea pods(bring water to boil, add pea pods, boil 1 minute, drain and then add to ice water for 1 minute, pat dry) slice in half diagonally.
• In a large bowl add all ingredients except dressing and mix well.
• Add dressing to salad ingredients until all is moistened. If more dressing is needed follow the basic recipe above and then add in.
• Chill salad for at least 4 hours and serve over lettuce with tomato slices.