Lou's Wild Rice Salad with Roasted Nuts, Cranberries & Date Dressing (V)

Most salads at Christmas are there to be polite. This one is there to be eaten. Lou's beautiful wild rice and quinoa salad has plenty going on. The wild rice is chewy and nutty, the quinoa is light and fluffy, and together they make a substantial base for all the lovely things that go into it. The onions are slowly caramelised until they're sweet and almost jammy, the sort of thing that takes time and patience, and that most of us aren't particularly keen to do on Christmas morning. Then come the dried cranberries for a little tartness and colour, roasted nuts for crunch, and a gorgeous dressing made with dates and lemon. The dates give it a rounded sweetness, while the lemon keeps everything bright and fresh. It's the kind of quinoa salad that earns its place on the table alongside Christmas ham, lamb or seafood, but is just as lovely enjoyed on its own. Simply thaw in the fridge, bring to room temperature, give everything a good toss and finish with fresh herbs. A wonderfully generous Christmas salad that's full of flavour, texture and all those little things that make you go back for another spoonful. Made with ❤️ by Lou