A hearty winter pomegranate rice salad that serves as its own meal is a must-know recipe for the masses. A favorite year-round but especially during the holidays, this flavorful dish is filled with texture and color and will have your guests begging for seconds.
The combination of the sweet fruit mixed with the salt of the crispy bacon makes each bite something to remember. The mandarin oranges compliment the poppy seed dressing and the surprising pop of flavor that comes from the shredded parmesan cheese truly balance out each profile.
Hearty Pomegranate Rice Salad Recipe With Bacon
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A Few Notes
- If you don’t like creamy poppy seed dressing, feel free to swap out your topping with whatever you’d like. That choice is up to you.
- This is also the case with the rice mixture. In case you are wondering, the rice I used for this meal was Lundberg Wild Blend Rice.
- Altogether, it takes about 35-45 minutes to cook – so plan to make this salad ahead if you know you will be short on time.
- My daughter doesn’t eat bacon – so if you have someone in your family that doesn’t eat meat, feel free to omit this ingredient.
Hearty Winter Salad Recipe Ingredients:
- 10 oz fresh spinach or spring mix
- 1 large can, 15 oz, mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 large pomegranate
- 1 cup cooked wild rice
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- creamy poppy seed dressing
Hearty Winter Salad Recipe Directions:
Slice the top off the pomegranate and then cut into quarters. Gently use your thumb to loosen seeds. Break open quartered piece as necessary to reveal and remove more seeds.
Add greens to a large serving bowl. Top with oranges, pomegranate, rice, bacon, and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.
Are you looking for other recipe ideas? Here are a few of my favorite picks:
- Baked Lamb Chops in the Oven
- Quick Turkey Chili Recipe – Make It On The Stovetop
- Crockpot Taco And Rice Recipe: It’s As Good As It Looks!
- Maltese Food: Baked Rice Recipe
- How to boil artichokes
To see all of the recipes that I’ve posted so far on Lady and the Blog, visit my recipe page.
Hearty Winter Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 oz fresh spinach or spring mix
- 1 large can, 15 oz, mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 large pomegranate
- 1 cup cooked wild rice
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- creamy poppy seed dressing
Instructions
- Slice the top off the pomegranate and then cut into quarters.
- Gently use your thumb to loosen seeds. Break open quartered piece as necessary to reveal and remove more seeds.
- Add greens to a large serving bowl.
- Top with oranges, pomegranate, rice, bacon, and Parmesan cheese.
- Drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.