Rice – Recipe Coast https://recipecoast.com The Finest Recipe Resource Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:08:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice Recipe https://recipecoast.com/stephs-chickpea-curry-with-spinach-and-rice-recipe/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:08:09 +0000 https://recipecoast.com/stephs-chickpea-curry-with-spinach-and-rice-recipe/

In This Post: Everything You Need For Chickpea Curry


Chickpea Curry Video


Ingredients For This Recipe

Brown Sugar

The perfect little bit of sweetness. The brown sugar helps offset the spiciness and makes everything just deliciously rich.

Curry Paste

This recipe uses red curry paste. Any brand will work, but I usually opt for the Thai Kitchen brand that I can find pretty easily at my local grocery store.

Coconut Milk

Please, please use full-fat coconut milk in this recipe. The perfect thickness and sauciness!

Soy Sauce

We’ve got sweetness, we’ve got richness, we’ve got spiciness, and this is where the saltiness comes in!

Chickpeas

Just one can of chickpeas – my favorite easy plant-based protein.

Spinach

I love adding spinach to this for a little bit of veg. Other veggies you could use: green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots.

Cilantro

A sprinkling of cilantro finish everything off!

Rice

Heap this delicious mixture over a mound of fluffy rice, and that’s it!

Coconut curry chickpeas with spinach in a pan.

Lindsay’s Notes

How it happened is that I asked my sister Steph what she’s been making for dinner lately, and she said, “I make that salmon recipe but I just use a can of chickpeas instead to keep it easy.” And now, if you ask me what I’m making for dinner lately, I’m going to say the exact same thing because okay wow that is very delicious and it only takes ten minutes.

STEPH FOR PRESIDENT!

This chickpea curry is, well, it’s everything. It’s cozy, it’s pantry-friendly, it’s vegetarian, and maybe even a little elegant? *hair toss* even though it’s super super easy? It’s comforting without being heavy, nutritious without being boring, and beautiful without being high maintenance. I’m no stranger to a delicious chickpea curry, but this one takes it to the next level.

I came into this realization too late to include it in the photos here, but serving this with a little side of pickled cucumber salad (sliced cucumbers, sliced red onion, white vinegar, olive oil, salt, and sugar) is *chef’s kiss* SOS perfection. (I also love this little cucumber salad with these beef skewers. SO GOOD.)

With or without the cucumber salad, I can definitely say that swooping the wooden spoon leisurely through that luscious sauce, piling the saucy goodness of chickpeas and spinach over steaming rice, and then drizzling the chili crisp (affiliate link) over the whole thing… it’s definitely a living-my-best-life type moment.


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Description

Amazingly creamy, saucy chickpea curry served over rice with a dollop of chili crisp and a side of cucumber salad. Ready in 20 minutes!



  1. Cook rice according to package directions.
  2. Heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and curry paste; sauté until softened and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add the brown sugar, coconut milk, and soy sauce. Bring to a low simmer until thickened slightly.
  4. Add chickpeas, spinach, and cilantro; cook until chickpeas are heated through and spinach is wilted. Mash the chickpeas ever so slightly with the back of a wooden spoon if you want to change up the texture and make it more creamy.
  5. Taste and adjust to your liking – we often add a squeeze of lime or some extra ginger or lemongrass, but it’s really not necessary. The flavor is totally there even with the most basic ingredient list. Serve over rice with a dollop of chili crisp (affiliate link) and a side of pickled cucumber salad if you want (and I promise you do want this – see notes). Top with more cilantro, if you want! 

Notes

For the pickled cucumber salad, thinly slice 3 small cucumbers and a small chunk of red onion on a mandoline. Toss sliced cucumbers and red onion with 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 2 tablespoons avocado oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Let them hang out for 20-30 minutes (more if you have time) and just serve with the curry! So good. My kids love these, too!

1 1/2 cups of rice will give you a bit more than you technically need – it’s 4 hearty portions or 6 regular portions. We always use this amount, though, because my girls often want to eat the rice plain, and I’d rather have a bit of extra rice instead of not enough rice!

If your sauce is too runny, this is likely because of the brand of coconut milk. Typically when I use Asian brands of coconut milk (Aroy D or Chaokoh) I do not have this issue, and the sauce consistently turns out thick and luscious and creamy, almost like a gravy. If you find yourself with a runny sauce, just whisk one tablespoon of cornstarch into one tablespoon of cold water and add it to the bubbling sauce in the pan. Within a minute or two of gentle heat, you’ll see it start to thicken up. Works like a charm.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sauté
  • Cuisine: Asian-Inspired

Keywords: chickpea curry, curry recipe, vegetarian curry

Chickpea Curry: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best kind of coconut milk to use?

The texture of the sauce will vary a bit depending on brand. I like Aroy-D or Chaokoh canned coconut milk (full fat). If you use a coconut milk that is more on the runny side and the sauce isn’t thick enough for you, you can add the cornstarch slurry as directed in the recipe notes.

Can you use light coconut milk?

Personally I prefer full-fat coconut milk for this (and most) recipes. If you do use light coconut milk, it will probably need a bit of thickener such as the cornstarch to get it creamy and saucy as pictured.

Can you use a different protein besides the chickpeas?

Yes, absolutely. I love this with just about everything – tofu, chicken, shrimp, salmon, etc. It is a magical sauce that makes everything taste amazing.

How could I add more vegetables to this?

I have added sliced bell peppers to the sauce, sautéing them first so they are nice and soft. This sauce also goes well with broccoli.

I also love serving this with a little pickled cucumber salad – instructions for that are in the recipe notes.

How do the leftovers keep?

This recipe makes for awesome leftovers. I especially like this for leftovers because the chickpeas do better in the fridge for longer than chicken or shrimp. This works great to make ahead and keep in the fridge for a week’s worth of lunches! Store it separately from the rice, or just side-by-side in individual containers.

If you can, you may want to hold off on adding the spinach until just before serving – it’s not necessary, but it would ensure that you don’t encounter any mushy or slimy spinach in your leftovers.

Can I make this vegan?

Yes! That said, all curry pastes are different in what ingredients they use (and some do have fish products in them, like fish sauce or shrimp paste), so just be sure to check your curry paste to make sure that it is vegan.

Can I make this gluten-free?

To make this gluten free, just skip the soy sauce and double-check that the curry paste is gluten-free! (Use fish sauce or coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce.)

Ingredients for coconut curry chickpeas.

If You Like This, You Should Try:

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Trader Joe’s Chicken Shawarma with Lemon Rice Recipe https://recipecoast.com/trader-joes-chicken-shawarma-with-lemon-rice-recipe/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:03:31 +0000 https://recipecoast.com/trader-joes-chicken-shawarma-with-lemon-rice-recipe/

Trader Joe’s Chicken Shawarma + Lemon Rice Is a Thing To Behold

Lindsay Ostrom headshot.

Do you guys know Naf Naf grill? This is a Naf Naf bowl, made at home! Using TJ’s chicken shawarma! Lots going on here!

This bowl is a power combo. It’s loaded with:

  • Lemon rice (lightly scented, fluffy, and gorgeous)
  • Crisped, golden chicken shawarma
  • Cabbage slaw that’s almost pickled
  • A tangy, creamy feta cucumber sauce

I am a huge fan of shortcuts cheesy smile so I am regularly using the chicken shawarma from Trader Joe’s for these bowls.

If you’re looking for the fastest possible path to a meal, just make the chicken and lemon rice, and pile on some store-bought tzatziki and/or fresh cucumbers! The chicken and lemon rice make such a solid base.

And if you’ve got it in you to make the cabbage and feta cucumbers, you’re in for a big big treat.

The first time I made this, I knew it would end up as a recipe on the blog. And then when I made it for a final test with my friend Amanda, we were just losing our minds. This combo is just SO GOOD.

Lindsay and Amanda with chicken shawarma bowls.

Amanda actually pointed out that the leftovers would also be amazing in a wrap?! and now I can’t get that out of my mind. Can someone make that happen?

Hope you guys love it. Cheers to shortcuts! And feel-good food!

Lindsay signature.

If you want to make the chicken shawarma from scratch – this is my go-to marinade for chicken breasts for recipes like this!

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Perfect Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe https://recipecoast.com/perfect-cilantro-lime-rice-recipe/ Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:29:27 +0000 https://recipecoast.com/perfect-cilantro-lime-rice-recipe/

This cilantro lime rice recipe is super easy, fresh, and tastes better than your favorite restaurants!

Cilantro Lime Rice

If you love Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice, you will love this easy copycat recipe. I say copycat, but it tastes even better than what you get at Chipotle. High praise, I know, but trust me.

Serve this with beans, burritos, and your favorite Mexican dishes, or make a rice bowl! For more rice recipes like this one, see our Mexican rice (aka Spanish rice) and this yellow saffron rice!

Key Ingredients

  • Rice: I use long-grain white rice for this recipe. You can also use long-grain Jasmine or Basmati rice, which are more fragrant (in the best way). Brown rice works with our recipe, but the method for cooking your rice will differ. I have included tips below the recipe to help you out.
  • Onion and garlic: I cook chopped onion and garlic with a bit of oil and the rice, adding lots of extra flavor.
  • Water or broth: I use water in the recipe video, but for more flavor, use a light broth (veggie broth or chicken broth are both excellent).
  • Lime: Fresh lime is best for this recipe. After it’s cooked, stir fresh lime juice into the rice.
  • Cilantro: I love cilantro and add quite a bit to my rice. For this recipe, I chop the leaves and tender stems (leaving the hardier stems for stock). If you don’t love cilantro as much as me, leave it out and make plain lime rice (it’s still delightful). By the way, if you have extra cilantro be sure to try our creamy cilantro lime dressing.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

Cilantro Lime Rice

How to Make the Best Cilantro Lime Rice

Tip 1: Rinse your rice. Rinsing the rice removes extra starch, making our cooked rice super light and fluffy! You want to rinse your rice for this recipe (my best tip for cooking perfect rice). I toss my rice into a fine-mesh strainer and place it under cool running water, moving the rice around with my fingers until the water runs clear.

Tip 2: Toast your rice. After rinsing, add the rice and chopped onion to a pot with some oil or butter and cook, moving them around so they toast evenly (this adds so much flavor). Add minced garlic, and then pour in your cooking liquid, which can be water or broth.

Toasting the rice with oil and onion before adding water.

Tip 3: Keep your rice covered to make it extra fluffy! I cook the rice with a lid over low heat for about 15 minutes. Then, I remove the pan from the heat and leave it covered for another 10 minutes. This resting time gives the rice a chance to steam, which makes it perfectly cooked and fluffy. (This is the same method we use when cooking Mexican rice and coconut rice.)

Tip 4: Add cilantro and lime last. When it’s ready, uncover the rice and use a fork to fluff it (be gentle). Stir in fresh lime juice and lots of chopped cilantro. Then enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

I love this easy rice recipe and eat it with just about everything. Our family loves this with homemade refried beans or these incredible black beans. It’s always on the table when we make fajitas, enchiladas, and carnitas.

I add cilantro lime rice to my burritos, especially love these spicy cauliflower burritos. It’s also excellent for rice bowls, and I love it with our cilantro lime garlic butter shrimp! And remember the guacamole and salsas! I love this fresh pico de gallo, corn and black bean salsa, and this roasted tomatillo salsa.

Cilantro lime rice

Perfect Cilantro Lime Rice

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

How to make the best cilantro lime rice that tastes even better than your favorite restaurants! Substituting stock or broth for the water adds additional flavor. We love using chicken or vegetable broth. If you use stock, add salt to taste since the stock may already have some salt added.

Makes 5 cups rice

Watch Us Make the Recipe

You Will Need

1 ½ cups (280g) long-grain white rice

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter, plus more for serving

½ cup (70g) finely chopped onion (1 small)

2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)

2 ¼ cups (530ml) water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth

¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, see notes

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 cup (30g) roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

Directions

    1Place rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water, moving the rice around with your fingers until the water runs clear. Drain well and set aside. This removes excess starch and helps the rice cook up fluffy and light.

    2Heat a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add the oil or butter. When hot, add the rinsed rice and onion. Cook, stirring often, until the rice turns from translucent to a brighter white and the onion is soft, about 3 to 4 minutes.

    3Add the garlic and cook, stirring it around the pan until fragrant but not browned, about 30 seconds.

    4Pour in the warm water or stock and stir, knocking any grains of rice stuck to the pan’s sides. Season with salt, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover with a lid. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes.

    5Remove the pan from the heat and leave alone (still covered) for 10 minutes.

    6Uncover and test a grain of rice. If the rice is still a little hard, put the lid back on and cook over low heat for another 5 minutes. If the rice looks too dry, scatter a tablespoon or two of extra water over it before placing it back on the heat.

    7When the rice is done, scatter the lime juice and cilantro on top. Use a fork to gently fluff the rice and incorporate the lime juice and cilantro. Serve.

Adam and Joanne’s Tips

  • Storing: Leftover cilantro lime rice lasts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months (thaw overnight in the refrigerator).
  • Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or over low heat in a pan with water or broth, stirring until warm. For fresh flavor, stir in extra lime juice and chopped cilantro just before serving.
  • Brown rice: Forget the package directions and cook brown rice like you would pasta. Fill a large pot with lightly salted water, add the brown rice, and then let it cook, uncovered, at a simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and add it back to the pot off the heat with a lid covering it so it steams for an additional 10 minutes (this method is from Saveur, making perfect brown rice.) From there, stir in sautéed onion, garlic, fresh lime juice, and cilantro.
  • Salt: If you plan to use stock, you may not need to add salt. Taste the stock before adding to the rice to determine if you need to add a pinch or two of additional salt.
  • Cilantro substitute: If you are not a fan of cilantro, substitute it with chopped fresh parsley or leave it out.
  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.

Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
About ½ cup
/
Calories
119
/
Total Fat
1.6g
/
Saturated Fat
0.3g
/
Cholesterol
0mg
/
Sodium
60.8mg
/
Carbohydrate
23.6mg
/
Dietary Fiber
0.6g
/
Total Sugars
0.5g
/
Protein
2.2g


AUTHOR:

Joanne Gallagher

Adam and Joanne of Inspired Taste

We are Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Established in 2009, Inspired Taste grew from a childhood dream into one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites with hundreds of reliable recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.More About Us

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Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice https://recipecoast.com/layered-mexican-casserole-with-chicken-and-cauliflower-rice/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:01:53 +0000 https://recipecoast.com/layered-mexican-casserole-with-chicken-and-cauliflower-rice/

Layered Mexican Casserole has Green Chile Enchilada Sauce, sour cream, green chiles, chicken, cauliflower rice, and cheese. And everyone who loves those Mexican flavors will love them in this cheesy creamy casserole!

PIN the Layered Mexican Casserole to make it later!

Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice finished casserole in baking dish

Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice is a recipe that would be a winner for a Cinco de Mayo dinner! We loved this low-carb and gluten-free casserole when we tested the recipe. And the recipe was inspired by a comment on an old favorite casserole complaining that the recipe wasn’t low in carbs!

That comment got me wondering about what I could come up with for a low-carb version of a layered Mexican casserole with chicken. And this recipe is the happy result of a few experiments with Kara to create this recipe that we thought was amazing! I hope you try it soon.

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredients.)

How did we make the Layered Mexican Casserole low in carbs?

This Mexican chicken casserole recipe has a layer with Green Chile Enchilada sauce reduced on the stove and combined with green chiles, sour cream, diced chicken, and sliced green onions. The other layer has a cauliflower rice mixture that also has onions, cumin, and green bell pepper. And of course, all the layers have cheese. I promise this recipe will be a hit with all the Mexican food fans who are watching their carbs!

Why I use Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce for the Layered Mexican Casserole:

I’m a long-time fan of Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce (affiliate link), a delicious canned green enchilada sauce that’s gluten-free. Even though the ingredient list has tiny amounts of sugar and cornstarch, the sauce adds only 3.5 carbs per serving to this recipe. And this sauce is so flavorful and convenient that for me it’s a product worth using. If you find other canned Green Chile Enchilada Sauce that’s also low in sugar, by all means use the sauce you prefer!

How low in carbs is this Layered Mexican Casserole?

This tasty casserole has only 10.6 net carbs in a serving, with 18 grams of protein!

Want more low-carb Mexican Food?

Check out Keto Mexican Food Dinners for more tasty Mexican dishes that are low in carbs!

Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice process shots collage

How to make Layered Mexican Casserole:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F/190C. Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray.
  2. Take frozen cauliflower rice out of the freezer.
  3. Put Green Chile Enchilada Sauce  in a small saucepan and simmer until it’s reduced to one cup.
  4. Dice onion and green bell pepper and slice green onions, and cut chicken into small dice. 
  5. Heat olive oil in a big frying pan, add onion and green pepper and cook until they’re starting to brown. Add ground cumin and cook a few minutes more.
  6. Add frozen cauliflower rice and cook over high heat until rice is hot and some steam has evaporated, about 4 minutes.
  7. When Green Chile Enchilada Sauce is reduced to one cup, put it in a medium-sized bowl and stir in diced green chiles. Taste to see if you want some Green Tabasco Sauce.)
  8. When the mixture is still warm but not hot, stir in the sour cream, diced chiles, and green onions.
  9. Make a layer in the casserole dish with half the cauliflower rice mixture.
  10. Add half the chicken/sour cream mixture by spoonfuls, and spread it over the cauliflower rice.
  11. Add half the grated cheese over the chicken mixture.
  12. Make another layer each of cauliflower rice mixture, chicken mixture, and grated cheese.
  13. Bake uncovered about 30-35 minutes. 
  14. Let the Layered Mexican Casserole stand 5-10 minutes before cutting, and then serve!

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

I’d love this Mexican Casserole served with any of these side dishes for a low-carb meal:

Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice shown in baking dish

Weekend Food Prep:

This Layered Mexican Casserole recipe has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen cauliflower rice (see notes)
  • one 15 oz. can Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 T ground cumin (see notes)
  • one 4 oz. can diced green chiles (see notes)
  • 1 T Green Tabasco Sauce (optional)
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups diced cooked chicken
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onion
  • 2 cups grated Mexican Cheese Blend

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F/190C. Spray a 9″ x 12″ x 3″ casserole dish with non-stick spray. (You need a dish close to that size to hold this recipe.)
  2. Take frozen cauliflower rice out of the freezer and let it start to thaw on the counter.
  3. Put Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce (or sauce of your choice) in a small saucepan and simmer until it’s reduced to one cup.
  4. Dice onion and green bell pepper and slice green onions.
  5. Cut chicken into small dice. (We used cooked rotisserie chicken from Costco, which made it easy.)
  6. Heat olive oil in a frying pan big enough to hold the cauliflower rice, add onion and green pepper and cook until they’re barely starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
  7. Add ground cumin and cook a few minutes more.
  8. Then add frozen cauliflower rice and cook over high heat until rice is hot and liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes.
  9. When Green Chile Enchilada Sauce has reduced to one cup, put it in a bowl that’s big enough to hold the chicken, and stir in diced green chiles. (Taste to see if you want the optional Green Tabasco Sauce.)
  10. When the mixture is still warm but no longer hot, stir in the sour cream, diced chiles, and green onions.
  11. Make a layer in the bottom of the casserole dish with half the cauliflower rice mixture.
  12. Add half the chicken/sour cream mixture by spoonfuls, and spread over the cauliflower rice.
  13. Add half the grated cheese over the chicken mixture.
  14. Make another layer each of cauliflower rice mixture, chicken mixture, and grated cheese.
  15. Bake uncovered 30-35 minutes, or until casserole is bubbling hot and the top is nicely browned. 
  16. Let the Layered Mexican Casserole stand 5-10 minutes before cutting, and serve!

Notes

We made this Layered Mexican Casserole with 3 cups cauliflower rice, but if you’d like a thicker cauliflower rice layer you can use a bit more.

If you’re not a huge cumin fan, you might want a bit less cumin.

The diced green chiles are mild Anaheim chiles, not Jalapenos!

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving

Calories 285Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 71mgSodium 257mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 2.4gSugar 7gProtein 18g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice thumbnail square image of finished casserole in baking dish

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This recipe for a layered Mexican casserole uses a Green Chile Enchilada Sauce that does have teeny-tiny amounts of cornstarch and sugar. But those amounts are so low that this recipe should be low enough in net carbs for most low-carb diets. I’m not tagging it as Keto, although it wouldn’t be bad for a one-dish meal. For the original South Beach Diet it would be recommended to use low-fat dairy products.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Casserole Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
Layered Mexican Casserole was created in 2021 as a lower-carb version of a favorite Mexican Chicken Casserole from the past! It was last updated with more information in 2026.

Pinterest image of Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.



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Crazy Good Kale and Wild Rice Salad https://recipecoast.com/crazy-good-kale-and-wild-rice-salad/ Sat, 21 Feb 2026 02:58:41 +0000 https://recipecoast.com/crazy-good-kale-and-wild-rice-salad/

This gorgeous kale and wild rice salad is loaded with so many delicious ingredients: chicken, avocados, feta, almonds, apples, and more! It’s so good!

Sometimes a really loaded, really pretty, really delicious salad is exactly what my January doldrum heart needs.

And this salad is like a big burst of happiness in a bowl. The flavors! The textures! That delectable dressing. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life and die a happy woman.

Loaded with All the Good Things

Let’s take a quick look at all the yummy ingredients in this salad that starts with a base of kale or power greens.

  • brown/wild rice
  • grilled or cooked chicken
  • craisins
  • toasted almonds
  • honeycrisp apple
  • fresh basil (but if you can’t find it, just add a pinch of dried basil to the dressing)
  • avocado
  • feta cheese

And as with any good salad, the ingredients could be swapped in and out depending on your taste preferences and/or creativity level.

For instance, I think roasted sweet potatoes or roasted butternut squash would be amazing added to this salad. And the grilled chicken could easily be swapped for another protein or left out for a meatless salad.

Balsamic Dressing

The dressing for this salad is fresh, light, and tangy. It includes balsamic vinegar as well as fresh lemon juice.

For the balsamic, you can use regular (dark) balsamic vinegar or white balsamic. I have a delicious mango white balsamic in my pantry, and it is incredible in this dressing.

Red or white wine vinegar will also work. Blend everything together. It’s that easy!

This is a lightly dressed salad, so if you prefer a higher dressing to salad ratio, you might want to double the dressing.

Dress It Up

Sometimes with big main dish salads like this, I prefer serving the dressing on the side in case there are leftovers.

Too many times I’ve faced leftover salad in the fridge that has become decidedly less appealing overnight thanks to the soggy, limp lettuce and other questionable ingredients. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

But all of the ingredients in this salad (minus the avocado) hold up very well to the dressing and as leftovers! (If you anticipate leftovers, consider serving the avocado on the side.)

Drizzle the dressing over the top, give a light toss, and dig in!

Recipes From Friends

This recipe comes highly recommended from my cousin-in-law, Tami, who I trust impeccably when it comes to recipes and food.

She sent the recipe to me saying it was one of the best salads of her life and that I needed to make it ASAP. I did. And I can’t disagree. It’s a keeper…and a recipe I will be making over and over.

I kept my greens in larger pieces, but Tami said her friend who made it chopped the kale/greens really finely. And I can see myself opting to do the same in the future when I am a bit more ambitious and not quite as lazy.

There’s no wrong way to enjoy this salad. The wide variety of delicious ingredients and that crazy good dressing make it an absolutely stellar salad!

One Year Ago: Amazing Instant Pot Lemon Curd 
Two Years Ago: Loaded Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
Three Years Ago: Asian-Style Meatballs with Sweet Chili Sauce
Four Years Ago: Tender Greek Pork {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker} 
Five Years Ago: Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins
Six Years Ago: Whole Grain Cinnamon Applesauce Bread 
Seven Years Ago: 60-Second Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie
Eight Years Ago: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Nine Years Ago: Baked Tilapia with Ginger and Cilantro 
Ten Years Ago: Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake 

Kale and Wild Rice Salad

Salad:

  • ¾ cup uncooked wild rice blend (see note)
  • 6 ounces (about 5 lightly packed cups) coarsely or finely chopped kale/baby spinach or a power greens mix (see note)
  • 2 to 3 cups cooked, chopped chicken (see note)
  • 1 medium honeycrisp apple, cored and diced
  • ½ to 1 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted (see note)
  • ½ to 1 cup craisins or golden raisins
  • ½ to 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • ½ to 1 cup chopped fresh basil (optional – if not in season, add a pinch of dried basil to the dressing)
  • 1 to 2 medium avocados, diced

Dressing:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic (see note) or red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (I use coarse, kosher salt)
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • ¼ to ½ cup fresh cilantro

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  • Cook the rice according to package directions. Drain (if needed) and set aside to cool to room temperature.

  • For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth and well-combined. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Set aside.

  • Assemble the salad by placing the greens in the bottom of a large serving bowl or on a platter. Top with rice, chicken, apples, almonds, craisins, feta, basil (if using), and avocados.

  • Drizzle dressing over salad and toss lightly to combine. Serve immediately.

Dressing: this is a lightly dressed salad, so if you like a lot of dressing to salad ratio, consider doubling the recipe. 
Rice: this is the wild rice blend I like to use (if you have a Winco close, you can find it in the bulk bins). You can also use tri-color quinoa for a rice alternative.
Kale/Greens: for the greens, you can use all chopped kale or all chopped spinach, although I prefer using a power greens mix that has spinach, kale and other baby greens. The greens can be coarsely or finely chopped.
Chicken: a rotisserie chicken or other cooked chicken will work well for this salad. I’ve also made it by seasoning chicken tenders with salt, pepper and garlic and cooking them on the grill (you could also use an air fryer, skillet on the stovetop over medium heat, or an oven set to broil). 
Almonds: toasting the almonds adds delicious flavor and crunch – I use this easy microwave method to toast the nuts.
Balsamic Vinegar: this salad dressing is delicious with regular (dark) balsamic vinegar; it’s also delicious with white balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar. 

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 296kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 225mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g

Recipe Source: by way of my cousin-in-law, Tami (and her friend who served it to her!)

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