My delicious Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples makes an easy weeknight family supper, but it’s also great for entertaining. Perfect for all seasons, it is especially nice made with fresh local apples. The best part is, this recipe only about takes about 30 minutes to prepare!
An Oldie But A Goodie
I first published my Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples back in 2011, but all these years later, it’s still a family favourite. The recipe is super flavourful but really mild. As a result, even fussy eaters will enjoy it. It’s definitely kid friendly!
Tips for Making Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples
- Leave the apples unpeeled. The skin adds a lovely colour to the dish, and it also saves time.
- Use a mix of red-skinned and green-skinned apples for more colour.
- You can switch up the flavours in this Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples by using different kinds of sausages. My favourites are the Caramelised Onion sausages from my local butchers. It’s also fun to use pork and apple sausages to for an extra apple-y dish, or try a spicy Italian sausage. Vegetarian and vegan sausages work too.
- This recipe is perfect for using up leftover sausages. Slice them and add to the mixture just after the apples. You may need to heat them through for a little bit longer if they are fridge cold. Be sure they are piping hot before serving.
- You can use ordinary cider vinegar or a more artisanal blend. I sometimes use Damson cider vinegar with honey.
- If you don’t have cider vinegar, red wine vinegar will also work. However I prefer the way cider vinegar echoes the flavour of the apple.
Is There a Vegetarian Version of This Recipe?
To make this Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples vegetarian, use your favourite vegetarian sausages.
Is This Recipe Gluten Free?
If you use gluten free sausages, gluten free mustard, and ensure that your wild rice blend does not contain any grain, then this recipe can be gluten free.
How Should I Serve Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples?
I sometimes serve this recipe on its own, but it’s also nice served with some broccoli or another green vegetable. If you aren’t concerned about carbs, you can always serve some warm rolls alongside. Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples is especially delicious accompanied by a nice glass of red wine.
Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples – Printable Recipe
Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apples
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons mild olive oil, divided
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
- 8 good quality sausages If the sausages are thin you may want to use 12. Use vegetarian sausages to make this recipe meat free.
- 1 cup long grain and wild rice
- 1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 3 eating apples, cored and chopped but not peeled I like to mix red and green skinned apples for colour if possible
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, plain or wholegrain
- 1 teaspoon honey
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C or 180°C for fan or convection ovens).
- Bake the sausages in a roasting pan for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and keep warm.
- Meanwhile, cook the rice in a pan of boiling, salted water according to package directions. When cooked, drain and keep warm.
- While the rice is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan oven medium heat.
- Sauté the onion until it begins to soften. Sprinkle the onion with a bit of salt to keep it from browning too much.
- Add the garlic and chopped apples and stir fry for a moment or two.
- When the sausages are cool enough to handle, cut each one in 3 or 4 smaller pieces. Be careful not to burn yourself.
- Add the pieces of sausage to the frying pan.
- Mix the remaining two tablespoons of oil with the cider vinegar, honey and mustard. You can either whisk the ingredients together or shake them up in a clean jam or Mason jar.
- Pour the mixture over the sausages and apples and stir to coat.
- Allow everything to sizzle up together and heat through. The apples should be slightly softened and tender crisp.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- To serve the Warm Wild Rice Salad with Sausages and Apple, divide the rice between 4 plates.
- Serve the sausage and apple mixture on top of the rice.
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Comments & Reviews
Apples are great in savory dishes too, April. Mustard, cider vinegar and apples – love the combo of flavors. Sounds so tasty!
I’m so glad you like the recipe, Hadia! I think apples are wonderful in savory dishes 🙂
Apples and pork are a natural blend. The rice adds another layer of taste and texture. Add the honey & mustard…LOVELY! Thanks.
Thank you for your kind comment! I love apples and pork together too 🙂
What an interesting recipe I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I do like new ways of serving up sausages (rather than just with a pile of mash!)
Thank you, Emma 🙂 I’m always looking for ways to avoid mash too!
What a great frugal recipe. Thanks for a new idea for a cheap and delish dinner!
Thank you, Jo! It really is a great way to serve sausages 🙂
A hearty dish perfect for the fall and a quick mid-week meal!
Thank you, Jacquee. It’s really good for mid-week entertaining too!
Apples go together so well with pork, love the idea of Djon mustard and honey too
Thank you, Bintu 🙂
Caramelized onion with the apples & sausage sound Fall season delish. The wild rice addition really tops it off. Nice.
Thank you so much!
I love the addition of apples, great for autumn season!
Thank you, Ilona 🙂
This looks great! Apples are abundant now so this would be a great time to take advantage of this recipe!
Thank you, Sandi. It really is delicious with fall apples 🙂
Oh I love the combination of sausage and the sweetness of the apples! This rice sounds delicious! And very fall-ish, which I love!
Thank you, Kristine! I love fall recipes too 🙂
This recipe is one that I think my family would love. We have 5 apple trees, so I am always looking for great ways to use them.
How lovely to have your own apple trees, Cynthia! Home-grown apples are wonderful in this recipe 🙂
Delicious, April, love sweetness of apples in this rice salad.
Thank you, Swathi! It really does have a wonderful flavour.
Yum! I love the texture of wild rice so much more than regular rice. I’m not sure why. This looks delicious!
Thank you, Liz. It really is tasty 🙂
I love the flavor of apples and sausages together – add some warm rice and that is comfort food at it’s best. I’ll bet this makes for some great leftovers!
Me too, Karen, and thank you! And yes, the leftovers are really tasty too – when there are any 😉
Ooh, I’ve seen apples with sausages before, but serving it with rice is really interesting! Sounds yummy, and I bet it would work great with vegetarian sausages too.
Thank you, Becca. And yes, the recipe works beautifully with vegetarian sausages and is every bit as yummy 😉
What a warm and cozy meal, the combo of sausage and apple sounds sooooo good!
Now this is my kind of meal! Perfect with a glass of wine
What a lovely autumn meal April and I love that is light yet satisfying.
Thank you so much, Linda 🙂
This is a delicious recipe to add to my Thanksgiving Menu. It’s one of my fall favorites.
Thank you, Joanne!
Oh my! This sounds so good. I have purchased some apple sausages from Costco here in the States and they were very tasty. I can see how they would be good in this dish.
Thank you, Donna. Apples and sausages make a really great combination.
This looks very delicious, April. I love the combination of sausage and apples.
Have a wonderful week!
Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti