Rainbow Chard and Wild Rice Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Directions

1. For the vinaigrette:
2. In a small bowl, whisk the blood orange zest and juice, shallot, Dijon, and sea salt to combine. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the oil is well-combined and the dressing is thick and emulsified.

1. For the salad:
2. Cook wild rice according to instructions or bring 3 1/2 cups water to a boil over high heat. Add rice and a generous pinch of sea salt, allow mixture to bubble up, then cover, turn heat to low, and simmer for 45 minutes or until rice is cooked through but still has some bite. Strain, place rice back into saucepan, and toss with 1/4 cup of the blood orange vinaigrette.
3. Place a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the pepitas and cook, shaking pan often, just until the first few pop. Remove pepitas, set aside, and replace skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and shallots, and sauté for 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Toss in the chard, along with a pinch or two of sea salt, and sauté for 4 minutes or just until chard begins to wilt.
4. Toss the warm shallots and chard with the rice. Add the cherries and more dressing. Adjust salt levels as needed.
5. Plate salad, tucking blood orange slices throughout. Finish with a drizzle of dressing, black pepper, toasted pepitas, and minced chives.