Rice Salad with Fava Beans and Pistachios

A vibrant Middle Eastern-inspired rice salad combining wild and basmati rice with fresh fava beans, herbs, and pistachios, dressed with bright citrus flavors from lemon and Iranian lime.

6 servings
1 hr 4 min

Ingredients

  • ½ cup wild rice
  • 1 to taste Kosher salt
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1 whole dried Iranian lime
  • 1 cup fava beans
  • ½ cup fresh dill
  • ½ cup flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup unsalted pistachios
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon Iranian lime powder
  • Dried Iranian limes
  • also known as limu omani
  • are available at Middle Eastern markets and online.

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Cook wild rice in a medium pot of boiling salted water until tender and grains start to split, 35-40 minutes. Drain; let cool.

    40 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, combine basmati rice, lime, if using, and 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan, season with salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Cover; let sit until water is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Let cool; discard lime.

    15 min

  3. 3.

    If using fresh fava beans, cook in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain; transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain and peel. (If using frozen fava beans, cook 2 minutes; transfer to a bowl of ice water, then drain.)

    4 min

  4. 4.

    Toss wild rice, basmati rice, dill, parsley, pistachios, oil, lemon zest and juice, lime powder, and fava beans in a large bowl; season with salt.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Do ahead: Fava beans can be cooked and peeled 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Wild and basmati rice can be cooked 2 days ahead; cover and chill.