Megan's Wild Rice & Kale Salad

Ingredients (13)

• 1 cup wild rice
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice, more as needed (from 1 to 2 lemons)
• 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1 small bunch kale (I recommend the Lacinato AKA Tuscan/dinosaur variety shown here, if you can find it)
• 5 green onions, tender white and green parts only
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese, optional*