Wild rice, true to its name is an exotic, distinctive amalgamation of texture, ingredients and depth of flavor. Wild rice is an excellent side dish for a party, dinner, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas menu.
This wild rice recipe has been a staple of my thanksgiving dinner for a few years and is usually quite a hit.
If you want to cut down the cook time you can soak your wild rice for 2-3 hours in water. Then your simmer time will be 20-25 minutes instead of 40-45 minutes.
In addition to wild rice being a tasty dish, here are some nutritional reasons for consuming wild rice, “Wild rice is a wonderfully balanced food source, providing a healthy mix of protein and fiber. What’s more, it’s also relatively low in calories.
One micronutrient abundant in wild rice is Manganese. Manganese is an antioxidant, and plays a role in keeping the mitochondria in your cells healthy. Manganese has also been shown to play a role in maintaining a healthy metabolism.”
Your guests will compliment your wild rice for its unique nutty flavor and authentic burst of flavors.
How To Make Wild Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups wild rice
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 4 1/2 cups of water or stock
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- blended seasoning (1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, sprig of rosemary and thyme)
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- Goya seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Bring olive oil to medium-high heat, then add 2 tablespoons of the seasoning blend.  Sauté for 1-2 minutes. Wash and drain the wild rice before adding it to the pan. Give it a good mix after adding a pinch of Goya seasoning, salt and pepper to taste and cilantro.
Next add the water or stock. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. After the rice has simmered, add the cranberries, almonds and walnuts. Cook for an additional 5 minutes and remove from heat. Enjoy!
