Let’s talk about wild rice. It’s nutty and earthy, irresistibly chewy-tender, and I can’t get enough of it. What is it, exactly? Wild rice is an aquatic grass native to the Great Lakes region of North America. Don’t save your wild rice for your Thanksgiving stuffing—it’s great year-round, but perhaps especially wonderful during the cooler months. Wild rice offers a warm, hearty component that turns fresh greens into a proper meal, and adds texture and heft to soups.
Wild rice is nutritious, too. It offers about fifty percent more fiber and protein than its cousin brown rice, which puts it on par with quinoa. It’s a suitable gluten-free substitute for farro, since the two are similar in texture. Wild rice has one less-than-fortunate quality: It’s more expensive than many other whole grains. Wild rice is quite labor-intensive to harvest, which is why it’s pricy. Shop around and store your rice in a cool, dry location. Read on to learn how to cook your wild rice, plus find ideas to use up every bit of it!
How to Cook Wild Rice on the Stovetop
Unlike most recipes, I prefer to cook my wild rice uncovered, in an abundant amount of water. This way, it’s easy to keep an eye on, it cooks a little faster (sometimes it’s done in just 40 minutes), and most importantly: it turns out perfectly every time. Scroll down for the printable recipe!
How to Cook Wild Rice in the Instant Pot
Wild rice cooks up beautifully in an Instant Pot and saves you about 10 to 15 minutes cooking time, realistically. The main advantage to cooking wild rice in the Instant Pot is that you don’t need to “babysit” it in any fashion. This method is courtesy of The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook by Megan Gilmore.
Wild Rice Goes Well With…
Want to improvise a meal with wild rice? Add any of the following:
Alliums: Chives, garlic, green onion, red onion or shallot Beans: Especially chickpeas or other white beans Fresh or dried fruit: Fresh apple, dried cherries or cranberries or raisins Greens or herbs: Arugula, collard greens, dill, kale, parsley, sage, spinach, tarragon, or thyme Nuts or seeds: Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pepitas, pine nuts or walnuts Seasonings: Black pepper, cinnamon, Dijon mustard, ginger, lemon or orange juice/zest, or vinegar (apple cider or red wine or white wine vinegar) Soft cheese: Feta or goat cheese Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, celery, mushrooms, pumpkin, squash (acorn, butternut, or kabocha)
Watch How to Make Perfect Wild Rice
5 Recipes Featuring Wild Rice
Storage suggestions: Wild rice will keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days. Or, freeze it for several months. Gently defrost in the microwave before serving.
1) Arugula and Wild Rice Salad with Zippy Lemon Dressing
This irresistible and hearty salad includes wild rice, arugula, dried cherries, toasted almonds and feta, tossed in a zippy lemon dressing!
2) Roasted Butternut Squash, Pomegranate and Wild Rice “Stuffing”
This vibrant vegetarian dish will be a hit at your holiday table or Sunday dinner. This recipe features wild rice tossed in a gingery dressing, with roasted butternut squash, fresh pomegranate, goat cheese, and pepitas (green pumpkin seeds).
3) Megan’s Wild Rice & Kale Salad
This hearty salad features nutritious wild rice, kale, goat cheese and colorful vegetables. Serve it as a light dinner and pack it for tomorrow’s lunch. The recipe comes from Megan Gilmore’s cookbook, The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook.
4) Hearty Sweet Potato, Arugula & Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Dressing
This delicious salad recipe features roasted sweet potato, wild rice and arugula tossed in a gingery dressing. Enjoy this holiday-worthy salad all week long.
5) Anything-Goes Kale Salad with Green Tahini Dressing
Ok, you’ll see brown rice in the photo, but wild rice would be just as good, if not better. This super versatile kale salad features an amazing tahini dressing. Just add massaged kale and veggies from your crisper drawer. More resources you might appreciate: 23 make-ahead breakfast recipes, 45 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You can shop my essential kitchen equipment here. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for a steady stream of recipe inspiration!
