Learning how to cook wild rice is easy. It’s delicious, versatile, and can be used in so many different dishes. (My recipe for Cranberry Wild Rice is included below.)This is the sort of thing I like to have on hand all the time.

Prepared wild rice is great to add to so many recipes, or on its own alongside a main course.

What is wild rice?

• Wild rice is the seed of an aquatic grass.
• It’s not necessarily wild. Most of what we see in grocery stores is cultivated and grown under farmed conditions. The wild rice that is in fact wild, is hand harvested. (Check out this process here.)
• One of the only grains native to North America, wild rice grows in shallow freshwater marshes, creeks and along the shores of streams and lakes.
• There are more acres of naturally growing wild rice in northern Minnesota than any other state in the country. There, they call it “Paddy Rice.”
• Though typically skinny and black — like super tiny, straight sticks, the color and shape of wild rice can vary depending on where it’s grown. Once cooked however, it’s always a shade of brown. And when it cooks it splits and curls.
• Wild rice is gluten-free and very nutritious — it’s rich in antioxidants and has high amount of protein, manganese, phosphorus magnesium and zinc. More about its nutritional value is here.

What does wild rice taste like?

It tastes similar to brown rice, but with a nuttier, slightly earthier flavor. It has an outer “shell” that gives it a chewy texture.

How to Cook Wild Rice

Wild rice takes a long time to absorb a liquid, so the cooking time can be long — anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour, depending on the amount being cooked, the pot used, etc.

You can use almost any liquid to cook with. I usually use stock. It’s especially excellent with mushroom stock but you can use any vegetable, chicken or meat stock to add flavor.

1. Rinse the rice under cold running water.
2. Use about 3½ times the amount of liquid to the amount of the rice. Add the rinsed rice, the liquid and a bit of salt to a large pot, and bring it to a boil.
3. Turn the heat down to low and bring it to a simmer, cover and cook until it’s tender — for 1 cup of rice and 3½ cups of liquid, about 50 minutes. You will see that most of the grains have split open when it’s ready. If it’s tender, but there’s still liquid at the bottom of the pot, drain it.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper — or add it to any recipe you’d like to make.

(More detailed instructions are below.)

How to use it

• You can mix almost anything you want into it. From vegetables and meats to fruits and nuts. I think it’s incredibly tasty with Sherry Mushrooms.
• It’s often an ingredient in Thanksgiving stuffing, and it’s lovely to mix with other grains.
• It makes for a great filling ingredient for stuffed peppers and mushrooms.
• It’s also a super delicious addition to soups and salads.
• I especially love vegan wild rice recipes. Since the rice is so hearty, you can make fabulous, satisfying dishes with it.

Tips

• If you want to cut down on the cooking time, you can soak the rice in cold water overnight. (Drain it when you’re ready to begin the cooking process.) Either way, how long to cook wild rice can vary, so check it often.
• If you’re using a salted stock or broth, don’t add salt — you can season to taste later.
• Since the cooking time can be long, I like to make a big batch at once to have on hand. You can freeze the wild rice if you do this. Just let it cool to room temperature and put it in a tightly sealed container. It will keep well in the freezer for four to six months. Freezing it in small batches is a good idea.

Below How to Cook Wild Rice, you will find my recipe for Cranberry Wild Rice with Toasted Pine Nuts. It’s vegan and packed with delicious sweet and savory flavors, It can be served hot or at room temperature, and it’s delicious alongside almost anything.

Now that you know how to cook wild rice, I bet you’ll be using it all the time.

Enjoy!

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