Wild Rice is such a great product to work with but so many people have difficulty with it, and there really is no reason for it. Today I will offer some facts about Wild Rice and how to prepare it correctly. For instance did you know Wild Rice is not a Rice at all? It is a Grass Seed most commonly found in lakes around Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of Canada, a seed produced from the aquatic grass "Zizania Aquatica". As early as the first century AD Indians came to harvest the seeds from the grass as it became a very important part of their diets. The " Chippewas" ate the rice as a cereal with blueberries, stuffed it in game birds, and added it to soups made from bear, venison, fish or other game. Today Wild Rice is cultivated as a business and has gross sales in the tens of millions of dollars! Nutritional analysis shows that wild rice is low in calories, and fat, yet high in fiber, and a great source of protein!
While there are many ways to speed the process for cooking Wild Rice I suggest this is the best way to do it.
- Basic Wild Rice:
- 1 cup Wild Rice
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- Wash and rinse the rice in cool water. Then place the rice and some clean water in a heavy sauce pan with some salt. Bring it to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes, or until rice has puffed and most of the liquid has absorbed. Fluff Rice with a fork, and cook uncovered until any excess water has evaporated.
- VARIATIONS: Substitute Beef or Chicken Bouillon for the water, omitting the salt. Substitute 1 cup white wine for 1 cup of the water.
- Cooked rice may be kept refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 weeks in a tightly closed container. I suggest if adding other ingredients like onions, mushrooms, vegetables, meats, or fish they be cooked separately and added to cooked rice. Wild rice is also great to to make salads with, added to meat balls, soups or stews! It is also fantastic when added to other rice, like Basmati, or Brown Rice. It adds texture, and a nutty flavor!
Now I will offer up some delicious recipes using Wild Rice for you to try! These recipes I use often in my catering with great results! People often make complimentary comments on these servings, and ask for the recipes, so today I will share them with you!
If using the Wild Rice for Salads I toss about 1 Tbs Grapeseed Oil in aboit 4 cups cooked rice to keep the grains from sticking together.
- Wild Rice Salad with Anchovy Dressing: serves 6-8
- 2 cups cooked Wild Rice
- 3 Anchovy filets www.theworldwidegourmet.com
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil www.sadaf.com
- 1 clove fresh Garlic
- 2 tsp Stone Ground Mustard www.rayesmustard.com
- 1 each Red and Yellow Bell pepper chopped fine
- 5 Green Onions chopped fine
- 10 Sundried Tomatoes sliced into very fine strips www.valleysun.com
- 1 can Quartered Artichoke Hearts www.progressofoods.com
- 1/4 cup sliced Water Chestnuts
- 1 package Grape Tomatoes cut into halves
- Juice if 1 Fresh Lemon
Combine mashed anchovies, mashed garlic, mustard,lemon juice, and Olive oil whisk till incorporated. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss in Anchovy Oil. I like to add about 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes for a bit of spice!
- Wild Rice Salad with Apples and Avocado: serves 6-8
- 3 cups cooked Wild Rice
- 1 Avocado, pitted and cubed
- 1 Granny Smith Apple peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 Tbs fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/4 cup Golden Raisins www.sunmaid.com
- 1/4 cup Durkees Dressing www.durkee.com
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise www.hellmans.com
- 4 Tbs Toasted Sliced Almonds www.bluediamond.com
- Leaves of 2 Bibb Lettuce
Toss the wild rice Avocado, Apple,in the Lemon Juice, add the Raisins, and Almonds. Fold in the Mayo and Durkees Dressing. Chill for 2 hours and serve on a bed of the Lettuce leaves.
*Try adding Wild rice to a Waldorf Salad for a really tasty twist to an old favorite!
As a side dish for Chicken or Turkey try one of the options below!
- Wild Rice with Peas and Orange Segments:
- 3 cups cooked Wild Rice
- 1/2 stick Butter www.challengedairy.com
- 1 package frozen Green Peas with Pearl Onions
- 2 Tbs Orange Marmalade www.britishfoodshop.com/duerrs
- 1 tsp Orange zest
- 1 tsp Garlic Salt
- 1/4 tsp ground Nutmeg
Melt butter in sauce pan, add marmalade, orange zest, garlic salt, and nutmeg. Mix Peas, with Onions, and the Wild Rice in a baking dish toss with Butter mixture. Place in oven and heat thoroughly, serve!
** Use Plain Green Peas without the onions and add dried Cranberries if serving with Pork or Lamb!
- Wild Rice Jambalaya:
- 4 cups cooked Wild Rice
- 1 large Onion Chopped
- 1 Green Bell Pepper Diced
- 6 slices Bacon cut up
- 1 8 oz can Tomato Sauce www.hunts.com
- 1 tsp each dried Oregano, and dried Thyme
Render Bacon in a skillet till lightly browned add onion and cook till translucent. Add other ingredients and cook till heated through. I use this recipe as is for a base to serve grilled Halibut or Swordfish on with a simple brown Garlic Butter!
*** if serving as an entree add 1 cup each cooked diced ham/smoked sausage, and chicken or shrimp. A wonderful twist on an old "Creole" favorite!
Try adding cooked wild rice to Stews or Soups for an added treat! Add a little bit to Meatballs the next time you make a pasta dish, or just serve with butter and some herbs as a side dish anytime. Below are some brands I like of the product, I feel these are among the best on the market today. Please try Wild Rice it is such a great product and so Good for You!
Good Eats today and tomorrow…………………..www.greyowlwildrice.com www.tntwildrice.com www.gourmethouserice.com
