Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf (Print Version)

Nutty wild rice combined with golden sautéed mushrooms, vegetables, and fresh herbs. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and ready in one hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
02 - 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
03 - 1/2 cup water

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
08 - 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
09 - 1 medium carrot, diced

→ Herbs and Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds, optional

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a medium saucepan, bring the wild rice, vegetable broth, and water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Drain any excess liquid if necessary.
02 - While the rice cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until softened.
03 - Add the garlic and mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden and their moisture has evaporated.
04 - Stir in the thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute, then remove the bay leaf.
05 - Gently fold the cooked wild rice into the mushroom mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fresh parsley and optional toasted almonds. Serve warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes fancy but uses pantry staples and whatever vegetables you have around.
  • The wild rice gives it this nutty chew that feels more interesting than plain grains.
  • It works as a side dish or you can eat a big bowl of it for dinner and feel completely satisfied.
  • Leftovers actually get better after a day in the fridge.
02 -
  • Don't rush the mushrooms, if you stir them too much they'll steam instead of brown and you'll lose that deep flavor.
  • Wild rice can vary in cooking time depending on the brand, so start checking it around 40 minutes and add a splash more water if it's still too firm.
  • If there's extra liquid after the rice is done, just drain it off, don't keep cooking or it'll get mushy.
03 -
  • Toast the wild rice in a dry skillet for a few minutes before cooking it to deepen the nutty flavor even more.
  • Use a mix of mushroom varieties like shiitake, oyster, or porcini if you can find them, the different textures make every bite more interesting.
  • Let the finished pilaf rest off the heat for five minutes before serving so the grains firm up slightly and don't turn mushy when you scoop them.
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