This Cranberry rice is one of the most intoxicatingly delicious rice dishes I have ever consumed
Back in my 3rd month of blogging I had the giddy idea to simmer rice in apple juice for my Cheesy Apple Juice and Dijon Chicken Broccoli and Rice Skillet. It might sound way out there – but it is positively delicious! So as I was preparing to make this Wild Rice Pilaf, I remembered my beloved apple juice simmered rice and knew just what to do. Thankfully, as I explained in my past post, I always have apple juice on hand thanks to “Pass Out Park” when Kiwi and Patrick saved my life. Apple juice is just one of the ingredients that help make this Wild Rice Pilaf so magical. It is one of the most intoxicatingly delicious rice dishes I have ever consumed. And consume I did. I was shooting two recipes the day I photographed this Wild Rice Pilaf – the rice and my Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake. I shot the wild rice first and the cake second, so every trip back to the kitchen, I would pause and eat more rice – I could barely tear myself away. And each time I did, I just made another excuse to head back to the kitchen for more rice. Shooting that cake took twice as long as it should have.
What is Wild Rice & is it different than Rice Pilaf?
Pilaf refers to both the name of the dish and the method of which the rice is prepared rather than the type of rice used. So you can use wild rice in pilaf to make Wild Rice Pilaf. I chose to use a wild rice mix in this Wild Rice Pilaf instead of basmati or other white rices because of its inherent chewy, nutty texture that is hard to overcook. Wild Rice Pilaf remains wonderfully al dente so it not only reheats beautifully but pairs with other add-ins from nuts to dried fruit extremely well. Wild Rice looks like long-grain rice with a brownish-blackish color but it is not actually rice at all but a highly nutritious grain. It boasts a toasty, nutty, earthy flavor and is deliciously filling. Wild Rice comes from long-grain marsh grass that grows in the shallow waters of lakes, rivers, and bays. Today, the vast majority of the wild rice sold in the United States is cultivated in controlled fields similar to rice paddies. Wild rice is covered in a hard, inedible husk which has to be removed before selling, making it an incredibly labor intensive product. After wild rice is harvested, the grains are left in moist piles to mature. The Wild Rice is then toasted over a fire to dry out and make the husk easier to remove. This time consuming process and the fact that wild rice must grow in a controlled wet environment is why it remains relatively more expensive than rice and why it is often found in “wild rice blends” like we are using in this Wild Rice Pilaf recipe.
Why this is the best wild rice blend
This Wild Rice Pilaf recipe calls for a wild rice blend. Wild Rice Blends are an exciting blend of rices, which give you complementary firm, fluffy cooked textures and robust, nutty, earthy vibrant flavors. I use Lundberg Wild Blend Rice which is made of long grain brown rice, sweet brown rice, wild rice, whole grain wehani rice, whole grain black japonica rice. You can find wild rice blends pre-packaged in a bag, box, or in the bulk bins at Sprouts. If your wild rice package comes with a seasoning packet, you can discard that for our purposes.
How to make the best wild rice pilaf
This Cranberry, Apple, Pecan Wild Rice is perfect for the holidays, company, or just to exceed your everyday deliciousness quota and even more perfect because its cooked in one pot and there is hardly any “hands on” time. The apple juice, Dijon, butter infused Wild Rice Pilfa is sweet and tangy, savory and buttery but not overpowering – just addicting. So overpowering in a different way – will overpowering – with one bite you won’t be able to stop!
Variations of this cranberry rice
For this holiday version of Wild Rice Pilaf, I’ve chosen to add dried cranberries, apples and pecans. The dried cranberries add pockets of sweetness while the apples balances with a subtle tart and the toasted pecans add a hearty, salty crunch for the most satisfying mouthful of rice you will ever eat. Mouthful after mouthful, after mouthful… You can choose to substitute the pecans with thinly sliced almonds, pistachios or pepitas. You can substitute the craisins for dried cherries or raisins but I do recommend some sort of dried fruit to add the needed sweetness. You could also add feta but be aware it will introduce more of a tangy element.
How to make the best wild rice in advance
Yes! Wild Rice Pilaf reheats exceptionally well and is ideal for holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. If making in advance, then follow cooking instructions except hold the cranberries and pecans and add them in when you reheat the rice. You might want to volunteer to bring the side to Thanksgiving this year but please don’t wait that long to make this Cranberry, Apple, Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf. You deserve its deliciousness sooner. Like today.
LOOKING FOR MORE RICE RECIPES?
Mexican Style Rice Cilantro Lime Rice Coconut Ginger Rice with Black Beans Cilantro Lime Avocado Rice Greek Lemon Rice Parmesan Risotto Coconut Rice with Pineapple and Cashews
Looking for more Thanksgiving Recipes?
Dijon Maple Green Beans with Caramelized Pecans, Bacon & Feta Ambrosia Salad with Cranberries and Pomegranates Cranberry Apple, Bacon, Candied Walnut Salad Cornbread Sausage Stuffing Blueberry Maple Cornbread Muffins Herb Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Gruyere Slow Cooker Secret Ingredient Mashed Potatoes Double Layer Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecake
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