Wild Rice Casserole Hearty (Printable)

A hearty blend of wild rice, mushrooms, and vegetables baked to tender perfection with herbs and broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth, gluten-free if needed
03 - 1 cup water

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 cups cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
08 - 1 medium carrot, diced
09 - 1 celery stalk, diced
10 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
11 - 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

→ Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
14 - ½ teaspoon salt
15 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Dairy (optional)

16 - ½ cup grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese, optional for topping

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add mushrooms, carrot, celery, and red bell pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened and mushrooms release liquid.
04 - Stir in chopped spinach, thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until spinach wilts.
05 - Transfer wild rice, sautéed vegetables, vegetable broth, and water into the prepared baking dish. Mix thoroughly.
06 - Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour, until rice is tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
07 - Remove foil, sprinkle cheese evenly over top if using, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
08 - Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The wild rice develops this incredible chewy texture that stands up beautifully to the tender vegetables
  • Its one of those rare dishes that actually tastes better the next day as the flavors really settle in and become friends
02 -
  • Wild rice takes longer to cook than regular rice, so don't rush that hour in the oven or you'll end up with chewy, unpleasant grains
  • The casserole might look like too much liquid when you first assemble it, but trust the process and that rice will absorb everything beautifully
03 -
  • Rinse your wild rice thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove any bitterness
  • Don't skip the step of sautéing the vegetables first because that's where all the deep flavor develops
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