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Pasta Chicken

How to cook wild rice

Published: May 11, 2014 | 16 Comments

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This is a basic recipe for how to cook wild rice. Cooked wild rice is a great ingredient to use in many delicious recipes or as a side dish to various meats.

How to cook wild rice, cooking wild rice, gluten free food, gluten free recipes

I’ve been cooking wild rice quite often lately, and I really enjoy mixing it up with all kinds of dry fruit, vegetables, spices, sauces. It’s a really versatile and delicious whole grain with quite an impressive nutritional record.

Benefits of wild rice

Here are some highlights:

  • Wild rice is gluten-free which is great for a gluten-free lifestyle.
  • It is also rich in dietary fiber and low in fat.
  • According to Wikipedia, when comparing wild rice to quinoa and oats in terms of protein content, wild rice takes a proud second place (after oats) in protein content per 100 calories, while quinoa is the third. Thanks to all that protein and fiber, eating wild rice is much healthier than other kinds of carbohydrates, plus it will keep you feeling full longer taming that appetite, again thanks to all that protein and fiber.
  • Finally, wild rice is a great source of certain minerals and B vitamins.

How do you know if wild rice is cooked?

  • Simmer the wild rice for about 45 minutes in boiling water until the rice is soft but not mushy and until most of the grains are popped.
  • You don’t want the wild rice to be tough and chewy, so be patient and cook just until it’s of the right softness.
  • Once the rice is cooked to the desired softness, drain extra water from the pan.

How to cook wild rice, cooking wild rice, gluten free food, gluten free recipes

Recipes with wild rice

  • Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet – easy comfort food, one of my favorite dinners.
  • Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Wild Rice with carrots and peas made in a skillet.

Wild rice is truly a great ingredient/resource to have in your pantry, and below are the simple instructions on how to cook it.

5 from 1 vote
Print
How to cook wild rice
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 

Cooking wild rice is easy!  It's healthy, nutritious and gluten free.  Here is how to cook it properly.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 142 kcal
Author: Julia
Ingredients
  • 1 cup wild rice
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Rinse the rice in a strainer to clean.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of wild rice, 4 cups of water (1 to 4 proportion), and salt and bring to boil on high heat.

  3. Reduce heat to medium or low and simmer/cook the rice for about 45 minutes, covered. 

  4. Cook until the rice is soft but not mushy and until most of the grains are popped. You don't want the rice to be tough and chewy, so be patient and cook just until it's of the right softness.  Once the rice is cooked to the desired softness, drain extra water from the pan.

  5. Season the rice with extra salt, if desired.

Nutrition Facts
How to cook wild rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 142
% Daily Value*
Sodium 15mg 1%
Potassium 170mg 5%
Total Carbohydrates 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 1g
Protein 5g 10%
Calcium 1.6%
Iron 4.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Recipe, Rice, Side Dish Published: May 11, 2014 16 Comments

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Comments

  1. Great recipe!

    Oct 24, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    Made your creamy chicken and wild rice skillet and cooked wild rice using this recipe! That creamy chicken wild rice was excellent!

    Reply
  2. Diana Gomez

    Jun 14, 2019 at 10:58 pm

    Do you cover it while it’s cooking for the 45min?

    Reply
    • Julia

      Jul 23, 2019 at 6:09 am

      Yes, cook it covered.

      Reply
  3. Lee

    Jan 15, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    I was trying for a looser rice consistency to add to a salad. Followed these directions and it came out mushy and clumped together closer to a risotto. Decrease water for use in salads would be my recommendation.

    Reply
    • Julia

      Feb 26, 2018 at 6:59 pm

      Thank you for your tip!

      Reply
  4. jocelyn

    Jan 03, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    I cook wild rice this way. Takes longer ..but every grain is soft fully opened. curly
    and not mushy.

    1 cup wild rice
    4 cups water.
    Bring both to boil.
    Turn down heat to simmer for 25 minutes (covered)
    Do not open lid at any time.
    Turn heat off.
    Let sit for 1 (one) hour
    Perfect wild rice.

    I cook wild rice differently.

    1 cup wild rice
    4 cups water.
    Bring to boil.
    Turn down heat to simmer.(covered)
    Cook 25 minutes
    Turn heat off for 1 (one) hour. Do not remove lid any time.
    Perfect fluffy, curly, soft but not mushy rice.!

    Reply
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