Cook Wild Rice

Wild rice is a highly versatile, yet simple dish that complements most meats and vegetables quite nicely. Often mistaken for a grain, wild rice is actually a water-grass seed. This full-textured highly nutritious seed has been providing nourishment for centuries. It was a staple in the diet of Native Americans tribes from the Great Lakes Region.

Steps

Cooking Wild Rice on a Stovetop

1. Boil water. Pour 4 cups water into a medium size sauce pan. Place the sauce pan on the stovetop. Turn the burner on high and bring the water to a boil.
   • The pan you use must have a tight-fitting lid.
   • Instead of water, use chicken, beef, or vegetable broth.
2. Measure and rinse the rice. Pour 1 cup wild rice into a mesh strainer. Rinse the wild rice under cold water.
   • Rinsing the wild rice will remove any remaining hulls from the seeds.
   • 1 cup uncooked wild rice will yield between 3 to 4 cups cooked wild rice.
3. Add the wild rice to the sauce pan. Pour the rinsed wild rice into the medium sauce pan. As the water returns to a boil, stir the wild rice periodically.
   • At this time you can add a variety of seasonings to your wild rice. These include salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and/or bouillon cubes.
4. Reduce the heat and cover. When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. Place a tight-fitting lid on the sauce pan. Let the wild rice simmer until the seeds puff up and split. This will take approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
   • Check the wild rice periodically, but do not stir.
5. Fluff, drain, and serve. Remove the sauce pan from the heat. Take off the lid and fluff, or stir, the wild rice with a table fork. Pour the cooked wild rice into a mesh strainer to remove excess liquid. Transfer the wild rice to a dish and serve.
   • If your wild rice is holding a lot of liquid, return the strained seeds to the uncovered sauce pan. Cook the wild rice over low heat for approximately 1 minute and then serve.

Baking Wild Rice in the Oven

1. Preheat your oven. Set your oven to 350° F.
2. Rinse the wild rice. Measure out 1 cup of uncooked wild rice. Pour the wild rice into a mesh strainer and rinse the seeds under cold water.
   • Rinsing the wild rice will remove unwanted hulls from the seeds.
   • 1 cup uncooked wild rice will yield approximately 3 to 4 cups cooked wild rice.
3. Combine the wild rice and water. Pour the rinsed wild rice into a 2 quart covered glass dish. Add 3 cups cold water to the rice.
   • Instead of water, you can use chicken, beef, or vegetable broth.
4. Bake for 1 hour. Cover the dish and insert it into the oven. Bake the wild rice at 350° F for 1 hour.
5. Check the wild rice. After 1 hour, remove the dish from the oven. Use a table fork to fluff, or stir, the rice. If the wild rice appears dry, add more water to the dish.
   • If you used broth, add more broth instead of water.
6. Bake for 30 minutes. Cover the dish and return the fluffed wild rice to the oven. Bake the wild rice at 350° F for 30 minutes. After half an hour, remove the dish from the oven.
7. Strain, fluff and serve. Transfer the cooked wild rice to a mesh strainer to drain off any excess liquid. Pour the strained wild rice into a serving dish. Fluff the cooked seeds with a table fork and serve.
   • After you strain the wild rice, you can season it to taste.

Making Wild Rice in the Microwave

1. Rinse 1 cup wild rice. Measure 1 cup wild rice and pour the uncooked seeds into a mesh strainer. Place the strainer under a faucet and rinse the wild rice with cold water.
   • Wild rice must be rinsed before cooking to remove unwanted hulls.
   • 1 cup uncooked wild rice will yield between 3 to 4 cups cooked wild rice.
2. Combine the ingredients. Pull out a 2 quart glass covered casserole dish. Add the rinsed wild rice to the dish and 3 cups water.
   • For additional flavor, replace the water with chicken, beef, or vegetable stock.
3. Microwave the wild rice on "High." Put the dish in the microwave. Set your microwave to "High." Microwave the wild rice on "High" for 5 minutes.
4. Microwave the wild rice on "Medium." Set your microwave to "Medium." Cook the wild rice in the microwave for 30 minutes on "Medium." Let the dish rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Drain, fluff, and serve. Place the cooked wild rice in a strainer to remove excess liquid. Return the strained seeds to the glass dish. Fluff, or stir, the wild rice with a fork and serve.
   • Once you've strained the wild rice, you may season it with your favorite spices.

Fixing Wild Rice in a Rice Cooker

1. Rinse the wild rice. Pour 1 cup uncooked wild rice into a mesh strainer. Rinse the seeds under cold water.
   • This will remove any hulls left on the seeds.
   • 1 cup uncooked wild rice yields between 3 to 4 cups cooked wild rice.
2. Combine the ingredients. Transfer the rinsed wild rice to the rice cooker. Add 3 cups of water to the rice cooker.
   • You can substitute 3 cups chicken, beef, or vegetable broth for 3 cups water.
3. Cook the wild. Push the "Cook" button. Allow the wild rice to cook for approximately 1 hour. When the rice cooker is done, let the rice sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
   • Do not uncover the wild rice as it cooks.
4. Fluff and serve. Once done, remove the lid. Use a table fork to fluff, or stir, the cooked wild rice. Season to taste and serve.

Tips

• There are several ways to incorporate wild rice into main dishes with various seasonings and by adding cooked rice into casseroles, vegetables and even desserts.
• If the rice is not quite ready, return it to the heat source and cook for 5-to-10-minute intervals until fully cooked.
• Fully cooked rice will have a moist, chewy texture. Generally the seed kernels will pop open when cooked, revealing a cream colored center.

Warnings

• Do not overcook the rice as it will lose its flavor, nutritional value and be difficult to chew. The kernel will start to curl if the rice is being overcooked.
• Cooking appliances, rice and water will be very hot during and after cooking. Use proper oven mitts and utensils to protect your hands from burns.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup Wild rice
• 3 cups water or broth
• Measuring cup
• Cooking appliance: stove-top, oven, microwave, or rice cooker
• Medium saucepan with lid or covered casserole dish
• Spoon
• Fork
• Seasonings (optional)

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Sources and Citations

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