When it comes to the holidays, I am all about the side dish recipes. Some of our favorites include cornbread casserole, sausage stuffing, Southern mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and honey roasted carrots. This wild rice pilaf is also on my must-make list, it’s perfectly sweet and savory and is so festive. There’s nothing like a good rice pilaf, and this version happens to be my favorite. It’s loaded with sweet and savory ingredients and is full of different flavors and textures. I could make a whole meal out of this rice! It’s a great option for the holidays, and pairs especially well with bacon wrapped pork loin, spatchcock turkey, slow roasted prime rib and dry brined turkey.
Rice Pilaf Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need wild rice blend, chicken broth, butter, onion, Granny Smith apples, dried cranberries, pecans, rosemary, parsley, salt and black pepper.
How Do You Make Rice Pilaf?
Place the wild rice and chicken broth in a large pot, then simmer the rice according to package directions until it is soft and all the liquid is absorbed. Fluff the rice with a fork. Melt the butter in a pan or large skillet, and add the onion. Cook until the onion is soft, then add the apples and cook for a few more minutes. Pour the cooked rice into the pan with the onions and apples, and stir. Add the cranberries, pecans, rosemary and parsley to the pan, then mix everything together. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
This recipe calls for a wild rice blend, which is a mix of different types of rice. It includes black wild rice, red rice and brown rice. You can make this rice pilaf up to a day in advance. Cover it and store in the fridge in an airtight container, then reheat in a pan over low heat. You may need to add a little more butter when you reheat the rice if the mixture seems dry from being in the fridge. Wild rice can take a while to become tender, so plan accordingly with your time!
Flavor Variations
This dish is great as-is, but you can easily add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Grains: Try a different type of grain such as quinoa, orzo pasta, white rice, farro, barley or even couscous. Fruit: Use dried cherries, raisins, dried apricots or Bosc pears. Nuts: No pecans on hand? Walnuts, almonds, pine nuts or pistachios will also work. Flavorings: Amp up the flavor by adding green olives, a dash of cinnamon garlic, bacon, celery or even cooked sausage.
This wild rice dish has it all, and it’s sure to get rave reviews from family and friends. It’s so full of color that it’s almost too pretty to eat!
Rice Pilaf Video
