Description

A festive and hearty wild rice pilaf featuring toasted pecans, sweet-tart cranberries, and aromatic vegetables. Perfect as a holiday side or cozy winter dish.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup wild rice blend (about 200 g)
2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth (about 600 ml)
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup dried cranberries (about 60 g)
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped (about 60 g)
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Optional: 1/4 cup golden raisins or chopped dried apricots, or 1/2 cup diced mushrooms

Instructions

Toast the pecans in a small skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Remove and set aside.
In a medium pot, melt butter or heat olive oil. Add chopped onion and celery. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Stir in wild rice and toast lightly for 1–2 minutes to deepen the nutty flavor.
Pour in the broth. Stir once, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40–45 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Check the texture. If the rice is too firm, add a splash of broth and cook for 5–10 more minutes.
Remove from heat and fluff the rice gently with a fork. Stir in dried cranberries, toasted pecans, salt, and pepper.
Sprinkle chopped parsley on top just before serving for freshness and color.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add a drizzle of olive oil if desired.

Notes

Rinse wild rice before cooking to remove excess starch. Add cranberries at the end to prevent them from becoming mushy. For a vegan version, use olive oil and vegetable broth. The dish reheats well and can be made a day ahead.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: About 1 cup (200 g)
Calories: 220
Sugar: 8
Sodium: 250
Fat: 6
Saturated Fat: 1
Carbohydrates: 36
Fiber: 3
Protein: 5

Keywords: wild rice pilaf, cranberry pecan rice, holiday side dish, gluten-free, vegetarian, easy rice recipe