Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf (Printer-Friendly)

A nutty, hearty pilaf featuring wild rice and golden sautéed mushrooms with aromatic vegetables and fresh herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
02 - 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
03 - 1/2 cup water

→ Vegetables

04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 8 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
08 - 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
09 - 1 medium carrot, diced

→ Herbs & Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring the wild rice, vegetable broth, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40–45 minutes until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed. Drain any excess liquid if necessary.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until softened and fragrant.
03 - Add the garlic and sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown and their moisture has evaporated.
04 - Stir in the thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices, then remove and discard the bay leaf.
05 - Gently fold the cooked wild rice into the mushroom mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with fresh parsley and optional toasted almonds. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The wild rice gives you this incredible chewy texture that regular rice just cant match, and it feels special enough for holiday dinners but easy enough for Tuesday nights
  • Mushrooms and onions cooked down until they're practically golden candy make everything taste better, and the whole house smells amazing while it cooks
02 -
  • Wild rice takes longer to cook than regular rice, and you'll know it's done when some of the grains start to split open and reveal their white interior
  • Mushumes release a lot of water when they hit the pan, so don't rush this step, let them cook until they're deeply golden and almost crispy
03 -
  • Rinse the wild rice thoroughly under cold water before cooking to remove any debris or starch that might make it gummy
  • Don't skip the step of cooking the mushrooms until their liquid evaporates, or you'll end up with a watery pilaf instead of a rich one
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