Wild Rice Pilaf
This Post is sponsored by Hamilton Beach. All opinions are my own.
Wild Rice Pilaf is an easy side dish packed with savory flavor from celery, onion and mushrooms along with crunchy water chestnuts. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser, which makes it perfect for holiday gatherings.
Grandma’s Comfort Food
Fall is making a big appearance here in Minnesota. Last night we went out for dinner and I had to wear a jacket for the first time in I don’t know how long AND I slept with my down comforter for the first time in months. Summer will always be my favorite season, but Fall is definitely my next favorite.
This Fall weather gets me to thinking about the holidays and all of the yummy food that goes along with them. That reminded me of a wild rice dish that my Grandma used to make.
I don’t have the recipe, but I remember it being a baked dish that was full of celery, onion, mushrooms and crunchy water chestnuts and I always loved it. So, I decided to set out and come up with my own version of this favorite.
Let a Rice Cooker Do All the Work
This recipe makes a big batch of wild rice pilaf, so it’s perfect for a holiday gathering. I think it would be a scrumptious side dish for Thanksgiving, because it pairs really well with poultry. It’s also fantastic with grilled or sautéed chicken breasts.
Instead of baking my wild rice pilaf like my Grandma did, I made it in my Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker. After a little prep work and quickly sautéing the veggies, the rice cooker does all the work. It’s totally fool-proof and turns out perfectly.
When the rice is cooked to perfection, the rice cooker beeps to let you know it’s finished. If you’re not ready to serve the dish, it will automatically switch to warm and will keep the rice warm for up to 12 hours.
Appliance Versatility
The Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker and Hot Cereal cooker is not a one trick pony, it does so much more than cook rice. It will cook hot cereal to perfection and with it’s delay start feature, you can have your cereal hot and ready for you in the morning.
It can also seem veggies, fish and chicken, even while it cooks rice. I also love the large capacity, it has a 4-20 cup cooked rice capacity, making it so convenient if you’re feeding a crowd.
More Delicious Wild Rice Recipes
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Make Ahead Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
- Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice and Apple
- Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruit and Almonds
- Wild Rice Stuffing
- Easy Baked Chicken with Wild Rice Stuffing
Wild Rice Pilaf
Wild Rice Pilaf is an easy side dish packed with savory flavor from celery, onion and mushrooms along with crunchy water chestnuts. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser, which makes it perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 ribs celery, sliced
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
- 1 1/2 cups wild rice, rinsed
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add celery, onion and mushrooms to skillet. Saute until onions are translucent and mushrooms have released their moisture, about 5 minutes.
- Combine all ingredients, except parsley, in the rice cooker or a large pot.
- Select whole grain setting.
- If cooking on the stovetop, bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 1-1 1/4 hours, until the liquid has been absorbed.
- Stir in parsley right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 129Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 565mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g
If you’d like your own rice cooker, you can purchase one here OR leave me a comment below telling me what you’d like to make in your rice cooker for your chance to win a Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker. A winner will be randomly selected on October 12th, 2016. Good luck!
ENJOY!
I can’t believe that we’ve never made rice pilaf, I think it’s because I was somewhat mystified by the whole concept. Thanks to this beautiful post, the mystery seems to be solved! This Hamilton Beach rice cooker and hot cereal cooker would look great on our kitchen counter; I have a feeling one is in our future! Thanks for the great job with this recipe!
Thanks! I hope you give this a try, it’s so easy and it tastes amazing!
I just love everything about this dish!
I’d definitely make this dish with that rice cooker!
Thanks, Julie!
I LOVE this recipe. I would love to be able to try out that cooker! I would make “sweet rice” My mom made it when I was a kid. It’s almost like a hot cereal, but it’s white rice, flavored with cinnamon and raisins. One of my favorites as a kid.
Thanks, Michaela! Your mom’s rice sounds delicious!
What a wonderful side dish! I have a small rice cooker that I use all the time. I actually wish it was a little bigger. It is definitely one of my most often used kitchen appliances.
Thanks, Michelle! I have a smaller rice cooker, too, and this larger one works so much better!
This sounds wonderful. I love all kitchen gadgets and this product seems like a must have.
Thanks, Patty! I really love this rice cooker, it works like a dream!
This looks fantastic – I’m ALWAYS looking for new side dish recipes and this ones going on the menu 😉
Thanks! You’ll love it!
I’d love to win one of these. My rice cooker is getting old and I need a new one. I use it all the time. Usually just for plain white and brown rice, but I want to try your recipe.
I love this rice cooker, it’s great for plain rice!
Great idea – wild rice and mushrooms are my jam.
Thanks, Jenny!
Love your recipe! A great side dish that can easily be turned into a meal! So tasty!
I absolutely ADORE pilaf, but never made it with Wild rice! This look absolutely delicious! Such a great idea! 🙂
I’d love to try your pilaf, it looks delicious! I’d use the rice maker for jambalaya!
I’ve never had a rice cooker and this one looks amazing! I’d love to be able to make a big batch of rice; my cub scouts and I cook meals for a community center and it would be a big help for that.
Also, your photos are stunning and the dish is just gorgeous 🙂
I’m looking forward to trying some steel cut oats in there
I love using my rice cooker but I need to step up my game for sure! The water chestnuts in this recipe are a great addition to the rice!!
I would love to win the rice cooker. I’ve been wanting to try to make a delicious oatmeal with pumpkin in it. Of course, I’d have to use some spices to bring out the pumpkin spice flavor. Maybe a little nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger would do the trick. Good luck to everyone entering!!
I’d like to try and make grits to go with my shrimp and grits recipe.