A Quick Guide To Cooking Sprouts Wild Rice Blend

Sprouted Wild Rice is an aquatic grass native to North America and is the most tender of the rices. It can be soaked in water or cooked, and is delicious either way. It is also highly nutritious, with vitamins B, C and E, calcium, iron, magnesium, and more. To cook sprouts wild rice blend, you can use a stovetop, rice cooker, microwave, or pressure cooker. The stovetop method involves combining 1 cup of wild rice blend, 1 3/4 cups of liquid (water or broth), and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let it simmer for 45-50 minutes or until all the liquid has evaporated. The rice cooker method is similar, but with different proportions – 1 cup of wild rice, 2 cups of water, and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt. For the microwave method, place 1 cup of wild rice, 3 cups of water, and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt in a microwave-safe bowl and cook for 6 minutes on full power, then 25-30 minutes on medium power. Finally, the pressure cooker method involves rinsing 1.5 cups of wild rice blend, adding it to an instant pot with 2 cups of water or broth, and cooking on high pressure for 20 minutes.

How to cook sprouts wild rice blend in an Instant Pot

The instant pot method is hands-free and you can continue doing other tasks while the rice is cooking. You can get a no-fail recipe every single time.

Ingredients:

• Wild Rice Blend: You can buy the blend in the rice section at any grocery store or even buy it on Amazon.
• Water/ Broth: If using chicken or vegetable broth, use an unsalted one.
• Salt: You can skip it if you like.
• Butter/olive oil (optional): Butter/ Ghee enhances the smoothness and gives a richer aroma. Use olive oil or any other vegetable oil of your choice if vegan.

Method:

• Thoroughly rinse 1.5 cups of wild rice blend in water. I like to add the wild rice blend to a strainer and put it under tap water until the water runs clear.
• Add the cleaned wild rice to the instant pot steel insert.
• To cook the rice, add 2 cups of water or broth.
• Add a tablespoon of butter or oil to the pot if desired. You can also season it to your liking with salt.
• Set the pressure cooker to high pressure for 20 minutes.
• Allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure. Then open the lid.
• Gently fluff the wild rice with a fork. Your wild rice is now ready to eat.

Tips:

• Always buy fresh wild rice blend. It is prone to rancidity and has a shelf life of 6 months.
• Do not switch on the ‘keep warm’ button. If you leave the rice to sit for a longer period of time, it will continue to cook on the warm setting. As a result, the rice will dry out and stick to the bottom of the pot.
• Do not over-season the wild rice as you’ll be serving it with other flavorful main dishes.

How to cook sprouts wild rice blend in a rice cooker

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of sprouts wild rice blend
• 2 cups of water or broth
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon of butter or vegetable oil

Method:

• Rinse the sprouts wild rice blend and drain it.
• Rub the rice cooker insert with butter or vegetable oil.
• Add the rice, water or broth, and salt to the rice cooker. Stir the mixture.
• Select the brown rice or white rice option and let the rice cooker do its magic! The cooking time will be around 45-55 minutes.
• Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the rice rest for about 10 minutes.
• Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

Tips:

• Soaking the rice blend overnight will reduce the cooking time by half. However, if soaked for longer than 12 hours, the wild rice will burst open before cooking.
• If you want to add flavour to the rice, you can use vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.

How to cook sprouts wild rice blend on a stovetop

Ingredients

• Sprouts wild rice blend
• Water or broth
• Salt
• Butter or oil (optional)

Method

• Rinse the wild rice blend thoroughly under cold water. This will help to remove any dirt or debris that may be clinging to the grains.
• Combine 1 cup of wild rice blend, 1 3/4 cups of liquid (water or broth) and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a large saucepan or pot. If you're using water, the general rule of thumb is to use 2 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of wild rice. However, you can adjust this ratio depending on your preferred level of chewiness. If you're using broth, you can use less liquid (about 2 cups per cup of wild rice) to add extra flavor.
• Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer the wild rice blend, covered, for about 45-50 minutes. Continue simmering until all the liquid has been absorbed and the grains are tender.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it rest on the stovetop for 10 minutes.
• Fluff the wild rice blend with a fork and serve. You can enjoy it on its own or use it as a base for salads, stir-fries, casseroles, and more.

Tips:

• If you want to add extra flavor to your wild rice blend, you can cook it in chicken or vegetable broth instead of water.
• For a more nutritious option, consider soaking the wild rice blend in water for a few hours before cooking. Soaking helps to remove phytic acid, which can inhibit mineral absorption, and makes the rice cooks faster.

How to cook sprouts wild rice blend in a microwave

Firstly, it is important to note that cooking wild rice in a microwave is not recommended due to the long cooking time and the difficulty in achieving the right texture. However, if a microwave is the only option, here are the steps to follow:

• Place 1 cup of wild rice, 3 cups of water, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir the ingredients to ensure they are well combined.
• Cover the bowl with a large enough microwave-safe plate.
• Microwave on full power for 6 minutes. Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave, as it will be very hot, and give the contents a stir.
• Microwave on medium (50%) power for 25-30 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes.
• Most of the water should be absorbed, and the wild rice should be fully cooked and tender. If not, continue to microwave the wild rice in full-power intervals of 1 minute until it is fully cooked.

It is important to keep a close eye on the wild rice while it is cooking in the microwave, as the results and timing may vary based on the specific microwave being used. Additionally, some commercial wild rice brands may require more liquid, so it is recommended to keep an eye on the wild rice during the cooking process and add more boiling water if necessary.

How to serve sprouts wild rice blend

Salads

You can use a sprouts wild rice blend as a base for a salad. Add some vegetables, nuts, and herbs for a refreshing and nutritious dish.

Soups

The nutty flavour of sprouts wild rice blend can enhance the taste of soups. Try adding it to a chicken wild rice soup or a mushroom wild rice soup.

Casseroles

Sprouts wild rice blend can be a great addition to casseroles, providing a nutty flavour and a satisfying texture.

Buddha Bowls

For a vegan option, serve sprouts wild rice blend in a buddha bowl with sweet potatoes and quinoa.

Curries, Stews, and Veggies

The sprouts wild rice blend pairs well with a variety of curries, stews, and vegetables. It can be a great substitute for white rice.

Pilaf/Pulao and Khichdi

You can make a pilaf or pulao with sprouts wild rice blend, or even an Indian khichdi.

Vegetarian Burger Patties

The sprouts wild rice blend can be used as an ingredient in vegetarian burger patties, adding texture and flavour.

Frequently asked questions