Cooking Wild Rice Blend: A Simple Stove-Top Guide

Wild rice is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads and soups to casseroles and side dishes. It has a nutty, earthy flavour and chewy texture, making it a great addition to any meal. Despite its name, wild rice is not actually rice but a type of aquatic grass indigenous to North America. It is also one of the most expensive grains due to the labour-intensive process of hand-harvesting.

To cook wild rice on the stove, start by rinsing the rice to remove any dust or debris. Then, add the rice to a pot of boiling water or broth, with a dash of butter or oil and salt to taste. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and simmer until the rice is tender, which usually takes around 45 minutes. Finally, drain the rice and let it steam for about 10 minutes. Your wild rice is now ready to be fluffed with a fork and served!

Rinse the rice

Rinsing the rice is an important step in the cooking process. It removes any dust or debris that may have settled on the grains during storage. To rinse the rice, place it in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it under cool, clean water. If you are using a rice cooker, you can also rinse the rice directly in the cooker before adding the water and starting the cooking process.

Rinsing the rice will ensure that your cooked rice is not sticky. It is also recommended to give the rice a good wash before cooking, even if you choose to soak it beforehand. Soaking the rice will reduce the cooking time and make it easier to digest, but it is not necessary. If you do decide to soak the rice, place it in a bowl and cover it with water for no more than 2-3 hours. Soaking it for longer will cause the rice to burst open before cooking.

Whether you choose to soak or rinse your rice, be sure to drain it thoroughly before adding it to the pot. This will ensure that your rice cooks evenly and that the water boils at the correct temperature.

Use a specific liquid to rice ratio

When cooking wild rice on the stove, the liquid-to-rice ratio is important to ensure your rice is cooked properly. The ratio will differ depending on whether you are cooking pure wild rice or a wild rice blend.

For pure wild rice, the ratio is 3 cups of liquid to 1 cup of rice. This will give you around 3 to 4 cups of cooked wild rice.

For wild rice blends, the ratio is slightly different. You will need 1 and 3/4 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of wild rice blend. This will give you around 3 and a half cups of cooked wild rice.

It is also worth noting that the type of wild rice you use may affect the cooking time. Hand-harvested wild rice tends to cook more quickly than cultivated wild rice. Hand-harvested rice may be ready in as little as 20 minutes, while cultivated wild rice may need 50 minutes or more.

When cooking wild rice on the stove, simply add the rice and liquid to a pot and bring it to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Allow the rice to simmer until it is tender but still has a slight bite. This should take around 35 to 55 minutes, depending on the type of rice. Finally, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand, covered, for about 10 minutes. This will allow the rice to steam and become fully tender.

You can use water, broth, or a combination of both as the liquid when cooking wild rice. Using broth will add more flavour to the rice. You can also add herbs, spices, or butter/oil for extra flavour.

Cook for 45-55 minutes

Once your wild rice blend is in the pot, you'll want to bring it to a boil. Then, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 45-55 minutes. If you're using soaked wild rice, it will take less time, around 20-30 minutes.

While your rice is cooking, it's a good idea to keep an eye on it, especially towards the end of the cooking time. This is because the water can evaporate at different rates depending on your stove and pot. If all the water evaporates, the rice will start to stick and burn onto the bottom of your pot. This is not only annoying to clean up but can also ruin your whole pot of rice as the burning flavour can permeate the rice.

After 45-55 minutes, turn off the heat and let the rice rest on the stovetop for 10 minutes. Then, fluff it with a fork and serve.

Let the rice steam

Once your wild rice blend has been rinsed, and you've added your liquid, salt, and butter or oil, it's time to let the rice steam.

First, bring the rice to a boil. Then, turn the heat down to low and let the rice simmer. For stovetop cooking, the rice should simmer for 40-45 minutes. If you're using a rice cooker, the rice will take around 45-55 minutes to cook. If you're cooking long-grain white rice, you'll want to simmer the rice for 18-20 minutes. For long-grain brown rice, it's 33-35 minutes. For basmati or jasmine rice, you'll want to simmer the rice for about 18 minutes.

After the rice has simmered, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand for an additional 5 minutes for stovetop cooking. For stovetop cooking, you can then fluff the rice with a fork and serve. For rice cooker instructions, let the rice rest for 10 minutes and then fluff it with a fork before serving.

Fluff with a fork

Once you've cooked your wild rice blend, it's time to fluff it with a fork! But what does that mean, exactly?

When rice is cooked, the grains can become compacted and stuck together. "Fluffing" the rice means using a utensil—typically a fork, but a spoon or spatula will also work—to separate the grains, introducing air and giving the rice a fluffier texture.

To fluff rice with a fork, rake it across the top of the rice and then stab the fork down into the rice and lift up sections. You can also use chopsticks to fluff rice. You don't want to stir or smush the rice, so use shorter, shallower motions.

If you're using a non-stick rice cooker, be aware that using a metal fork can scratch the surface. In this case, use the plastic or wooden rice scoop instead.

Frequently asked questions