What Is Wild rice and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about wild rice and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 127 recipes to cook tonight.

What is wild rice?

Wild rice is the dark, glossy, almost black grain you see flecked through pilafs and holiday stuffings. Despite the name it is not true rice at all.

It is the seed of an aquatic grass native to the lakes and rivers of North America, and it cooks and tastes nothing like the white rice it sits next to on the shelf.

What you get is a long, slender grain with real chew and a deep, nutty, almost smoky flavor.

It is a cousin to the everyday rice in our broader rice family, but it brings far more texture and a richness that holds its own against bold ingredients.

Cooking Wild Rice

Plan for time. Wild rice takes 45 to 60 minutes to cook, far longer than white rice, so it is not a last-minute side.

Use roughly 1 part rice to 3 parts water or broth and simmer it covered.

The grain is done when the hulls split open and curl back to show the paler interior. At that point it should be tender but still chewy, never mushy. Cook it until it bursts completely and it turns gluey, losing the bite that makes it worth the wait.

Cooking it in broth instead of water is the easiest upgrade, since the grain soaks up flavor over that long simmer. Drain off any water it has not absorbed before serving.

Where It Earns Its Place

Wild rice loves company. Its chew and woodsy flavor pair naturally with mushrooms, toasted nuts, dried fruit, and poultry, plus earthy herbs like thyme and sage. That is why it lands in so many autumn and holiday dishes.

It is a natural in soups, where it holds its shape instead of dissolving. Creamy Leftover Turkey, Veggies & Wild Rice Soup leans on exactly that staying power.

In salads it gives a hearty base that does not go soggy, as in Wild Rice & Artichoke Salad or the bright Quinoa, Wild Rice Salad with Cherry & Grapes.

It also makes a memorable stuffing or pilaf for game and poultry, and Wild Rice & Barley Pilaf shows the classic trick of blending it with a milder grain.

That blending is the smart move, and it solves the price problem too. True wild rice is pricey, so most boxed "wild rice" is a blend with brown or long grain rice.

A blend also evens out the cooking, since the two grains finish closer together than wild rice does on its own.

Substitutes

There is no exact swap for that chew and color, but a few come close.

Black rice, sometimes called forbidden rice, gives a similar dark look and nutty flavor with a softer bite.

Brown rice or a brown and wild blend works in pilafs and soups, though it cooks faster and lacks the smokiness. For salads, hulled barley or farro brings the same chew if not the same flavor.

Buying and Storing

Look for long, unbroken grains. A uniform jet-black, machine-polished look often means a cultivated paddy grain, while true lake-harvested wild rice runs more brown to charcoal and uneven. Both cook fine.

Because the grain keeps its oily germ, wild rice can turn rancid like brown rice does. Store it airtight in a cool, dark cupboard for a few months, or in the freezer for up to a year.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find wild rice: Wild rice is usually found in the rice & beans section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Wild rice is a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

茭

British (UK) term

Wild rice

en français

riz sauvage

en español

arroz salvaje

How much does wild rice weigh?

Related

Cereal Grains and Pasta

Recipes using wild rice

There are 127 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Wild Rice Spoon Bread

Delicious but a bit salty...I think 1/2 tsp of salt would be sufficient.

Turkey Leftover Soup

Turkey leftover soup is a creamy post-Thanksgiving bisque with wild and white rice, scallions, crumbled bacon, cubed turkey, and a splash of sherry. The Friday lunch that makes Thursday's bird worth it.

Quinoa, Wild Rice Salad with Cherry & Grapes

Quinoa, wild rice, sweet cherries and grapes are tossed with celeries, feta cheese and a tasty vinaigrette. You will be impressed by both yummy flavor and great texture.

Crockpot Wild Rice Meatball Chili

A slow cooker chili that uses wild rice meatballs (store-bought to save time), black beans along with traditional chili seasonings.

Wild Rice & Artichoke Salad

Love this salad. We jut had some leftover wild rice, and we didn't have sweet bell pepper, so used the picked hot cherry pepper instead, also added some sliced celery and smoked tofu. It came out delicious. A very good side dish or can be a wholesome and tasty main dish as well.

Breakfast Wild Rice & Mushroom Frittata

Wild rice, mushroom and egg mixture, sprinkling Parmesan cheese and prosciutto on top, under boiling melted cheese with brown edges prosciutto, there are all the nutrition you need as a breakfast, wild rice gives you extra fiber, a good start of a day.

Creamy Leftover Turkey, Veggies & Wild Rice Soup

Great soup, lots of textures from the different veggies, fresh clean taste with lots of meat. Seems quite healthy as well, creamy without using cream and chock full of veggies.

Brown Jasmine Rice Salad

A vibrant chilled rice salad tossing wild and basmati rice with snow peas, green beans, cucumber, oranges, and Granny Smith apples in a ginger-soy-honey-lime sauce. Fresh, crunchy, and full of contrast.

Sausage & Wild Rice Stuffing

Sausage and wild rice stuffing with mushrooms, sage, and parsley. A savory, nutty stuffing for chicken, turkey, duck, or squab that comes together in 30 minutes.

Wild Rice Stuffing

Hearty wild rice stuffing with toasted walnuts, turkey giblets, and fresh herbs simmered in chicken broth. Sized for a 15-pound turkey, this is your new Thanksgiving centerpiece side.

Rice & Lentil Salad

Wild rice and lentil salad with brown rice, tri-color bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs in a fat-free tomato-herb vinaigrette. A colorful, high-fiber grain salad.

Simple Wild Rice Stuffed Turkey

Whole roasted turkey stuffed with wild rice, brandy-soaked apricots, and rosemary, basted in garlic-herb butter. A stunning holiday centerpiece that feeds 10.

Long Beans with Wild Rice

Stir-fried long beans (or green beans) with red bell pepper and nutty wild rice, finished with a touch of sugar for balance. Quick, light side dish for any main.

Wild Rice & Hazelnut Salad

Chewy wild rice tossed with toasted hazelnuts, orange-soaked currants, crisp apple, and fresh fennel in a citrus vinaigrette. A stunning grain salad for any season.

Breast of Chicken Aloha

Coconut-crusted chicken breasts fried golden in clarified butter, topped with a rich mushroom sour cream sauce and glazed pineapple rings. A retro Hawaiian-inspired showstopper served over wild rice.

Lima Bean & Leek Soup

Hearty lima bean and leek soup with lentils, wild rice, and a meaty broth built from disintegrated lentils. Easily made vegan and packed with plant protein.

Garlic Soup with Barley & Wild Rice

Vegan garlic soup with pearl barley, wild rice, potatoes, carrots, and celery. Built on a base of 25 mashed garlic cloves simmered in water. Hearty, restorative, and gluten-free with tamari.

Favourite Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

Chicken and wild rice soup with shiitake mushrooms, shallots, and fresh parsley in a clear chicken broth. A lighter, brothier version than cream-based diner soups. Uses leftover rotisserie chicken or turkey.

Wild Rice Casserole

Wild rice casserole with earthy mushrooms, onion, and garlic baked slowly in vegetable broth. A five-ingredient, hands-off side dish or vegetarian main with deep nutty flavor.

Marinated Wild Rice with Mushrooms

Marinated wild rice salad with porcini and white mushrooms, julienned carrots, walnuts, and Dijon vinaigrette. A make-ahead grain salad that gets better as it sits.

Mushroom Wild Rice Chowder

Mushroom wild rice chowder with curry, cinnamon, and soy milk, topped with toasted almonds. A dairy-free, warmly spiced chowder that's hearty and ready in 30 minutes.

Okra Rice with Chicken & Mole Orange Sauce

Seared chicken breast with Mexican ancho mole-orange sauce served alongside okra rice with wild rice, almonds, and cilantro-yogurt finish. Layered weeknight dinner.

Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup

Wild rice and mushroom soup simmered in vegetable stock with red wine, bell pepper, and parsley. A vegan, broth-based soup with earthy depth and chewy wild rice in every spoonful.

Wild Rice with Chestnuts

Wild rice with dried chestnuts, currants, aniseed, shallots, and orange zest. Includes both pressure cooker and stovetop methods. An elegant vegetarian side dish.

Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf

Pecan wild rice pilaf with wheat pilaf, dried currants, fresh mint, orange zest, and Italian parsley. A festive room-temperature side dish for holiday tables.

Cream of Chicken Soup with Wild Rice

Cream of chicken soup with wild rice made from scratch: homemade broth from a poached chicken, nutty wild rice, mushrooms, and a velvety roux finished with a splash of white wine. Northwoods comfort in a bowl.

Squash Soup for One (Or 2 Not So Hungry People)

Roasted acorn squash soup with garlic, wild rice, and a kick of cayenne. A cozy single-serving bowl that's vegan-friendly and loaded with warm spice.

Wild Zucchini Rice Salad

Wild rice and zucchini salad with brown rice, grated zucchini, avocado, spinach, tomato, and bell pepper. A colorful vegetarian grain salad that works as a main dish or side.

Wild Rice & Grains

Wild rice with butter-warmed green and purple grapes and fresh parsley. An unexpected sweet-savory side dish where juicy grapes burst against nutty, chewy wild rice.

Holiday Loaf

Vegan holiday loaf with brown rice, wild rice, walnuts, and Thanksgiving herbs baked until firm. A plant-based main for Thanksgiving served with mushroom gravy.

Wild Rice-Cucumber Salad [T]

Wild rice cucumber salad with red bell pepper and scallions, tossed with your favorite dressing. A nutty, crunchy grain salad that's naturally vegan and high in fiber.

Cooked Wild Rice

Cooked wild rice with bacon and butter: nutty, chewy wild rice simmered to tender, then tossed with crisp bacon julienne and a knob of butter. A simple side that eats like a meal.

Wild Rice

Creamy wild rice and brown rice pilaf cooked in blended tofu and water with sauteed celery, onion, rosemary, and lemon juice. A protein-rich side dish with a silky, creamy texture.

Wild Herbed Rice

Wild and brown rice pilaf with a full pound of fresh mushrooms, thyme, parsley, and optional pecans, simmered in chicken broth. A nutty, earthy side dish for holiday tables.

North Wood Clam Chowder

Minnesota-style clam chowder loaded with wild rice, potatoes, mushrooms, and cream. A Northwoods twist on New England chowder, finished with a splash of sherry before serving.

Simple Wild Rice

Simple wild rice simmered in water with olive oil until cracked and puffy. A basic three-ingredient method for cooking wild rice with a nutty, chewy texture every time.

Green Rice

Green rice made with wild rice and brown rice cooked in chicken broth, then tossed with sauteed green pepper, scallions, parsley, and garlic. All done in the microwave for a hands-off side dish.

Wild Rice with Mushrooms (Satterly/Maclellan)

Wild rice simmered with soy and Worcestershire sauce, then tossed with mushrooms, onions, and green pepper sautéed in ghee. A nutty, savory vegetarian side with earthy depth.

Wild Wild Dinner

Oven-baked wild rice with wild mushrooms and balsamic onions stirred in partway through. A hands-off vegetarian main with just five ingredients.

Wild Rice Crepes

Vegan wild rice crepes stuffed with a savory trio of shiitake, oyster, and button mushrooms, finished with a silky nutty almond sauce. Elegant plant-based entertaining at its finest.

Corn & Grilled Sweet Potato Chowder

Grilled sweet potatoes, corn, and poblano peppers meet wild rice in this smoky vegetable chowder brightened with lime and fresh thyme. Grill or roast for depth.

Salmon-Wild Rice Pasty Filling

Salmon and wild rice pasty filling with sauteed scallions, red bell pepper, garlic, and a sweet chutney accent. A creative twist on traditional hand pies.

Wild Rice Salad

Chilled wild rice chicken salad tossed with sweet green grapes, crunchy water chestnuts, and cashews in light mayo. A refreshing make-ahead lunch or potluck crowd-pleaser that serves six.

Chicken Wild Rice Dish

Make-ahead chicken and wild rice casserole loaded with mushrooms, red bell pepper, celery, and low-fat cheddar. Assemble the night before and bake when you're ready. Feeds a crowd.

Wild Rice Dressing

Light and earthy wild rice dressing with brown rice, fresh mushrooms, celery, and watercress simmered in thyme-scented broth. A wholesome holiday side dish that won't weigh you down.

Arroz Con Pollo with Brown & Wild Rice

Arroz con pollo built on a hearty mix of brown and wild rice instead of white. Browned chicken simmered with tomatoes, white wine, almonds, peas and a Latin-style sofrito of onion, garlic and paprika.

Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing

A simple and delicious dish that is perfect to make when your family's tired of the same old dry turkey.

Manitoba Wild Rice

Manitoba wild rice baked casserole with bacon, mushrooms, and beef stock. Nutty, earthy wild rice simmered then finished in the oven for deep savory flavor.

Duck with Pine Nut Wild Rice

Roast duckling glazed with apricot basting sauce, served with wild rice studded with toasted pine nuts, chopped pears, and currants. An elegant holiday centerpiece.

Why Be Normal Burger

Why Be Normal Burger mixes ground turkey with wild rice, whole cranberry sauce, and cooking wine for a Thanksgiving-inspired grilled burger. Anything but ordinary.

All 127 recipes