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Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole

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Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese. It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup. But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade.

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese.  It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup.  But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe

For some reason I have really had to test these recipes this week. I don’t know why. Usually they’re pretty good right out of the gate, but not these three. This one in particular tripped me up the second time I made it. Of course, this one falls under the “there’s not enough natural light at dinner” like the others do. Even with daylight savings coming up there’s still not enough natural light. And pulling out the studio light is always less than ideal.

I have a BFA in applied photography. You would think I knew how to do this, but I learned with a full studio of both flood and strobe lights. And all the room in the world in the studio. Here? I have one light and one umbrella. Oh and about a 3 x 6 foot area to work with. I do the best I can.

Who invented rice pilaf?

Rice pilaf is document first in Persian texts. A scholar wrote some texts on cooking ingredients which included a version of rice pilaf. Of course, this method spread throughout landing in Spain with paella, Asian pilau, and Indian biryani.

While most countries use basmati rice, some countries like Armenia use a bulger to make pilaf. Some form of rice pilaf can be found from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan. Basically, from Eastern and Western Europe through to the Asian Pacific. That spans a large part of the globe. Crazy!

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese.  It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup.  But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe

How do you make rice pilaf?

Okay. When I was growing up we didn’t buy most of the convenience, prepackaged mixes. Macaroni and cheese. From scratch. Parmesan noodles. From scratch. Rice pilaf. From scratch. Of course it tastes better from scratch. But we rarely had wild rice with our pilaf.

For me, the basic recipe is oil, garlic, onion, rice, wine, broth, and aromatics. I saute the onions and garlic. Then I add in the rice and cook it until it turns opaque. I add the wine, if using. If not I’ll add a little chicken stock to deglaze the pan. Then the rest of the broth goes in with the herbs and spices. Cover and simmer 20 or so minutes until done. Simple.

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese.  It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup.  But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe

How to you keep the rice fluffy and not sticky?

There are a few tricks you can use to keep your rice fluffy and not sticky. The first thing I do is to rinse my rice. I put the rice in a bowl and cover it with cold water. Then I stick my hand in there and squeeze the rice through my fingers making sure to rub as much of the starch off the rice as I can.

You can toast your rice before putting it in the water. This will not only add extra flavor to your rice, but it also coats the grains with oil preventing them from sticking. If you go this route make sure to add hot water to the rice so it doesn’t slow down the cooking and possibly make your rice gummy.

I know it’s difficult, but once the timer goes off you have to let the rice sit. It needs to steam to become fluffy and delicious. And once it’s steamed, I take a fork and fluff the rice. This separates the grains and makes the rice airy and delicious. I usually add in some butter and garlic salt when I fluff rice. You should always flavor your rice after cooking.

How do you make Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole?

I totally planned on using rice and wild rice in this recipe. But I didn’t want to purchase a large container of wild rice. That’s kind of expensive. My usual grocery store didn’t have smaller packages. So, I thought, “Why not use a wild rice mix?” It has rice and wild rice. They would cook at the same time. And they have seasoning in the package. Besides that, it’s one of my favorite rice mixes.

For those that haven’t cooked wild rice, it takes FOREVER! It cooks longer than brown rice, which takes longer than white rice. And sometimes you must drain it when it’s finished cooking because it might not soak up all the liquid. When I tried to cook wild rice, it sort of exploded on me. Kind of like popcorn. So, I’m not ashamed to say I used a box mix for this recipe.

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese.  It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup.  But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe

I heated the pan up a little too hot when I made this the final time. So, I started with the mushrooms. I don’t know about you, but I like my mushrooms to have a little caramelization on them. I want them to be brown and have flavor. That’s why I was fine with starting them in the hot pan. When they released their juices and started to brown, I added the onions. When they start to turn translucent then I add the garlic.

Yes, I know most start with onions and garlic, but I don’t want either to burn. And if I start with the onions and garlic, the garlic gets too browned and turns bitter. That’s never a good flavor in any recipe. That’s why I started with the mushroom.

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese.  It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup.  But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe

Why do you toast the rice?

Toasting the rice serves a purpose. And I always toast my rice in the pan when I’m making any kind of pilaf. Including package pilafs. Toasting the rice adds flavor. For thar flavor to really develop, toast the rice longer than you think. Make sure the grains of rice are at least white and not the semi-translucent white of the raw kernels. Sometimes I toast it a light brown for a more nutty flavor.

The oil in the pan also coats the rice preventing it from sticking together. Box mix or from scratch, toasting the rice prevents clumping. This is a great time to use a flavored oil to add more flavor to your pilaf. I have 4 different infused olive oils on the counter. We use the garlic oil ALL THE TIME! But I also have a rosemary, basil, and harissa blend. I think there’s a mushroom and sage oil there, too. Don’t quote me on that one.

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese.  It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup.  But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe

When the rice is toasted everything goes into the pan minus the Parmesan. That’s saved for later. Yes, there’s cream of mushroom in there. If you don’t want to use it, then add an additional cup of cream. I like the additional mushroom flavor it adds to the recipe. But I understand how some might not want to use canned soup.

Cover your pan and put it in the oven. I was so thrilled when I realized I could BAKE the boxed rice mixes. This is a like a mind blown situation. Yes, I know they’re quick to cook on the stove, but sometimes I want to just kick things up and try something new. And knowing that I can bake rice give me so many ideas! Stay tuned.

When the rice is just about done, pull the dish and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Let it bake until the cheese is melted. Then let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. You want all the flavors to meld and just chill in the pan. And this recipe is so deliciously creamy and full of mushroom flavor. You’ll want to double it for leftovers. It’s THAT good.

Signature

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese. It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup. But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade. #HolidaySideDishes #ricepilaf #bakedrice #cheesyrice #easyrecipe #sidedish #HolidayRecipe
Yield: 12

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole

Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Mushroom and Wild Rice Casserole is packed with mushrooms and cheese. It’s a quick recipe using boxed rice pilaf mix and cream of mushroom soup. But there’s no denying it tastes totally homemade.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 3 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
  • 2 wild rice pilaf packages
  • 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 2 cups Gruyere
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
    2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    3. Sauté the onions until they begin to soften.
    4. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they release their juices; about 5 to 7 minutes.
    5. Stir in the thyme, sage, and rice from the packages.
    6. Cook the rice until it starts to turn white.
    7. Combine the cream of mushrooms soup with the chicken broth and cream.
    8. Stir in the seasoning package before adding the cream mixture and the Gruyere cheese.
    9. Bring to a boil.
    10. Cover and bake at 350 F for 20 to 25 minutes or until the rice is cooked through.
    11. Remove the cover, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and cook until the cheese is browned and bubbly.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 242Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 48mgSodium 516mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 10g

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Welcome to Holiday Side Dish Week 2022 hosted by Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks. This year we have over 45 side dishes to help you plan your holiday meals.

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