Wild Rice Blend With Mushrooms, Caramelized Shallots And Toasted Pecans
If you need an easy gluten free side dish for a holiday dinner or a weeknight meal, this rice dish would be perfect. It is a wonderful savory blend of wild, long grain white, brown and red rice combined with flavorful mushrooms, caramelized shallots and crunchy toasted pecans.
This flavorful side dish is made with a blend of several varieties of rice, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized shallots, pecans and seasoned with fresh thyme. It is a wonderful combination of savory flavors, colors and textures that will go with most main course entrees…be it a ham or roasted turkey for the holidays, a filet of beef, grilled fish or a simple chicken piccata like I served it with.
For this recipe, I used a blend that contained white, brown, wild and red rice which cooked in less than 20 minutes. The rice blend that you use may take longer, nevertheless, it is still an easy dish to prepare.
Wild Rice Blend With Mushrooms, Caramelized Shallots And Toasted Pecans
Yields approximately 3 cups, adjust the recipe accordingly.
- 1 c. long grain and wild rice mix, cooked according to pkg. directions
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 – 2 Tbsp. butter
- 1 banana shallot or 2 medium shallots, cut lengthwise and then sliced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 6 oz. mushrooms such as button, baby bella or shiitake, trimmed and sliced
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
- salt anf pepper to taste
- 1/2 c, toasted pecans, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley, as garnish
Prepare rice mix according to package directions and keep warm.
In the meantime, add enough olive oil to thinly coat the surface a sauté pan. Add the shallots and garlic, season with salt and pepper then cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until the shallots are soft, and caramelized. Remove to a mixing bowl and set aside.
Add butter to the sauté pan over medium-high heat. When melted, add the mushrooms, thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Let the mushrooms sear, undisturbed, until they begin to turn golden. Toss the mushrooms and continue cooking, adding another Tbsp. of butter if needed. Stir occasionally, until the mushrooms are brown and beginning to crisp around their edges.
Add the mushrooms to the caramelized shallots then stir in the pecans. Fluff the cooked rice with a fork then add to the mushroom mixture. Gently fluff until combined, taste for any additional seasoning then place in a serving bowl if serving family style or plate and garnish with parsley, if desired.
Rice should not be stirred while it is cooking because it can make it sticky.
Additional ingredients such as cooked vegetables or cooked diced meats can be mixed into the finished rice.
You can substitute the pecans with other nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts or pine nuts if you wish.
This dish is easily adapted from a family sized portion to amounts that will serve a large crowd.
If you need to reheat the rice, sprinkle with just enough water or broth to moisten it and microwave covered until it’s hot.
notes from the kitchen
****
When you are looking for a recipe that both your family or your dinner guests will enjoy, this flavorful side dish might be just what you are looking for. While easy to make, it is special enough for serving at a holiday meal. I hope you will enjoy it as much as my husband and I do.
Yes, a perfect side for the holidays and so much easier than trying to reheat mashed potatoes made earlier in the day! (I always burn the bottom.) And this rice dish has so much more flavor, too.
Karen, this looks delicious; and, knowing you, I’m sure it is! Will be making it as soon as I have my kitchen back.
Beautiful, I love embellished rice.
I can just imagine eating this in the cool of autumn. It would be so filling and satisfying.
This looks really delicious! Yum!
That looks delicious – I’m tempted to make it and add some chopped bacon.
This looks like such a lovely comfort food recipe – yum!
It looks like a wonderful meal, I love the chicken with capers too.
angiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
Karen, this a lovely side dish and we always enjoy any rice dish!
Looks delicious Karen as does the chicken.
Great side dish, love the toasted pecans for texture and flavor. It looks delicious alongside your chicken piccata.
My kind of side dish Karen, it sounds wonderful!
Jenna
Looks and sounds very delicious!
Oh Karen! You’ve hit every note here. I love everything about this recipe and only wish I could have some tonight! LOL!
Terrific! I love rice, and the addition of caramelized onions, mushrooms, pecans, and herbs is simply perfect. I think the addition of sweet notes (i.e., dried apricots or raisins) would have been lovely, too.
this sounds great. all the rices with caramelised shallots sounds like a winner.
This rice dish looks absolutely delicious! The combination of wild rice, mushrooms, caramelized shallots, and toasted pecans sounds divine. I can’t wait to try it out for a cozy dinner. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!
Nice work! I have a feeling I could eat this rice as a meal, especially with those sautéed mushrooms. Maybe I could scramble a little sausage into It.
A delicious way to serve rice. Every ingredient sounds perfect together. Happy Thanksgiving, Karen!
Susan @ https://savoringtimeinthekitchen.blogspot.com/
I’m ALWAYS in need of a good side and this looks delicious!
Karen, this looks wonderful! And I happen to be on the lookout for Rice Ideas just now because I am overstocked on rice and need to start having rice much more often. And shallots, mushrooms, and pecans all in one dish is sure to make me happy!
That was me, Karen (with the rice surplus!). Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
This is a delicious side dish, and it will go with anything. We love wild rice, and look forward to trying your recipe, thanks Karen!
Yummy caramelized shallots and toasted pecans 😋