Creamy Wild Rice Soup Recipe Using Cream Cheese

CREAM OF WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Bring 4 to 6 cups of water to a boil. Add the wild rice and salt. Cook until the wild rice is tender to the bite, about 30 minutes. Drain and set the rice aside.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the ham, bacon, or pancetta to the pot if using. Cook, stirring now and again until the meat is sizzling, some of its fat has rendered, and it is just barely starting to darken on the edges, about 2 minutes.
• Add the leeks or onions, celery, and carrots. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, about 3 minutes.
• Add the broth, pre-cooked chicken, and thyme sprigs if using and reserved wild rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer , and cook to allow flavors to blend about 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Stir in the cream (the more you use, the creamier it will be!) and bring back to a simmer. Add salt to taste.
• Serve hot with a grinding or two of black pepper on top.

CREAMY CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat.
• In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes.
• Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.

CHEESY WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, prepare rice mix according to package directions. Add the milk, soup and cheese. Cook and stir until cheese is melted. Garnish with bacon and, if desired, minced fresh chives and oyster crackers.

CREAMY WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute rice in oil over medium heat, for 5 minutes. Add water and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 35 minutes (rice will not be completely cooked). Drain, reserving 1-1/2 cups cooking liquid; set rice and liquid aside separately. , In the same kettle, saute the onion, celery and carrot in butter until onion is crisp-tender. Reduce heat; stir in flour and cook until bubbly. Gradually add broth and cooking liquid; stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes, stirring constantly or until thickened. Add the cream, ham, rosemary, pepper and reserved rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until rice is tender.

CREAMY WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook rice as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in large saucepan on medium heat until crisp. Remove from pan with slotted spoon, reserving 1 Tbsp. drippings in pan. Drain bacon on paper towels.
• Add onions and carrots to drippings in pan; cook 5 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour; cook and stir 1 min. Add broth; stir. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring frequently; simmer on medium-low heat 10 min. or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice, cream cheese spread and pepper. Cook and stir 3 min. or until cream cheese is melted and soup is thickened. Stir in half the bacon. Ladle soup into soup bowls; top with remaining bacon and chives.