Wild Rice Stuffing W Apples Cranberries Toasted Pecans Recipes

WILD RICE STUFFING WITH APPLES, PECANS AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Combine the wild rice with 4 1/2 cups stock or water in one saucepan and the brown rice with 1 1/2 cups stock or water in another smaller saucepan. Add salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer the brown rice for 35 to 40 minutes, until the rice is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off the heat, place a clean kitchen towel over the pot and return the lid. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Simmer the wild rice for 40 to 50 minutes, until the grains have begun to splay. Drain through a strainer if there is liquid in the pot, and return to the pot. Place a clean kitchen towel over the pot and return the lid. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the grains are cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the celery and a generous pinch of salt, and continue to cook until the onion is completely tender, another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, until it is fragrant, another 30 to 60 seconds. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Add the cooked grains and stir together.
• Return the skillet to the stove and heat over medium-high heat. Add the butter, and when the foam subsides add the apples. Cook, stirring or tossing in the pan, until lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl with the grains. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly oiled or buttered baking dish and cover with foil.
• Warm the stuffing in a 325-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

CRANBERRY-PECAN WILD RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 2-quart baking dish. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. Add the thyme and a pinch each of salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the rice, parsley, pecans, cranberries and apricots to the onion mixture and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Evenly spread in the prepared baking dish and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle the top with parsley.

WILD RICE WITH CRANBERRIES & PECANS

Steps:

• Combine the rice, barley, salt, broth and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender, about 40 minutes.
• If any liquid is still remaining after the rice is cooked, drain the rice.
• Heat the olive oil and saute the onion, garlic, celery and carrot until slightly soft but not brown about 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the salt, cover the pan, adjust the heat to med-low and cook the vegetables until crisp-tender, 5 minutes longer.
• Add the sage, thyme and parsley and saute 1 minute more.
• Remove from heat.
• Mix in the rice, the pecans and the cranberries.
• Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
• Note 1- substitutions: you can substitute any nut for the pecans (try walnuts or hazelnuts).
• You can use all wild rice or all barley.
• Note 2- this recipe was originally a stuffing recipe, but I like it as a side dish.
• You can certainly use it to stuff poultry, though.