Wild rice - what is it and how to cook it?

Organic Wild Rice

Wild rice is probably the most eco-friendly product you can have in your kitchen. It's truly 100% natural. 

Organic wild rice, unlike cultivated brown, is authentic wild rice that's not genetically modified or processed in any way. It grows wild in North America, and that's where it comes from to our online store! It's a delicacy and hard-to-find product. At Wholefood Earth, you can buy organic wild rice online in bulk and in smaller convenient packages. 

Health benefits of wild rice

Wild organic rice is a great source of protein and fibre. It has more protein per gram than white rice! Additionally, wild rice is packed with magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. It also contains Vitamins B such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamine and folate. The good thing about wild rice is that it stores all those nutrients exceptionally well with very little loss when cooking. 

Eating more wild rice may help you reduce your cholesterol and the risk of heart disease and improve your digestion. Plus, it is a great way to add some healthy carbohydrates to your diet. 

How to cook wild rice?

The perfect water-rice ratio when cooking wild rice is 3 to 1. When you cook wild rice on the stovetop, you should use 3 cups of liquid and 1 cup of uncooked rice. One cup of uncooked wild rice will make 3 ½ cups of cooked wild rice. It's a good idea to rinse the wild rice before cooking, but it's not necessary to soak it. If you soak the wild rice for 15 minutes before cooking, it can reduce the cooking time in half, but it will also result in rice with a softer texture (it can quickly become too soft and mushy). Cook it with a pinch of salt! Remember: when cooked, wild rice expands to three to four times its original size.

Poprice? Yes! Actually, you can pop wild rice, just like popcorn. Just heat it in a little oil and shake until it pops.

What to cook with wild rice?

Wild Rice has a unique full nutty flavour and firm, chewy texture, and here it actually resembles brown rice. 

It can be incorporated into various super healthy plant-based recipes, adding some unique flavour and making them even healthier! 

Use it to replace white rice in salads, as a side dish, to accompany curries and stews. Wild rice is naturally gluten-free, so it is an excellent option for those on a gluten-free diet!