Wild Rice Citrus Pilaf (Printable Version)

Vibrant pilaf featuring wild rice, citrus zest, warm pear, spiced apple, and toasted nuts for festive meals.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
02 - 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

→ Fruits

03 - 1 large orange, zested and juiced
04 - 1 pear, ripe yet firm, cored and sliced
05 - 1 apple (such as Gala or Honeycrisp), cored and sliced
06 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

07 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Nuts & Seeds

09 - 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped

→ Spices & Herbs

10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Other

16 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
17 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
18 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add wild rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40-45 minutes until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
03 - Stir in orange zest, half the orange juice, dried cranberries, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Transfer mixture to cooked wild rice and toss gently.
04 - Add butter and remaining olive oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Add pear and apple slices. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until just tender. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup if using and remaining orange juice; cook 1-2 minutes more.
05 - Fold sautéed pear and apple into the pilaf. Add toasted nuts and chopped parsley; gently combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The nutty wild rice perfectly balances sweet fruit and warm spices without being overly sugary
  • It looks stunning on a holiday table but comes together easier than youd expect
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day as the flavors meld together
02 -
  • Wild rice takes longer to cook than regular rice so start this first and give yourself plenty of time
  • Dont overcook the pear and apple slices or theyll disappear into the dish instead of being distinct bites
  • The nuts go in last so they stay crunchy instead of getting soft from the heat
03 -
  • Rinse your wild rice thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove any dusty bits
  • Zest your orange before you juice it much easier to handle the whole fruit first
  • Keep the pear and apple slices similar in size so they cook evenly

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