Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
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Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
This Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing is just the thing you need as the perfect side dish for holidays, gatherings, and special occasions, and get-togethers. Wild rice blend cooked to perfection in a savory stock instead of water, then topped with a harmonious blend of flavors like cranberries, nuts, pumpkin seeds, sautéed veggies, diced apples, etc. They offer a delightful balance of savory and sweet. It comes together effortlessly with just a handful of ingredients and a mere 15 minutes outside of the wild rice cooking time. Completely Vegan + Gluten-free.
Wild rice stuffing topped with a handful of ingredients like apples, cranberries, nuts, etc. is a definite Thanksgiving staple for many, especially those on a vegan diet or who try to incorporate such dishes. If you're into traditional stuffing, then this version is a great alternative with a nice bite and balance of crunch and tenderness from the entire ensemble. You and your family can surely enjoy this stuffing to go around your turkey, whole roasted chicken, or even vegan meat alternatives. It's just the perfect fit.
I've thoroughly enjoyed my Homemade Vegan Stuffing which reminds you of a more traditional stuffing, however, for my non-vegan eaters, this Southern-Style Cornbread Stuffing is a beautiful twist in texture and flavor---a sure crowd-pleaser.
And let me tell you, this homemade vegan wild rice stuffing recipe? It's a breeze to whip up, bursting with wonderfully bold flavors, and it all comes together in perfect harmony over the stovetop and a quick toss together in a bowl. When this crowd-pleaser graces your table, get ready for a chorus of "mmm"s and "yum"s. It's a surefire hit for everyone at the table---vegan eaters and non-vegan eaters!
Jump to:
- Is Wild Rice the Healthiest Rice?
- How To Make Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
- The Ingredients
- What To Expect With This Vegan Stuffing?
- Is Wild Rice Anti-inflammatory?
- Best Types of Apples for this Stuffing
- Tips & Tricks For Making Wild Rice
- How to Toast the Chopped Nuts
- Topping Ideas For Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
- Thanksgiving Tips + Tricks
- Common Q + A's for this Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
- More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes to Try this Season!
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
Is Wild Rice the Healthiest Rice?
In general, yes! Cooked wild rice has about 30% fewer calories than brown rice and about 40% more protein. In addition, wild rice contains a great source of fiber, potassium, and zinc. Plus, wild rice is a great gluten-free option to those who are sensitive to gluten or who suffer from celiac disease.
How To Make Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
The key to the best Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing is to use a blend that includes brown rice/wild rice as a mix or solely wild rice. In addition, ensuring that your stuffing has "layered flavor" is a must----i.e. cooking the rice in a seasoned water or stock as well as adding a bit of seasoning when tossing with remaining ingredients.
During Thanksgiving, the best recipes can be made ahead of time to avoid a completely chaotic day-of cooking session and this wild rice stuffing fits the bill. This stuffing is no different. Here's what you'll need:
The Ingredients
- Uncooked organic wild rice blend. These grains are long and slender and have a chewy texture once cooked. You'll notice a nutty, earthy flavor which is why it works great with hearty flavors + toppings. You can also use regular wild rice instead of a blend if desired.
- Water or stock. I love using vegetable stock for added flavor, but water works also. Ensures fluffy rice texture. You can also use chicken stock if you aren't restricted to a vegan diet. Be sure to always season your rice during the last half of the cooking time for the best flavor.
- Herbs. I always love adding an earthy feel to my savory dishes. You'll need salt, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
- Celery. A great addition to this stuffing. Very traditional.
- Garlic. I prefer freshly minced, but you could substitute with ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch.
- Onion. Adds such great flavor. Red, white, or yellow onions can be used.
- Cranberries. The perfect bit of tartness needed for this dish. Dried cranberries are easy to incorporate without any added moisture.
- Nuts. I love adding nuts to the mix for added nuttiness and texture. I use a mix of halved almonds and pecans, but walnuts or your favorite nuts work too. Toasted adds more depth!
- Pumpkin seeds. The perfect crunch factor atop this stuffing. However, you can substitute with sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, etc. for added nutritional value.
- Apples. I love using Gala or Honeycrisp apples or you can use a firm, tart apple like Granny Smith for best results.
- Pomegranate arils. I using these as garnish for extra pizzaz!
What To Expect With This Vegan Stuffing?
- A nice heartiness and burst of sweet + savory flavors.
- Perfect balance of crunchy + tenderness in every bite from the ingredients.
- Can be upgraded with a few splashes of apple cider during the tossing phase of all ingredients.
- Amazing flavors married together in one dish.
- Can be personalized with your favorite topping ingredients.
- And just absolutely wholesome and perfect for the Fall weather and Thanksgiving/Holiday menu.
Is Wild Rice Anti-inflammatory?
Basically, wild rice to me is such an underrated superfood that has so many great benefits, including the fact that it's alkaline in nature. Alkaline foods helps to balance the body and reduce inflammation. Therefore, eating wild rice more often will aide in heart health and offers you a variety of nutrients and antioxidants that are great for your overall health.
Best Types of Apples for this Stuffing
Even though this wild rice stuffing is based on using Gala apples, you can also switch things up and add a slightly new flare in their flavor profile by adding any of the following apples for a bit more sweetness or tart:
- Granny Smith
- Honeycrisp
- Fuji
- Pink Lady
- Golden Delicious
- Braeburn
- and more!
Tips & Tricks For Making Wild Rice
Because wild rice is a special grain, it's super important to note that it takes longer to cook. Unlike other rice which are cooked within a few minutes, wild rice takes at least 45-60 minutes to be fully cooked.
I usually cook my wild rice with a spoon of butter and half water and half veggie stock (or all veggie or chicken stock---if not a vegan recipe) for added flavor.
Also, be sure to keep your cooked wild rice covered with a lid once the heat is turned off for another 10-15 minutes so that the rice soaks up all of the liquids and have a few minutes to rest.
Always "fluff" your rice with a fork when completely done before serving for the best texture.
How to Toast the Chopped Nuts
To toast pecans, walnuts, or any other nuts is super easy and it works for any type of nuts! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped nuts unto the baking sheet, ensuring that they are evenly spread out and toast them for 10 minutes, tossing them halfway to prevent browning on just one side.
Topping Ideas For Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing in general is often served with more traditional ingredients. However, with this recipe, I chose to add a bit of extra flavor and "color" with diced apples and dried cranberries. Rest assured, for additional pizazz, you can add any of the following to your vegan stuffing as well:
- Mushrooms
- Herb roasted tomatoes
- Crispy sage
- Roasted butternut squash
- Crispy Onions
- Chopped kale
- Homemade cranberry sauce drizzled on top!
- Apple cider
- Balsamic vinegar
- Vegan bacon bits or candied bacon for my non-vegans
- Walnuts or other toasted nuts (like hazelnuts, pistachios, etc.)
- Apricots, cherries, + other dried fruit
Thanksgiving Tips + Tricks
If you're gearing up to host a Thanksgiving feast that caters to all diets, whether it's a traditional family gathering or a Friendsgiving celebration, I've got you covered! Check out these articles I've penned for some handy tips, tricks, and a deep dive into plant-based options to make your Thanksgiving day a breeze.
- How to Host the Perfect Vegan Friendsgiving
- 30 Ultimate Plant-Based Thanksgiving Recipes
- Thanksgiving Menu + Guide for ALL Eaters
Common Q + A's for this Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, for optimal freshness. To reheat, remove the leftovers from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. Then bake everything in an oven-safe baking dish or large cast iron skillet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees until warmed through.
Absolutely! If you'd like to spruce this stuffing up a bit more, you can add other topping ingredients such as: chopped bacon (if not vegan), fresh parsley, hazelnuts, pistachios, apricots or cherries, sage, sautéed onions, etc. See more options in my post above!
Nope! If you don't have a wild rice blend or don't feel like using it, just substitute with regular wild rice.
Yup! Once you've cooked the wild rice and let it cool, toss together the remaining ingredients (except for the apples + pomegranate) and store in an air-tight container (or ziplock bag) that is freezer-friendly + oven-safe. Then add to your freezer and store for up to 6 months. To reheat, simply remove from the freezer and reheat in the oven per the reheating instructions.
Yes, of course! You can always cook your wild rice, let it cool, and store in a tightly sealed container in the fridge up to 2 days or so prior. Then prep your ingredients individually (including dicing apples and keeping them in a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning) and store them individually or grouped in air-tight containers in the fridge for up to 2-3 days prior. When ready to serve, bring everything to room temperature, heat your rice, sauté the veggies, toast the nuts, and assemble.
Although wild rice does mimic regular rice in a lot of ways, it actually tends to be longer, has a more nutty, earthy flavor and the hull is thicker and more rigid.
Although very rare, wild rice can be a host to ergot toxin, which can be spotted in grains that have a pink or purplish spots. Before cooking, check your rice for any questionable grains and remove them right away. The remaining batch is safe to eat.
More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes to Try this Season!
Now that you've fallen in love with the Thanksgiving perfect flavors in this recipe, put them to good use with these other vegan + non-vegan Thanksgiving + Holiday recipes:
- Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail
- Loaded Thanksgiving Pizza
- Crispy Southern Hot Honey Fried Chicken
- Creamy Roasted Garlic Tortellini Soup
- Sheet Pan Maple Roasted Pear Crisp
- Perfect Apple Cranberry Sauce
- Flaky Sweet Potato Biscuits
- Vegan Sweet Potato Maple Herb Cornbread
- Vegan Southern Bourbon Pecan Pie
- Vegan BBQ Beef Wellington
- Maple Herb Glazed Carrots
- Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.
Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing
Ingredients
WILD RICE:
- 2 cups wild rice blend (You can also use all wild rice, if desired)
- 4 cups veggie stock, organic (You can also use water instead)
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tsps garlic powder
- 2 tsps onion powder
- 2 tsps smoked paprika
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
STUFFING TOPPINGS:
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 celery stalks, diced small
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 1 Gala apple, diced (See Post for best apple options)
- 1 cup dried cranberries, organic
- 1 cup halved almonds, optional (You can sub with your fave nuts)
- ½ cup toasted pecans (See Post for details on toasting)
- handful of pomegranate arils
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
RINSE + COOK THE WILD RICE:
- Rinse the wild rice blend in fresh cold water once or twice and shake to drain.
- In a medium pot over medium-high heat, add the rinsed wild rice blend along with the veggie stock or water, bringing to a boil, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to simmer (covered with a lid) and follow packaging instructions for remaining cooking time. NOTE: During the second half of the cook time, add vegan butter and seasonings: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and thyme sprigs, stirring to combine. Continue to simmer!
- When the rice is fully cooked and you've turned off the heat, be sure to leave the pot cover tightly sealed for 10-15 minutes, before opening it again. This allows the rice to absorb all the moisture and create a nice texture.
- NOTE: If all liquid hasn't been absorbed, drain cooked wild rice using a mesh strainer. Then fluff the rice with a fork. Let cool.
SAUTE VEGGIES:
- In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Once heated, add the minced garlic, celery stalks, and onions, sautéing until fragrant + slightly tender. Add in the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and thyme, stirring to combine and letting veggies soften a bit more, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat!
MIX TOGETHER + ASSEMBLE:
- In a large bowl, add the cooked + cooled wild rice along with the sautéed veggies: garlic, diced celery, chopped onions as well as the cranberries, almonds, pecans, diced apples, pomegranate arils, and pumpkin seeds, tossing/mixing everything together until combined.
- To serve, add wild rice stuffing to a serving platter. Serve and enjoy!
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, for optimal freshness. To reheat, remove the leftovers from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. Then bake everything in an oven-safe baking dish or large cast iron skillet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees until warmed through.
- ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS: If you'd like to spruce this stuffing up a bit more, you can add other topping ingredients such as: chopped bacon (if not vegan), fresh parsley, hazelnuts, pistachios, apricots or cherries, sage, sautéed onions, etc.
- WILD RICE BLEND: If you don't have a wild rice blend or don't feel like using it, just substitute with the regular wild rice.
- MAKE AHEAD OPTION: See FAQ section for details.
Nutrition
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