Almond Wild Rice Recipe

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This almond wild rice recipe is an easy, healthy, 6-ingredient side dish that pairs well with just about any main dish! Learn how to cook wild rice that's so delicious even kids love it!

a plate of Almond Wild Rice garnished with fresh parsley

I often find myself needed a starch or grain to serve with dinner (like this slow cooker pot roast, turkey meatloaf, etc). Enter this almond wild rice recipe! It is a healthy, hearty side dish that my entire family loves.

In this wild rice recipe, rice is cooked and then tossed into a mixture of butter-toasted almonds, onions and garlic. It is a simple and flavorful side dish that you'll find yourself making again and again.

a bowl of Almond Wild Rice garnished with fresh parsley

Wild Rice Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Almond Wild Rice Recipe

Wild rice blend. we prefer a blend of wild/brown rice, but you can use black wild rice, or even brown rice.
Salted butter. unsalted butter or olive oil can be used in place of salted butter.
Onion. Many varieties of onion can be used including sweet onions, yellow onions and red onions.
Minced Garlic. jarred or fresh minced garlic both work well in this recipe.
Slivered almonds. Use blanched, slivered almonds for the best texture and taste. You can also use sliced almonds. If you are allergic to almonds you can substitute another nut, or leave them out.

How to make wild rice

Let's walk through how to cook wild rice step-by-step, and don't forget to watch the video.

Begin this recipe by cooking the wild rice. To do this, add the wild rice, water and salt to a medium saucepan and cook according to package instructions. (Note: it usually takes around 45 minutes to cook wild rice, so plan accordingly). Do not rush the cooking process.

two photos showing How to Make Wild Rice - cooking the rice with water

Once the rice has finished cooking, add butter onion and garlic to a large nonstick pan and sauté for 1 minute until butter is melted.

two photos showing How to Make Wild Rice - cooking onions and garlic in butter

Then, add the slivered almonds and cook until they just begin to brown (about 2 minutes).

two phots showing how to make wild rice - browning the slivered almonds

Once the almonds are nice and toasted, add the cooked wild rice and stir to combine.

How to Make Wild Rice - mixing rice and onion/almond mixture

Serve

Serve the wild rice warm with a garnish of fresh herbs such as parsley, rosemary, etc. (if desired). Some of my favorite dishes that pair well with this recipe are:

Roasted vegetables. I could eat just sides most of the time! I love roasted carrots, roasted broccoli, roasted brussels sprouts, etc.
Baked chicken breasts and hummus chicken both pair well with this almond wild rice.
Serve it with this crockpot roast if you're looking for something lighter than mashed potatoes (but yum).

Store/freeze

Store any leftover almond wild rice in an airtight contianer in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.

Recipe FAQs

Should I soak wild rice before cooking?

I don't soak wild rice before cooking. You can do this but it's not necessary.

Is wild rice healthier than white rice?

Wild rice is lower in calories and carbohydrates than white rice. It contains more protein per serving and more fiber.

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