CULTIVATED WILD RICE RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring 5 cups water to a boil. Stir in rice, then reduce heat so liquid is just simmering. Cover and cook until grains just begin to pop, about 40 minutes. Drain excess liquid from rice and set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they have released their liquid and are golden brown, about 8 minutes; remove to a plate. Repeat with remaining butter and mushrooms.
• Return all the mushrooms to the skillet and season with the salt and pepper, to taste. Very carefully add sherry to deglaze the pan, and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated but mushrooms are still moist.
• Mix mushrooms into prepared rice and season again with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Cook wild rice according to package directions, until rice splits and curls into a "c" shape, exposing its chewy interior. Drain, if needed, and set aside.While the wild rice is cooking, proceed with the rest of the recipe. In a large pot over medium to medium-high heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Add the mushrooms, onion, carrots, and celery. Stir occasionally until the onions are translucent and the carrots are softened, about 10–15 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.Preheat oven to 375°F.Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables in the pot and stir to incorporate. Cook for 2 minutes. Then stir in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for 4–5 minutes, until nicely thickened. Stir in the half-and-half and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes to thicken again. Add the soy sauce, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine. Then fold in the drained wild rice and chicken. Add the Gruyere and Parmesan, and fold to combine. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper, if desired.Transfer chicken wild rice mixture to a large casserole dish. Cover with a lid or piece of foil, and cook for 20–25 minutes, or until it starts to bubble. Remove casserole from oven and top with bread cubes, leaving the outer edge of the casserole exposed. Slowly drizzle a fine line of melted butter over the tops of the bread cubes, aiming to hit as many of the bread cubes as possible. Sprinkle top of buttery bread cubes evenly with the 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt and the 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Return casserole to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until bread cubes are nicely browned and the casserole is hot and bubbling. Remove from oven, sprinkle with additional fresh parsley and thyme, and serve immediately.