A Deliciously Tasty Wild Rice Soup Recipe
With autumn right around the corner, this deliciously tasty wild rice soup recipe is here to take your fall meals to the next level. If you are looking to make use of your wild rice, as well as fresh seasonal vegetables and greens, this is the perfect recipe for you. Best of all, we are here to provide our readers with instant pot and stove top options, so that you can choose the preparation method that is best for your needs.
While this soup is great for the fall and winter months, that does not mean that it cannot be enjoyed during the spring and summer as well. The addition of the wild rice makes for a low-calorie soup that is high in protein. It is a hearty meal that is made special with the addition of the delightful broth. Seasoned with garlic and Old Bay, there is nothing quite like it.
Cream, coconut milk or a roux-based sauce are added as well. The sweetness of these items does well to offset the broth. Some may want to add chicken to this soup and shredded chicken is a great choice in those instances. To find out more about this deliciously tasty wild rice soup recipe and all of the tips and pointers that take it to the next level, be sure to read on!
A Closer Examination of the Ingredients
Before we get down to business here, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients because we are sure that there are going to be some questions that need answering. For starters, we recommend using 100 percent wild rice. Yes, you can swap it out if you would like but be forewarned. This is going to make the cooking time take a bit longer.
Vegetable stock can be swapped out for chicken stock as the soup’s base if this is preferable to the at-home chef. Bay leaves and Old Bay seasoning are the best choices in this regard but there are some who may not have Old Bay readily available. No worries, though. Cream sauce or coconut milk can be used instead.
Are There Any Other Variations We Should Know About?
Of course! In addition to the shredded chicken, pre-diced chicken that has already been cooked can be added. Some may even decide to poach a raw chicken breast in their rice as it is cooking. From there, the chicken is removed, shredded and added back to the mix before the soup is served. Cajun or Italian seasoning can be used instead of the Old Bay as well.
If the Old Bay you are using is making the soup more spicy than you would like, there is an easy enough fix for that. All you need to do is simply use less. Start with two teaspoons and feel free to add more if you like. As for those who are going to want to thicken the soup, a cornstarch slurry is best. Mix some water with your cornstarch and add it to the soup. This allows you to achieve the proper consistency.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and step-by-step cooking instructions…
Prep + Cook Time
This soup can be prepared within one hour. Prep time is just 15 minutes and the remaining 45 minutes will be used to cook it. The final result will yield at least 8 servings.
Ingredients
- Vegetable stock or chicken stock (6 cups)
- Wild rice (1 cup, uncooked)
- Baby Bella mushrooms (8 ounces, sliced)
- Garlic (4 cloves, minced)
- Medium carrots (2, diced)
- Celery ribs (2, diced)
- Sweet potato (1, large, roughly 1 pound, peeled and diced)
- Small white onion (1, peeled and diced)
- Bay leaf (1)
- Old Bay seasoning (1 1/2 tablespoon)
- Unsweetened coconut milk (1 14-ounce can)
- Kale (2 large handfuls, roughly chopped with thick stems removed)
- Fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper (season to taste)
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Instant pot and stove top options will be provided below, and we are cognizant of the fact that some may decide to use a crock pot. This is not an option that we would recommend, however. Slow cookers tend to be very inconsistent when it comes to recipes like these. The cooking time for softening the vegetables and rice varies greatly from brand to brand. The lid for a crock pot is also tougher to fully secure, allowing the broth to evaporate. That’s why you should choose from the following options:
Instant Pot Method
Step 1:
This is when the primary ingredients will all be combined. Place the vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, garlic, carrots, celery, sweet potato, onion, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning in the bowl of the instant pot before proceeding. Stir them all briefly, so that they are combined.
Step 2:
Cover the soup and pressure cook it on manual (the highest pressure) for 25 minutes. From there, give the instant pot and naturally release the pressure that has built up for a period of 10 minutes. Carefully open the vent next and give the remaining pressure a quick release. Discard the bay leaf after the lid has been removed.
Step 3:
The final ingredients are added now. Kale and coconut milk are added to the soup. Stir it gently until the new ingredients have been properly combined. Taste the soup and add any necessary seasonings. Salt, pepper and Old Bay seasoning can be added to taste.
Step 4:
It is time to serve the soup! Ladle it into a bowl and enjoy.
Stove Top Method
Step 1:
We start by sauteing the vegetables. Heat an additional tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a sizable stock pot on medium-high heat setting. Add your onion, saute for 5 minutes and stir occasionally. Make sure that the mixture is translucent and soft. Stir the garlic in and cook for an added 1 to 2 minutes with occasional stirring occasionally, until the mixture has become fragrant.
Step 2:
The base ingredients are now added. This includes vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, carrots, celery, sweet potato, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning. Stir them up to combine them.
Step 3:
Continue the cooking process until the soup is simmering. Reduce your heat level to medium-low at this time. Cover the soup and let it simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir occasionally and you will know it is time to move on when the rice has become tender.
Step 4:
Add the kale and coconut milk to the soup. Stir them gently until they have combined. Sample the soup and add additional Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper as your taste buds dictate.
Step 5:
Serve your soup and enjoy!
