Christmas Cooking For Dummies
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Wild rice provides a welcome change from the standard bread dressings that make their way onto holiday tables every year. The sweet and savory flavors in this dressing accent many main dishes, but goes especially well with your Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey.

Wild Rice Dressing with Golden Raisins and Pecans

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Yield: 16 cups (approximately)

3-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

4 cups water

1-1/2 cups wild rice

2 cups white rice

3 tablespoons light olive oil

3 celery stalks, diced

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1-1/2 cups golden raisins

1 cup orange juice

1 cup toasted, chopped pecans (see note for toasting instructions)

1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

  1. Combine the wild rice with 2 cups broth and 2 cups water in a large saucepan, cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn the heat down and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked.

  2. Meanwhile, combine the white rice with 2 cups broth and 1-1/2 cups water in a saucepan, cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn the heat down and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked.

  3. While the rices are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan and cook the onions and celery over medium-high heat until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the raisins and orange juice, turn the heat up to high, and cook until the juice becomes syrupy, about 3 minutes.

  4. Toss the wild and white rice together in a large bowl with the onion mixture and the pecans and parsley. Season with salt and pepper if necessary and serve immediately. You can also cool the dressing to room temperature, place in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Cover with foil and reheat in the oven or reheat using the microwave.

Toasting nuts brings out their flavor. You can toast nuts in the oven or in a heavy sauté pan. Either way, watch carefully. Try the oven at 350 degrees and the stovetop heat at medium. Check every couple of minutes. You should just start to smell the nuts’ aroma and they should just be beginning to be tinged with a light golden color.

Per serving: Calories 147 (From Fat 36); Fat 4g (Saturated 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 39mg; Carbohydrate 25g (Dietary Fiber 2g); Protein 3g.

About This Article

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Dede Wilson, CCP, contributes to Bon Appétit and Pastry and Design magazine and to NBC's Todayshow. She is also the Food and Entertaining expert for CanDoWoman.com.

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