Wild Rice, Fruit, and Pecan Stuffing

A festive and flavorful stuffing combining wild rice with dried and fresh fruits, toasted pecans, and aromatic vegetables. Perfect as a holiday side dish, this recipe features a delightful mix of textures from crunchy nuts, chewy dried fruits, and tender wild rice.

8 servings
1 hr 37 min

Ingredients

  • tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 stalks celery
  • 1 cup onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • cups wild rice
  • 2 cups low-salt chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup pecans
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup dried apricots
  • ¼ cup golden raisins
  • to taste black pepper
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries
  • cups celery heart stalks
  • ½ cup celery leaves
  • coarsely chopped

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped celery and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and almost translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add wild rice; stir for 1 minute. Add broth, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 cups water; increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Uncover, stir, and continue cooking, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 20-40 minutes.

    80 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F. Spread out pecans on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until fragrant, 5-7 minutes. Let cool; coarsely chop. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store nuts airtight at room temperature. Let stuffing cool, then cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat, adding water by tablespoonfuls if too dry, before continuing.

    7 min

  3. 3.

    Discard bay leaf. Stir in dried cranberries, apricots, and raisins. Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Season rice to taste with salt and pepper. Fold pecans, sliced cranberries, and sliced celery into mixture. Garnish with celery leaves.

    5 min

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