Wild Rice

Wild rice is not technically rice, but actually the seed of an aquatic grass. It grows mainly in central and northern parts of America and southern Canada, but also in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and China. Wild rice grows in lake and river marshes and was the principal foodstuff for the North American Indians who gathered it from their canoes by hand.

Unlike rice, which is ‘pearled’ to remove the outer coat, wild rice is brown to green in colour as it retains its seed coat. It has a rich, nutty flavour and chewy texture and, because it is quite expensive, it is often extended with brown or white rice — this also gives it added texture, colour and flavour. Wild rice is good served in salads or as an accompaniment to meats and makes a particularly good stuffing, especially for chicken or turkey.