Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf

Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf is a colorful side dish studded with tart apples, dried fruit, and toasted hazelnuts. A beautiful and tasty addition to any meal.

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Buckle up your seat belts because Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner! Can you believe how fast 2023 has gone by? Craziness! So what this means is we have a lot of good food, family, and friend time to look forward to. I’m so excited!

If you’ve had a chance to browse my side dish category section on my website you will find that we kind of like rice, like, a lot. I love making rice because it’s easy and versatile and pairs well with just about anything.

This Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf takes a little more effort to make than say my Mexican or Buttered Rice recipe, but I promise it is easy and so worth it! You’ll love the savory flavors with the tart apples and sweetened dried fruit. It’s a festive and unique addition to any holiday meal or casual dinner at home. The best part is it can be served hot or cold!

What Is Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf?

Confetti rice is basically a colorful rice dish studded with vibrant colored veggies, fruits, and sometimes nuts. Wild rice pilaf means heartier grains of rice cooked in chicken broth. I marry the two together for a fun side dish everyone will be excited to try.

Ingredients For Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf:

• Cooked wild rice
• Butter
• Onion
• Granny smith apples
• Dried cranberries
• Dried apricots
• Toasted hazelnuts
• Dried thyme
• Dried rosemary
• Fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper

Substitutions and variations:

The great thing about confetti rice is you can customize the ingredients to your liking.

• Rice and grains: Wild rice is a heartier option especially during the holidays but any long grain white or brown rice works great. You can also swap out the rice for quinoa, farro, or orzo pasta.
• Seasonings an herbs: So many options for seasoning confetti rice pilaf. Use poultry seasoning, ground sage, and oregano, for a classic thanksgiving flavor. Warm spices like cinnamon and all-spice are subtle and unique and go great with pork. Fresh or dried Herbs are a nice addition for a bright flavor.
• Fruit and nuts: Options for fresh and dried fruit include pears, peaches, mangos, dried cherries, raisins, dates, and figs. Use other nuts such as chopped pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds.

Step by Step how to make Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf:

Step 1. Heat a large non-stick skillet to medium heat and melt butter. Add onion and cook until softened then add apples. Cook another couple minutes just until apples start to get soft but not mushy.

Step 2. Add cooked rice, seasonings, dried fruit, nuts, and parsley. Stir until all the ingredients are incorporated then taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot or cold.

How to cook Wild Rice:

Wild rice takes a bit longer to cook than regular long grain white rice. The texture is heartier and not quite as soft as white rice just so there are not any surprises.

• For confetti wild rice pilaf: In a medium pot with a fitted lid add 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2 tablespoon butter, and 1 cup of wild rice that has been rinsed thoroughly with cold water. Place the lid on and bring to a boil. Stir, then turn down the heat to low and put the lid back on to cook for 45-50 minutes undisturbed. The rice is done when some of the grains have burst open and and has a chewy texture. Drain off any excess liquid before serving.

Make Ahead Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf:

Confetti wild rice can be made one day ahead of time. Store in a larger container so it’s easier to fluff the next day. You’ll also want to make sure it is completely cooled before refrigerating. If serving warm, reheat in the microwave or in the oven covered on a low setting, about 250℉ for 25-30 minutes fluffing once in between.

Other Rice Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Green Bean and Wild Rice Casserole
• Rice Pilaf
• Easy Coconut Rice
• Cilantro Lime Rice

Let’s eat!

Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf

The Menu Maid

Confetti Wild Rice Pilaf is a colorful side dish studded with tart apples, dried fruit, and toasted hazelnuts. A beautiful and tasty addition to any meal!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 5 servings

Calories 272 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 3 tbsp salted butter
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped fine
• 2 granny smith apples, unpeeled, diced in small 1/4 inch pieces
• 3 cups cooked wild rice see notes for cooking instructions
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped, dried apricots
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts see notes for other nut options
• chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Heat a large non-stick skillet to medium heat and melt butter. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add in apples and cook another 2-3 minutes until the apples just start to get soft but not mushy.
• Next add cooked rice, seasonings, dried fruit, nuts, and parsley. Stir until all the ingredients are incorporated then taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot or cold.

Notes

Tips:

 

How to cook wild rice-

• For confetti wild rice pilaf: In a medium pot with a fitted lid add 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2 tablespoon butter, and 1 cup of wild rice that has been rinsed thoroughly with cold water. Place the lid on and bring to a boil. Stir, then turn down the heat to low and put the lid back on to cook for 45-50 minutes undisturbed. The rice is done when some of the grains have burst open and and has a chewy texture. Drain off any excess liquid before serving.

Substitutions and variations- 

• • Rice and grains: Wild rice is a heartier option especially during the holidays but any long grain white or brown rice works great. You can also swap out the rice for quinoa, farro, or orzo pasta.

• • Seasonings an herbs: So many options for seasoning confetti rice pilaf. Use poultry seasoning, ground sage, and oregano, for a classic thanksgiving flavor. Warm spices like cinnamon and all-spice are subtle and unique and go great with pork. Herbs are a nice addition for a fresh and bright flavor.

• • Fruit and nuts: Options for fresh and dried fruit include pears, peaches, mangos, dried cherries, raisins, dates, and figs. Use other nuts such as chopped pecans, walnuts, and slivered almonds. 

Make ahead of time-

Confetti wild rice can be made one day ahead of time. Store in a larger container so it’s easier to fluff the next day. You’ll also want to make sure it is completely cooled before refrigerating. If serving warm, reheat in the microwave or in the oven covered on a low setting, about 250℉ for 25-30 minutes fluffing once in between.

 

Note: If serving along side other side dishes this could serve 6-8 people.

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories	272
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12.1g	15%
Saturated Fat 4.8g	24%
Cholesterol 18mg	6%
Sodium 53mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 38.4g	14%
Dietary Fiber 5.6g	20%
Total Sugars 12.6g
Protein 5.7g
Vitamin D 5mcg	24%
Calcium 20mg	2%
Iron 1mg	8%
Potassium 324mg	7%

Keyword Apples, Confetti rice, Dried fruit, Easy side dish, Holiday side dish, Rice, Rice recipe, Wild rice pilaf

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