The Perfect Cranberry Walnut Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf Recipe

Crafting a cranberry walnut and sweet potato wild rice pilaf upgrades ordinary side dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Rustic grains intermingle with vibrant seasonal ingredients, creating a symphony of textures and robust flavors.

Nutty wild rice forms the perfect canvas for sweet potatoes’ creamy richness and cranberries’ bright tartness.

Toasted walnuts introduce a delightful crunch that elevates each carefully balanced bite.

Delicate herbs weave through the mixture, enhancing the pilaf complex profile without overshadowing its core ingredients.

Every forkful promises a harmonious blend of comfort and sophistication that feels both familiar and excitingly new.

You’ll want to make this pilaf the star of your next gathering.

Why Everyone’s Raving About Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

• Burst with Flavor Complexity: A delightful symphony of sweet, savory, and tangy notes dancing together with cranberries, sweet potatoes, and toasted walnuts creating a multi-dimensional taste experience.
• Texture Wonderland: Enjoy a perfect contrast between soft, creamy sweet potatoes, crunchy toasted walnuts, and fluffy wild rice that provides exciting mouthfeel in every single bite.
• Nutritional Powerhouse Meal: Packed with essential nutrients, fiber, and balanced macronutrients, this pilaf delivers a wholesome dish that supports healthy eating without compromising on incredible taste and satisfaction.
• Effortless Culinary Magic: Requires minimal cooking skills with straightforward techniques like simmering rice and one-pan vegetable sautéing, making this recipe accessible for home cooks of all experience levels while producing restaurant-quality results.

What Goes into Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

• Wild Rice: A hearty, nutty grain that provides a robust base for the pilaf, with a beautiful texture and earthy flavor.
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth: The essential liquid for cooking rice, adding depth and richness to the overall dish.

• Bay Leaf, Parsley, Thyme: Classic herbs that infuse subtle, sophisticated flavors into the rice during cooking.
• Onions, Garlic: Foundational aromatics that create a savory and aromatic base for the pilaf.

• Bacon: A smoky, salty ingredient that adds rich flavor and crispy texture to the dish.
• Sweet Potatoes: A creamy, slightly sweet vegetable that brings vibrant color and nutritional value to the pilaf.
• Walnuts: Crunchy nuts with a deep, toasted flavor that provide texture and nutty undertones.
• Cranberries: Tart and sweet berries that add a burst of bright flavor and beautiful color contrast.

• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance and balance the overall taste profile.
• Olive Oil: A cooking fat that helps sauté vegetables and creates a smooth, rich texture.

Cooking Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf the Easy Way

Step 1: Prepare the Broth Base

Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add bay leaf, parsley, thyme, and wild rice to the boiling liquid.

Step 2: Simmer the Rice

Lower heat to a gentle simmer. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 45 minutes without lifting the lid.

Step 3: Rest the Rice

Remove from heat and let the rice rest, keeping it covered to retain moisture and continue steaming.

Step 4: Toast the Walnuts

Heat a frying pan over medium flame. Toast walnuts for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Set aside.

Step 5: Sauté Vegetables and Protein

• Pour olive oil into the pan
• Add sweet potatoes
• Include chopped onions
• Mix in bacon pieces
• Sprinkle minced garlic
• Season with salt and pepper

Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes become fork-tender.

Step 6: Add Final Touches

Toss in cranberries and cook for 1-2 additional minutes. Stir in toasted walnuts.

Step 7: Combine and Finish

Remove bay leaf from rice. Gently fold the rice into the vegetable mixture using a fork to maintain a light texture. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Serve warm as a delightful side dish or light main course.

Smart Tips for Better Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

• Boost Rice Texture: Use a fork to fluff rice gently, preventing compacting and maintaining a light, airy consistency.
• Maximize Nut Flavor: Toast walnuts carefully, stirring frequently to develop rich, deep nutty notes without burning.
• Control Sweet Potato Cooking: Cut sweet potatoes into uniform cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent tenderness.
• Enhance Broth Absorption: Keep the lid sealed during rice cooking to trap steam and allow perfect liquid absorption.
• Elevate Final Seasoning: Taste and adjust salt and pepper after combining ingredients to balance the complex flavor profile of the pilaf.

Saving and Reheating Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

• Refrigeration: Store leftover pilaf in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Separate the walnuts if possible to maintain their crunch.
• Freezing: Wrap the pilaf securely in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for no longer than 3 months. Pro tip: Freeze without the walnuts to preserve their texture.
• Reheating: Warm gently in a microwave-safe dish, adding a splash of broth or water to restore moisture. Stir halfway through heating to distribute warmth evenly. Alternatively, reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

Perfect Pairings for Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

• Savor Wine Companions: Pair this hearty pilaf with a crisp Pinot Grigio or light-bodied Chardonnay that complements the sweet potatoes' earthiness and cuts through the bacon's richness.
• Elevate Protein Partners: Roasted chicken or grilled salmon work beautifully alongside this wild rice dish, matching its rustic texture and nutty undertones while providing balanced protein.
• Craft Herb-Infused Sidekick: Fresh arugula salad with a zesty lemon vinaigrette creates a bright, peppery contrast to the pilaf's warm, comforting flavors, adding a refreshing counterpoint to the dish's depth.
• Boost Beverage Boost: Try a craft amber ale or wheat beer that echoes the pilaf's nutty walnuts and complements its complex, layered taste profile with subtle maltiness.

Creative Takes on Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

• Vegan Veggie Blast: Replace bacon with smoked tofu or tempeh, add roasted bell peppers and swap chicken broth for vegetable broth for a plant-powered protein-packed alternative.
• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, swap wild rice for brown rice, add chopped kalamata olives and fresh oregano for a Greek-inspired rendition.
• Autumn Harvest Remix: Include diced butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes, sprinkle dried sage, incorporate pecans instead of walnuts and add a touch of maple syrup for warmth.
• Spicy Southwest Style: Mix in diced green chiles, replace walnuts with pumpkin seeds, add cumin and chili powder, top with fresh cilantro for a zesty southwestern kick.

Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf Recipe

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4.8 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Cranberry Walnut & Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf brings festive warmth to holiday tables with its rich, earthy blend of textures and flavors. Hearty wild rice mingles with roasted sweet potatoes, crunchy walnuts, and tart cranberries, creating a delightful side dish you’ll crave season after season.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup wild rice/brown rice blend
• 1 cup sweet potato (peeled and diced small)
• 1 can (14 ounces/400 milliliters) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

Protein and Nuts:

• 2 slices bacon (chopped small)
• ⅓ cup (40 grams) chopped walnuts
• ⅓ cup (50 grams) chopped red onion

Herbs, Spices, and Extras:

• ⅓ cup (40 grams) dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Prepare a medium saucepan and bring of vegetable broth to a rolling boil over high heat.
2. Carefully add bay leaf, chopped fresh parsley, dried thyme, and wild rice blend to the boiling liquid.
3. Reduce heat to low, creating a gentle simmer, and cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, ensuring no steam escapes during cooking.
4. Allow the rice mixture to cook undisturbed for approximately 45-50 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice reaches a tender consistency.
5. Remove saucepan from heat and let the rice rest, keeping the lid sealed to maintain moisture and continue steaming.
6. In a separate skillet, warm walnuts over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, gently stirring to prevent burning, then transfer to a separate plate.
7. Using the same skillet, pour of olive oil and introduce diced sweet potatoes, finely chopped onions, crumbled bacon, minced garlic, with a sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
8. Sauté the vegetable mixture, stirring intermittently, until sweet potatoes become fork-tender and develop a golden exterior, approximately 8-10 minutes.
9. Introduce dried cranberries to the skillet, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes to slightly soften the fruit.
10. Fold in toasted walnuts, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
11. Remove bay leaf from the rice, then use a fork to gently fluff and separate the grains.
12. Combine the rice with the sweet potato and cranberry mixture, folding carefully to maintain the pilaf’s light texture.
13. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as needed.
14. Serve immediately while the pilaf remains warm and aromatic.

Notes

• Gather all ingredients beforehand to streamline your cooking process and reduce kitchen stress.
• Toasting walnuts amplifies their nutty flavor, transforming this pilaf from ordinary to extraordinary with minimal extra effort.
• Sweet potatoes provide a creamy, caramelized foundation that perfectly balances the wild rice’s earthy texture.
• Bacon adds a smoky depth, creating unexpected complexity in this seemingly simple side dish.
• Cooking wild rice demands patience; the longer simmer guarantees tender, perfectly separated grains that elevate the entire recipe.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Boiling, Simmering, Frying, Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 356 kcal
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 230mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 7g
• Cholesterol: 12mg