Wild about wild rice!

We all know that whole grain foods are good for you.  What might be news to some is that it can taste fantastic.

Yesterday, after my first walk/jog (yay!), I made some wild rice for dinner.  Here's what I used:

1 cup of roasted organic wild rice
1 yellow pepper
1/2 long eggplant
1/2 onion
3 cloves of garlic
4 shitake mushrooms
1 honey garlic sausage (optional)
sprinkling of parmesan cheese (optional)
salt & pepper to taste

1. Soak rice overnight so that it begins to flower.  Combine rice w/ about 4 cups of water.  Bring to full boil.  Reduce heat, cover and boil gently for 30min.

2. Chop veggies.  Throw everything into pot, except yellow pepper.  Leave those till the last to retain colour and crispness.  Toss in a pinch of salt.  Reduce heat, keep covered.

3.  If you want to use a sausage like I did, remove pork from casing and cook separately.  Break it into little pieces with your fork.  Then add it to the rice pot.  Pancetta would also go nicely because of its rich, smoky flavour.

4.  Depending on how firm/mushy you like your rice, keep over low heat until satisfied.  Drain the remaining water, if any.

I used enough water and waited long enough for the water to burn off in the uncovered pot.  What I was left with was nice, soft rice.  If you like, sprinkle with some parmesan cheese after.  Hmmm..... Plenty of leftovers.  Serves about 4-5 servings.  Enjoy!