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Pioneer Woman’s Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole (Giveaway Winners Announced!)

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Congratulations to our giveaway winners Adrienne, Heather, Wanda, Mary-Jo and Kiki on winning Ree Drummond’s new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. Enjoy!

Today we’re featuring Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole, one of Ree Drummond’s Thanksgiving side dishes from her new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. Even better we’re giving away five copies!

Believe it or not, in her acknowledgements Ree credits me with giving her the idea for this book a few years ago. She ponders whether the idea came while we were sitting in her kitchen “sipping coffee (or was it wine?).” Hmm.

Maybe I’m a bit biased, but I love Ree’s Year of Holidays. Bookended by New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve, this book is exquisitely crammed with recipes, photos, decorating ideas, and tips for all twelve big holidays in between. Imagine, all your favorite holiday recipes—stuff you really want to make—done well and in one place.

As I page through the book, there are so many dishes I want to share with our readers. Like Ree’s brilliantly simple Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries or her to-die-for Caramel Apple Pie. As David was leafing through the book, he stopped at a photo of an Easter brunch plate, pointed to the Eggs in Hash Brown Nests, and boldly proclaimed, “I want that!” And even if there are no kids at my house on Valentine’s Day, I’m definitely making those Candy-Dipped S’Mores.

I also loved all the pictures of the family—Ree’s kids, her mom and dad, her mother- and father-in-law, and her sister, Betsy. There are even some vintage photos of her. These photos make an already great book feel warm and special.

Because I’ll be reaching for it regularly, this book has been added to the select group that actually lives in my kitchen. I am looking forward to this year of holidays, and to adding some wonderful new recipes to our traditional ones.

Thanks for the gift of new holiday inspiration, Ree. You can call me for coffee (or wine!) any time!

Let’s keep it simple. To enter the contest to win one of the five books we’re giving away, leave a comment telling us what dish you can’t wait to make or eat this Thanksgiving. Contest ends this Sunday night, November 17th at 9 PM Eastern Time. We’ll announce winners the following morning.

(I’m pretty excited about trying those Brussels sprouts!)

Pioneer Woman's Broccoli-Wild Rice Casserole
 
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Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 cups wild rice or wild rice blend
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 2 to 3 broccoli crowns, cut into small florets
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
  • 1 medium-large onion, cut into small dice
  • 1 pound domestic white or baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
  • 2 celery stalks, cut into small dice
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
  1. Place rice in a large saucepan, along with 5 cups of the broth; bring to boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the rice is just tender and broth is almost absorbed, 35 to 45 minutes; set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a large pot of boiling, salted water. Add broccoli florets and cook until bright green and tender crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately drain broccoli and plunge it into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. When cool, drain and set aside.
  3. Heat 6 tablespoons of the butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms; saute until tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Add carrots and celery; saute until all of the vegetables are soft and mixture starts to turn golden brown. Sprinkle in flour; stir to incorporate. Stir in remaining 3 cups of broth; bring to a simmer and continue to simmer to thicken slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in heavy cream; continue to simmer to heat through. Remove from heat.
  4. When ready to assemble, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread half of the rice in a 13- by 9-inch pan or other 2-quart casserole. Add enough broccoli to cover the surface. Repeat layering with remaining rice and enough broccoli to cover the surface. Ladle on sauce to evenly cover the casserole.
  5. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter; toss with panko crumbs to coat. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over casserole. Cover casserole with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until breadcrumbs and golden brown and casserole is bubbly. Sprinkle with parsley and serve or as Ree would say, “Then dig in!”
Notes
Says Ree, “Beware: This heavenly side dish takes everything you ever knew about broccoli-rice casserole and turns it upside down, shakes it up, messes with it, rearranges it, and totally changes things forever. The wild rice adds a nice chewiness and color, and my homemade approach to cream of mushroom soup might keep you from ever cracking open another can of the stuff as long as you live. This is utterly luscious.”
We agree, Ree.

 

About Pam Anderson

Pam Anderson considers herself Every Cook. A New York Times bestselling author, she has been cooking nearly everyday for over 30 years. With seven published books, she brings satisfying recipes and sage advice to both novice and veteran cooks. Whether you’re on a quest for the perfect brownie, wanting to get dinner on the table effortlessly, hoping to entertain more simply, attempting to shed pounds permanently, or looking to eat delicious meatless, Pam can help. AARP’s official food expert, she is a chef contributor at Runner’s World magazine. Pam is former Executive Editor of Cook’s Illustrated magazine. Her food articles have appeared in many food magazines. She teaches cooking classes across the country and appears frequently on TV and radio. She currently is blogging at her new site, Copper House Events.

2,543 Comments

  4. Lori Hildebrand says

    I cant wait to spend the day watching football and playing games with my family, and of course eating my mother-in-law’s dressing and my homemade pumpkin pie! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!

    Reply

  10. Nancy keay says

    Ree’s Brussels Sprouts are the only way my family will even CONSIDER eating Brussels Sprouts!!! I’d love a copy of her new cookbook!

    Reply

  16. carolyn n says

    One of the side dishes I will be making is the “tried and true” Green Bean Casserole. You can’t mess this one up.

    Reply

  22. Kat says

    I have found lots of great recipes this year, but I may be most excited about a sweet corn and parmesan casserole. Ooo, and cranberry pecan date bars. And a million other things. Yum!

    Reply

  24. Diane OConnor says

    So many things to pick from a Thanksgiving Dinner but I would say it is our favorite homemade dressing ( or stuffing) to go with the star of the dinner. .. a Turkey from Esbenshade Farms. The oldest turkey farm in the United States started in the 1860. My family has order our turkeys from them for over 60 years.

    Reply

  26. Virginia Moore says

    I always, always love making the green bean bundles! Everything is always better with bacon and I love the crispy sweetness. They are always the first dish gone at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Reply

  33. Barbara Brown says

    The dressing for the turkey, which is my family’s favorite. I have to triple the recipe every year because everyone wants some to take home. THAT’S alot of stuffing!!!

    Reply

  36. Kathy A. says

    Actually, i think this Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole is just the ticket for this years Thanksgiving meal !! I wanted to put something new on the menu– i may even take the green bean casserole OFF , and start a whole new tradition ! Thanx for entering me to win Ree’s newest cookbook ! Happy Thanksgiving to all !

    Reply

  43. Christa says

    This looks so yummy! I love the combination of the ingredients. Rustic wild rice, pretty broccoli and cream to make it velvet on my palate.

    Reply

  46. Janis Graves says

    I’m having surgery on the 22nd so I won’t be cooking but hope to be able to “straw boss” my hubby into making my mothers cornbread dressing!!! YUM!! Since I have the same wonderful memories of learning to cook from my precious mother, I’m sure I’ll cry my way through what appears to be an awesome book!!!!

    Reply

  48. Lauralyn says

    I think I’ll have to try this recipe too…wonder if it would be good topped with chesse mixed in with the breadcrumbs 😀 Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  49. Priscilla Sirois says

    Hi! I’m really looking forward to my mother law’s dressing! She uses cornbread and just the right amount of seasonings! Delish!

    Reply

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