Wild rice adds a wonderful texture to this Cranberry-Pear Wild Rice Stuffing; the sweetness of dried cranberries in the recipe lends a delicious flavor. This is an ideal stuffing for winter squashes which stands as a dazzling holiday main dish. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.

Recipe

Cranberry-Pear Wild Rice Stuffing

4.75 from 4 votes

Wild rice adds a wonderful texture to this stuffing, and the slight sweetness of dried cranberries lends a delicious flavor.

Print Pin Save

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 55

Servings: 8 to 10

Ingredients

2 ½ cups prepared vegetable broth or 2 ½ cups water with 1 vegetable bouillon cube
⅔ cup raw wild rice
1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
1 medium red onion chopped
1 large celery stalk diced
2 medium firm pears such as bosc, cored and diced
4 cups whole grain bread finely diced
⅓ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup pecans or walnuts finely chopped
1 tablespoon salt-free seasoning blend like Frontier or Mrs. Dash
¼ to ½ teaspoon dried thyme to taste
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
½ cup apple or pear juice or as needed

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Bring the broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir in the wild rice, then cover and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 35 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the celery and sauté over medium heat until both are golden.
Combine the onion-celery mixture with the cooked wild rice and all the remaining ingredients except the apple juice in a mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.
Drizzle the apple juice in slowly, stirring all the while, until the mixture is evenly moistened.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled large shallow baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top begins to get slightly crusty.

Nutrition (Estimate per Serving)

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 585mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 9gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 5mg

Vegan-ize any recipe!Grab our free vegan cheat sheet, packed with my favorite easy substitutions to make any recipe vegan.