Description
A cozy and hearty soup featuring wild rice, seasonal vegetables, and warming autumn herbs. Perfectly comforting for chilly evenings and versatile with creamy, dairy-free, or protein-packed variations.
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 sweet potato or butternut squash, diced
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup cream, half-and-half, or coconut milk (optional for creamy version)
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken or turkey (optional)
- Fresh herbs (parsley or sage) for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Sauté onion, carrot, celery, and garlic until softened.
- Add mushrooms and sweet potato (or squash), cooking for 5 minutes.
- Stir in wild rice, broth, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45–50 minutes until rice is tender.
- If making creamy, stir in cream, half-and-half, or coconut milk at the end.
- For added protein, stir in shredded chicken or turkey and heat through.
- Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning, and garnish with fresh herbs before serving.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, use coconut milk or omit cream. To thicken naturally, blend a small portion of the soup and stir back in. This soup tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American