It is my firm and unwavering belief that in the great dinner table of life, there is nothing wilder than a good side dish. It is also my belief that there is no side dish wilder than rice, no rice wilder than wild rice, and no Wilder wilder than Gene. Except maybe Laura Ingalls Wilder (she and I share a birthday, but that’s about it for things we have in common since I’ve never once lived in a little house on the prairie). But I digress. The point is that there is no side dish wildin’ out as much as wild rice, and we absolutely have to talk about it—the best wild rice, in particular.
What is wild rice, you ask? First of all, it’s not rice (nuh uh, that’d be to easy). It’s a different plant and it’s more of a seed than anything else. It is packed with protein and fiber, smells toasty, nutty, and almost vanilla-y, and unlike white rice or Skittles, it absolutely counts towards your recommended daily intake of whole grains.
When we set out to find the best wild rice, there wasn’t a ton on the market, so we included wild rice blends in our taste test. Still, we were looking for blends in which wild rice makes its presence known. The best tasting wild rice should be firm (not tough but not mushy either), and have a nutty, almost caramelly flavor. Wild rice brings a little pizazz to regular old brown or white rice, and to the aforementioned dinner table of life. Here are the best wild rice brands we found.
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- Rice-A-Roni Long Grain & Wild Rice
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If, in your opinion, the best wild rice tastes like chicken Cup Noodles, Rice-A-Roni is your guy. This wild rice blend is also extremely cheap, so if you want a solid flavored wild rice blend that will only set you back about two bucks, Rice-A-Roni Long Grain & Wild Rice is a great option. If you really love the firm texture of wild rice, this may not scratch your wild rice itch. It wasn’t the most varied wild rice blend we tried in terms of texture, but it certainly tastes good. Plus, Rice-A-Roni is the self-proclaimed “San Francisco Treat,” and they have a pretty good food scene over in SF, so I am inclined to trust this product with my life (or at least my dinner).
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- RiceSelect Rice Blend Royal Blend
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The best wild rice blend we tried, Lundberg, is not cheap, and RiceSelect Royal Blend is a good, somewhat more budget-friendly alternative that still offers plenty of different kinds of rice—Texmati white, brown, wild, and red—in one tasty, versatile blend. This rice is a bit longer grain and therefore a little less bouncy, sticky, and chewy, but the textural variation is still there and the taste is nutty and pleasant. This would be great with Indian food. I also think that if you make too much and have leftovers, this would make bomb fried rice.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Near East Long Grain & Wild Rice Original
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This blend of long grain and wild rice is delicious. It has a complex umami flavor full of different herbs and spices. If you love rice pilaf, this is the best wild rice blend for you. It has a lightly cheesy taste from the yeast extract, but the main flavor profiles are garlic and parsley. It is bright and herby and extremely pleasant, so it’s perfect if you want a rice side you don’t have to fuss over or season yourself. This is the best tasting wild rice blend to go with falafel and pita, BBQ Chicken, or even plain with a runny egg on top.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Lundberg Organic Wild Blend Rice
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In terms of overall quality, this is the best wild rice blend we tried. It’s not too funky, but it’s still subtly nutty, and has that great chewy and complex texture you want from a wild rice blend. The grains of rice were sticky and not overly dry. I could see this being a great and higher-fiber sushi rice alternative.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- 365 Whole Foods Market Wild Rice
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If a blend isn’t what you have in mind, this is the best wild rice. All you get in this bag is long, lovely, jet-black rice. It has a nice aroma, almost like toasted tea leaves, and a complex, chewy wild rice texture we loved. If you want big nuttiness and rice flavor this is your guy. I also think you could use this to make an excellent spin on brown rice tea.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
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Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!