Garlic Herb Wild Rice with Cauliflower (Printable)

Fragrant wild rice with fresh herbs, garlic, and golden roasted cauliflower for a wholesome vegetarian meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Rice & Broth

01 - 1 cup wild rice blend, rinsed
02 - 2 ¼ cups vegetable broth (gluten-free, if needed)

→ Roasted Cauliflower

03 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Aromatics & Herbs

08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or olive oil for vegan)
09 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 medium shallot, finely chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
13 - 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
14 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Finishing

15 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional, omit for vegan)
16 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
17 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast cauliflower for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and tender. Set aside.
04 - In a medium saucepan, bring vegetable broth to a boil. Add the wild rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40–45 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
05 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and shallot; sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
06 - Stir in cooked wild rice, roasted cauliflower, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and lemon zest. Toss gently to combine and heat through.
07 - Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if using. Serve warm with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of nutty wild rice and caramelized roasted cauliflower creates layers of texture and flavor that make every bite interesting
  • Its one of those rare dishes that works equally well as a cozy weeknight dinner or an impressive side for holiday entertaining
  • The fresh herbs and lemon zest brighten everything up so it never feels like heavy comfort food
02 -
  • Rinsing wild rice before cooking removes any debris and helps it cook more evenly, so dont skip this simple step
  • Wild rice varies in cooking time depending on the brand and blend, so start checking at 40 minutes and add more broth if it dries out before becoming tender
  • The cauliflower continues to soften after it comes out of the oven, so err on the side of slightly underdone rather than mushy when you remove it from the heat
03 -
  • Spread the cauliflower in a single layer without overcrowding the baking sheet so it roasts rather than steams
  • Save a little extra parsley and lemon zest for garnish to make the final dish look restaurant-quality

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