If you’ve ever eaten wild rice, you know how much tastier it can make any dish. Ree Drummond even features it on her Thanksgiving Menu! It occupies a central place in her Broccoli Wild Rice Casserolewhich is so good that she exclaims, “If I could eat it for breakfast right now, I could.”

And if you haven’t tried wild rice yet, you’re in for a treat. Ree explains that “it’s hearty and slightly chewy and holds up really well,” which makes it an idea excellent support as well as an excellent substitute in gluten-free recipes for grains, even in padding!

But what exactly is wild rice? It is often listed with the different types of rice you can find them in stores, but guess what? It’s not really rice! If this blew your mind a little, don’t worry. We’re heading to the Midwest to solve the mystery of this hearty little grain so you know once and for all what the difference is between wild rice and other types of rice.

What is wild rice?

Ready for the big reveal? Wild rice is a semi-aquatic grass. It is native to the United States and has been cultivated for centuries. Wild rice grows naturally in water throughout the country, from Connecticut to Texas, although it is most abundant in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. In fact, it’s the official grain of Minnesota!

Wild rice is the long-grained edible part of the grass. It is typically dark brown or black in color, with a thicker shell on the outside that contributes to its chewier bite, earthier, nuttier flavor, and longer cooking time. It can actually last for years without being cooked, with a much longer shelf life. shelf life than regular rice.

How is it different from regular rice?

Since wild rice is harvested from water with a similar shape and purpose, it is easy to understand why it is confused with other types of rice. Regular rice is also a member of the large grass family, but is not actually aquatic. It needs water to grow like all plants, but does not grow submerged in water. Water is used to flood rice fields to harvest grain, not to grow it. Wild rice actually grows in water and only the flower head of the grass protrudes above the surface of the water.

Is wild rice the healthiest rice?

Wild rice is very healthy! It’s not highly processed, so it retains much of its natural protein, fiber, and nutrients like B vitamins. It’s naturally low in fat and gluten-free! But is it healthier than regular rice? It depends on the rice bowls.

In terms of nutritional value, wild rice is most comparable to brown rice or other minimally processed rices, which retain the bran and germ portions of the grain. These are nutrient dense and high in fiber. White rice, on the other hand, is not unhealthy in itself, but as it is further processed, it loses many of the nutrients found in the bran and germ of the grain.

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