Description
This Cranberry Pecan Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf is a festive, flavorful, and nutrient-packed dish that brings together warm roasted sweet potatoes, hearty wild rice, tart dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. With cozy herbs and savory aromatics, it’s the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday table but simple enough for a nourishing weeknight meal. Every bite is a beautiful balance of sweet, savory, nutty, and earthy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Rinse the wild rice thoroughly under cold water.
In a medium saucepan, combine the wild rice and vegetable broth.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45–50 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Fluff with a fork.
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Toss diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread them evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, until tender and lightly browned.
In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the chopped onion and garlic for 3–4 minutes, until fragrant and translucent.
Stir in the dried cranberries, pecans, and dried thyme, cooking for 2–3 minutes to warm and lightly toast the nuts.
Add the cooked wild rice to the skillet and gently fold to coat.
Stir in the roasted sweet potatoes.
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh parsley.
Serve warm.
Notes
- Wild rice takes longer than most grains don’t rush it.
- If the rice finishes cooking early, keep covered to stay warm until assembly.
- For extra toasted pecan flavor, you can roast pecans separately at 350°F for 5–6 minutes.
- Dice the sweet potatoes small and evenly to ensure they roast quickly and uniformly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop + Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1 cup)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg