Wild Rice Soup - Love and Lemons (2024)

Craving something that's comforting, but healthy? Make this creamy wild rice soup! Autumn veggies and herbs pack it with rich, savory flavor.

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Wild Rice Soup - Love and Lemons (1)

Wild Rice Soup - Love and Lemons (2)

The next time you have a day when all you want to do is pull on your biggest sweater and curl up on the couch, make this creamy wild rice soup. If you ask me, it’s the best kind of comfort food. It’s creamy and cozy, but it’s nourishing too. Colorful autumn veggies like carrots, celery, and mushrooms fleck its surface, and nutty wild rice and white beans make it nice and hearty. And as for that creamy broth? Well, there’s actually no heavy cream or dairy hiding inside it. Instead, it’s a wholesome, flavorful blend of white beans, cashews, almond milk, and white miso paste. It’s not at all traditional, but you’ll be heading back for a second bowl before you know it.

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Wild Rice Soup Recipe Ingredients

If you’ve gotten this far, you know that this isn’t your average wild rice soup recipe. Classic creamy chicken and wild rice soup is filled with ingredients that I don’t usually use – chicken, of course, chicken broth, and even heavy cream. At its core, though, traditional wild rice soup contains a base of delicious fall vegetables and rice, so it’s not hard to imagine a vegetarian version. Here’s what I use in mine:

  • Wild rice! I love its nutty flavor with the savory broth and hearty autumn veggies.
  • White beans – I blend some into the soup’s creamy base and leave the rest whole. They add plenty of plant-based protein to this nourishing soup. No chicken necessary!
  • Cashews and almond milk – They blend together with the white beans to create the soup’s delicious creamy texture.
  • Miso paste and Dijon mustard – They might be unconventional, but they make this recipe really exceptional, adding savory, umami flavor to the lightly creamy broth.
  • A whole lotta veggies – You’ll find scallions, mushrooms, celery, carrots, garlic, AND kale in this creamy wild rice soup! The kale adds a wonderful fresh pop of color, while the rest of the veggies deepen the soup’s rich, savory flavor.
  • Fresh rosemary and thyme – Their cozy flavors make this wild rice soup perfect for fall!
  • Lemon juice – To brighten it all up.

Finish it off with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete with measurements below.

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Wild Rice Soup Serving Suggestions

Thanks to the rice, beans, cashews, and mushrooms, this wild rice mushroom soup is a satisfying vegetarian main course. We often pair it with a big hunk of crusty bread or rosemary focaccia and call it dinner, but if you’re in the mood for a larger meal, you have plenty of options. It’d be wonderful with a side of maple roasted acorn squash, roasted butternut squash, or my Delicata Squash with Apples and Sage. Pair it with a classic baked potato or baked sweet potato, or serve it with a hearty autumn salad like one of these:

  • Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
  • Farmhouse Farro Salad
  • Kale Salad with Carrot-Ginger Dressing
  • Butternut Squash Salad
  • Sweet Potato Salad

For more salad ideas, check out this post!

If you have leftover wild rice soup, you’re in luck! This recipe tastes fantastic on days 2 and 3. It also freezes perfectly for up to 2 months. Check out this post for my best tips on freezing soups and stews!

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More Favorite Soup Recipes

If you love this recipe, try one of these nourishing soups next:

  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Many-Veggie Vegetable Soup
  • Tuscan White Bean Soup
  • Pumpkin Soup
  • Best Lentil Soup
  • Tomato Basil Soup
  • Creamy Potato Soup
  • Or any of these 25 Best Soup Recipes!

Wild Rice Soup

rate this recipe:

4.96 from 65 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Serves 4

Save RecipePrint Recipe

This creamy wild rice soup recipe is hearty, cozy, and comforting. Filled with vegetables like carrots, celery, and mushrooms, it's the perfect nourishing meal for a cool fall night.

Ingredients

Creamy base

Soup

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, chopped
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons minced rosemary
  • 1 bunch of thyme, bundled
  • cups cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more for serving
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup cooked wild rice
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 4 cups chopped kale
  • Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
  • Pinches of red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

  • Make the creamy base: Place the almond milk, cashews, white beans, miso paste, and Dijon mustard in a blender and process until smooth. Set aside.

  • Make the soup: Heat the olive oil in a medium-large Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the scallions, celery, carrot, mushrooms, and salt and stir. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

  • Add the garlic, rosemary, thyme, cannellini beans, pepper, and water and stir. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

  • Remove the thyme bundle and stir in the cashew mixture, rice, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and kale. Simmer over low heat until the kale is wilted, about 5 minutes. Season to taste and serve with more lemon juice, parsley and pinches of red pepper flakes, if desired.

Notes

Note: If you're not serving the soup right away, it'll thicken as it sits. If desired, stir in up to 1 cup additional water if it gets too thick.

This post is in partnership with Le Creuset. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep us cooking!

Wild Rice Soup - Love and Lemons (2024)

FAQs

What is the number one soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

Why is wild rice so expensive? ›

Because of its unique harvesting needs (learn more about it here), wild rice is significantly more expensive than brown rice. In fact, it's one of the most expensive grains. In Washington State, as of January 2023, wild rice costs $5.16 per pound and brown rice costs 80 cents a pound.

Is wild rice soup high in carbs? ›

Grandma's Chicken Wild Rice Soup (1 cup) contains 16g total carbs, 15g net carbs, 19g fat, 9g protein, and 260 calories.

What does soup grade wild rice mean? ›

Soup grade

Exactly what it sounds like. Soup grade wild rice is broken, cut, or in pieces so it can be added directly to soup while it cooks.

What is the healthiest soup to eat why? ›

For example, soups made with bone-, vegetable-, or meat-based broths provide vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, such as collagen. They also deliver great flavor while keeping added fats and calories to a minimum. Additionally, eating soup is an easy and tasty way to increase your vegetable intake.

Why do Chinese eat so much soup? ›

Sweet soups such as tong sui are enjoyed for their aroma, mouthfeel, and aftertaste. Many soups are eaten and drunk as much for their flavour as for their health benefits and touted for their purported revitalizing or invigorating effects.

Is it OK to eat wild rice everyday? ›

As with any food, it's a good idea to consume wild rice in moderation. Depending on your recipe, a single serving will be approximately one quarter to one third of a cup of uncooked grains.

Is wild rice the healthiest rice? ›

Wild rice grain is an excellent nutritional source, especially over other grains like white rice, corn, and wheat. Benefits include: High protein. Gluten-free.

Why is wild rice disappearing? ›

Crop failure rate for wild rice is increasing with climate change.

Can dogs eat wild rice soup? ›

Besides plain white rice or brown rice, dogs can eat a myriad of other types of rice in moderation, such as basmati rice, jasmine rice, and wild rice. What's most important is that the rice — regardless of the type — is cooked and does not contain any additives such as salt.

What is a good substitute for wild rice in soup? ›

Firstly, replace wild rice with barley at a 1:1 ratio in most recipes for a seamless transition. Remember, barley has a slightly longer cooking time, so adjust your kitchen timer accordingly. For soups and stews, add barley directly to the liquid, allowing it to simmer until tender and plump.

What are the benefits of wild rice soup? ›

"Wild rice is a nutrient-rich whole grain with a nutty flavor that is a good source of dietary fiber and contains more protein than other types of rice," says Allyn Wergin, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague, Minnesota.

Who eats wild rice? ›

Food Use. Wild rice, being indigenously considered an important dietary element, was a staple food among the Dakota, Menominee, Ojibwa, Omaha, Ponca, Winnebago, and the Pottawatomie (Moerman 1998: 614).

Should wild rice be soaked before cooking? ›

Rinse your uncooked wild rice grains with cool, clean water. This removes any dust or debris that has settled in storage. Wild rice does not need to be soaked before cooking.

What is America's favorite soup? ›

According to a survey conducted by StrawPoll, the most popular soup in America is tomato soup. It's a classic favorite that has been enjoyed for generations, often paired with a grilled cheese sandwich for a comforting and satisfying meal.

What are the 4 main soups? ›

There are four main categories of soup: Thin, Thick, Cold and National.

What is the fanciest soup in the world? ›

The most expensive soup available on a menu is served in London's upscale Mayfair neighbourhood. Guinness World Records certified that the £108 bowl of “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup” is the most expensive on any menu in the world.

References

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