Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole

.

If you're looking for another side dish to add to your Thanksgiving table, this casserole might just be the one.  I love that the veggies are all mixed together with the rice, leaving room in your oven or on your stove top for yet another side dish.  To me, Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes!

Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole

Adapted from Pioneer Woman recipe

Serves 12

2            cups uncooked wild rice

8            cups vegetable stock, more if needed for thinning

3            heads broccoli, cut into small florets

1            pound White Button or Crimini Mushrooms, finely chopped

1/2         cup (1 stick) vegan butter

1            whole medium onion, finely diced

2            whole carrots, peeled and finely diced

2            stalks celery, finely diced

4            tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2         cup nut or soy milk

1            teaspoon salt, more to taste

1            teaspoon black pepper

1            cup Panko Breadcrumbs

Add the wild rice into a medium saucepan with 5 cups of the vegetable broth.  Bring it to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pan.  Cook the rice until it has just started to break open and is slightly tender, about 35 to 40 minutes.  Set it aside.

Meanwhile, blanch the broccoli by throwing the florets into boiling water for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until bright green and still slightly crisp.  Immediately drain the broccoli and plunge it into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.  Remove it from the ice water and set it aside.

Heat a large pot over medium-high heat, then melt 6 tablespoons of the vegan butter.  Add the onions and the mushrooms and cook, stirring them occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, or until the liquid begins to evaporate. Add the carrots and celery and cook for 3 – 4 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and the mixture begins to turn darker in color.

Sprinkle the flour on the vegetables and stir to incorporate it, then cook for about a minute.  Pour in the remaining 3 cups of broth and stir to combine.  Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and allow it to thicken, about 3 minutes.  Pour in the nut/soy milk, stirring to combine.  Let the mixture cook until it thickens.  Season with the salt and pepper, then taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.

Add half the cooked rice to the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish, then lay on half the broccoli.  Using a ladle, scoop out the vegetable/broth mixture and spoon it evenly all over the top.  Continue with the rest of the sauce, totally covering the surface with vegetables.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegan butter, then pour it into a separate bowl with the panko breadcrumbs.  Toss the mixture together to coat the breadcrumbs in vegan butter, then sprinkle the breadcrumbs all over the top.

Cover with foil and bake the casserole at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Sprinkle on the parsley after you remove it from the oven.