Kale & Wild Rice Casserole

I saw this recipe and it looked delicious, but I made several tweaks, including making it vegan. This dish has many of my favorite ingredients: kale, wild rice, and mushrooms. It’s pretty easy to make, but it does have a few steps. I recommend making the rice ahead of time, otherwise, keep in mind that it takes about 45 minutes for the rice to cook. Of course, I think it’s absolutely worth it. This dish is also easily gluten-free if you sub in a wheat-free flour (you’ll only need 5 tablespoons). A fantastic main meal or side dish that will please the troops.

INGREDIENTS:
4 C cooked wild rice (I used 2-1/2 C vegetable broth + 2 C wild rice mix from Lundberg)
3 bunches of kale, torn into large pieces
16-oz cremini mushrooms, quartered
2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs dried thyme
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
5 Tbs flour
1 C vegetable broth
1/2 can coconut milk (I used lite)
1/4 C nutritional yeast flakes
1/2 C Daiya mozzarella shreds
1 Tbs olive oil
1 large white onion, cut into thin slices
1/2 C panko bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS:
Start with the rice. Cook it according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, combine the kale with 1-1/2 cups of water. Over medium heat, steam the kale for about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the kale to a bowl and set aside. Using the same skillet, heat the margarine and add the garlic. Saute over medium-low heat and then add the mushrooms. Saute for 2 minutes, then add the thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Add the kale to the mushrooms and sprinkle with the flour. Over medium heat, add the broth a 1/4 of a cup at a time. Let the sauce thicken a little before adding more broth. Next, slowly add the coconut milk and stir often. Fold in the nutritional yeast.
At this point, preheat the oven to 375 and grease a 9×13″ pan. Once the rice is cooked, add it to the kale and mushroom mixture, then transfer to the baking dish. Either in a new skillet, or the same one (wiped clean), heat the olive oil and add the onions. Cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the Daiya cheese over the mixture, then top with the cooked onion slices. I then topped with panko, but I also recommend making breadcrumbs yourselves by chopping up two slices of bread in the food processor with 1 tbs of margarine, until you have a fine crumble. They’re so delicious!

Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Enjoy!

Kale & Wild Rice Casserole

 

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Prep time

45 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Author: Epicurean Vegan

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 4 C cooked wild rice (I used 2-1/2 C vegetable broth + 2 C wild rice mix from Lundberg)
• 3 bunches of kale, torn into large pieces
• 16-oz cremini mushrooms, quartered
• 2 Tbs Earth Balance margarine
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbs dried thyme
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 5 Tbs flour
• 1 C vegetable broth
• ½ can coconut milk (I used lite)
• ¼ C nutritional yeast flakes
• ½ C Daiya mozzarella shreds
• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 1 large white onion, cut into thin slices
• ½ C panko bread crumbs

Directions

1. Start with the rice. Cook it according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, combine the kale with 1-1/2 cups of water. Over medium heat, steam the kale for about 5-7 minutes. Remove the kale to a bowl and set aside.
3. Using the same skillet, heat the margarine and add the garlic. Saute over medium-low heat and then add the mushrooms. Saute for 2 minutes, then add the thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
4. Add the kale to the mushrooms and sprinkle with the flour.
5. Over medium heat, add the broth a ¼ of a cup at a time. Let the sauce thicken a little before adding more broth.
6. Next, slowly add the coconut milk and stir often. Fold in the nutritional yeast.
7. At this point, preheat the oven to 375 and grease a 9x13" pan.
8. Once the rice is cooked, add it to the kale and mushroom mixture, then transfer to the baking dish.
9. Either in a new skillet, or the same one (wiped clean), heat the olive oil and add the onions. Cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
10. Sprinkle the Daiya cheese over the mixture, then top with the cooked onion slices.
11. I then topped with panko, but I also recommend making breadcrumbs yourselves by chopping up two slices of bread in the food processor with 1 tbs of margarine, until you have a fine crumble.
12. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Enjoy!

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