How To Easily Prepare Wild Rice
Wild Rice–Manoomin
Wild Rice, otherwise known as Manoomin, historically and still today, plays an important role in the lives of the Ojibwe people of Turtle Island.
Oral tradition over thousands of years tells of the 7 Fire Prophecies in which the 3rd Fire Prophecy spoke of the Anishinabe finding the path to the lands prepared for them. To the place where food grows upon the water.
The Great Lakes Region is that land where food grows upon the water. The Ojibwe people came to rely on this new food source. They depended on the annual harvest and preservation of this precious and nutritious food to survive the long winters.
Today, manoomin still remains a staple of Ojibwe diets as a traditional food source. It is both culturally and spiritually important and is expected to be served at important community feasts and ceremonies. High in protein, yet low in fat and calories, wild rice has a very high nutritional value. Once the rice has been properly preserved through the harvesting process, it can also be stored for a very long time. This was important when other food sources became scarce–they still had manoomin–the food that grows on the water.
But perhaps you are new to reclaiming your culture and you don’t know how to even cook wild rice. That is why this recipe is here for you to access. It is a very simple, non stressful way to cook wild rice for the first time.
Remember, wild rice is not even a rice. It is actually an aquatic grass. So it doesn’t quite cook like white or brown rice either. In fact, you only need 1/2 cup of wild rice to feed 4 people where typical rice you need 1 cup of rice. So a little goes a long way when cooking with wild rice.
If you or family members are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, then you really should consider adding more manoomin to your diet. It is a low-glycemic food, meaning that it won’t spike your blood sugars. The Let’s Eat–Wiisinadaa program looks at ways that returning to traditional food sources can improve your overall health. Today, let’s start with wild rice–manoomin.
How To Easily Prepare Wild Rice
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup wild rice
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Grab your trusty slow cooker. Pour 1/2 cup of wild rice grains on the bottom.
- Add 2 cups of water to the slow cooker
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours until the rice is "flowered" and the water has been absorbed.
- Now you can use this as a side dish with your meal, or set aside to cool and use in any variety of recipes that require prepared wild rice.
Notes
- Calories 101
- Protein 4 grams
- Fat 0.3 grams
- Carbohydrates 21.3 grams
- Fiber 1.8 grams
- Sugar 0.7 grams
