This vegan Wild Rice Casserole recipe is rich and creamy – one of my all time favorite holiday side dishes. Created based off a non-vegan family recipe, this dairy-free rendition tastes nearly identical to the original and is the ultimate comfort food.
Wishing I could give each of you readers a bite of this. It’s AMAZING. Truly decadent… The dish I crave the most every Thanksgiving. Yes, even over dessert!! The creamy white béchamel sauce with the mushrooms and the natural rich nutty flavor of the wild rice? Just too good!!! Ok, rant over… Here’s the steps!
Steps to make vegan Wild Rice Mushroom Casserole:
Rinse the wild rice under cool running water for several minutes.
Add 3 cups of water, a pinch of salt, and wild rice to a lidded pot. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 45 minutes with the pot lid on.
Test rice for softness and then drain. Most of the Wild Rice grains should split open but may still be somewhat chewy.
Add ingredients for white sauce to blender.
Blend until completely smooth.
Dice onion and sauté in vegan margarine in medium saucepan over low heat until onion is clear. Avoid browning.
Pour white sauce from blender into pan with sautéed onions and garlic. Heat over med-low heat until thickened.
Add sliced mushrooms to thickened white sauce. Remove pan from heat. Stir to combine.
Prepare baking dish 8X8 (or comparable size) by rubbing vegan margarine over surfaces.
Begin by spreading half of the wild rice evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
Spread half of the white mushroom béchamel sauce over the wild rice.
Sprinkle the second half of the wild rice over the white sauce layer.
End with a smooth layer of the rest of the white mushroom sauce.
Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for about 60 minutes or until lightly browned on the surface and edges of the casserole.
Enjoy this rich and incredibly satisfying vegan Wild Rice Mushroom Casserole – don’t tell anyone it’s vegan and they’ll have NO idea!
Why use silken tofu in this recipe?
Silken tofu and water combined in equal parts make a great substitute for dairy half-and-half. If you have access to unsweetened non-dairy half-and-half you could sub 2 cups of that in place of the silken tofu and water and add 1 more tablespoon of flour.
Is this recipe healthy?
Well, that’s kind of a difficult question… It’s definitely healthier than the dairy family recipe that inspired me, but it’s not something I’d eat every day either. But a couple times a year for something special? By ALL means!
Vegan Wild Rice Casserole goes well with:
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Vegan Wild Rice Mushroom Casserole
Layers of creamy white Béchamel sauce with button mushrooms and alternating layers of nutty Wild Rice combine to the create this winning vegan Wild Rice Casserole recipe that can be used as a decadent side or an alternate main dish.
Ingredients
Cook Wild Rice:
- 4 oz Wild Rice or 1/2 cup heaping
- 3 cups Water
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Saute together:
- 1 Onion small, finely minced
- 3 Tbsp Vegan Butter or margarine
Create White Sauce:
- 1 cup Firm Silken Tofu I use More-nu brand
- 1 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Vegan cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp Unbleached Flour
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt more to taste
Fold in Mushrooms:
- 1 cup Sliced Fresh Button Mushrooms heaping
Instructions
Cook the wild rice:
Wash rice thoroughly in cold water. Add salt.
Bring to a boil in 3 cups water and simmer for about 45 minutes. Drain well.
White Sauce Instructions:
Saute minced onion in vegan butter over low heat until clear. Avoid browning.
Blend white sauce ingredients (silken tofu, water, garlic powder, salt, vegan cream cheese) together until smooth. Pour into saucepan with sautéed onion mixture. Heat until thickened. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
Mix fresh sliced mushrooms into white sauce and prepare for casserole assembly.
Assembly:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat baking dish 8x8 (or equivalent) with vegan butter.
Spread half of the cooked wild rice evenly in the bottom of the baking dish. Follow with half of the mushroom white sauce. Sprinkle remainder of the wild rice over the white sauce, and finish with a smooth layer of the rest of the white sauce.
Bake uncovered at 325 for approximately 1 hour or until lightly browned on edges and top of casserole! Enjoy!
