Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup (Printable Recipe)
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 -
2 tablespoon butter
02 -
2 cups carrot, diced
03 -
1 cup celery, diced
04 -
2 cups onion, diced
05 -
Salt and pepper to taste
→ Grains & Broth
06 -
½ cup wild rice (or wild rice and brown rice blend)
07 -
4 cups chicken broth
→ Herbs & Aromatics
08 -
1 tsp dried rosemary
09 -
1 tsp ground sage
10 -
1 tsp celery seed
11 -
2 bay leaves (optional)
→ Protein & Dairy
12 -
1 lb chicken, cubed
13 -
⅓ cup dried cranberries
14 -
1 cup whole milk
15 -
2 cups half and half cream
→ For Thickening (Optional)
16 -
½ cup butter
17 -
½ cup flour
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Before beginning, chop all vegetables and set out all ingredients. Cook the cubed chicken in a large soup pot or Dutch oven until lightly browned and fully cooked. Set aside.
02 -
In the same large soup pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the chopped onions and cook for several minutes until softened.
03 -
Add the diced carrots and celery and cook for several more minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 -
Add the chicken broth, wild rice blend and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes or until the carrots and rice grains are tender.
05 -
Reduce the heat, remove the bay leaves and add the remaining spices, dried cranberries (snip each cranberry two or three times with kitchen scissors for smaller bites), milk and cream.
06 -
Stir in the cooked chicken and taste the soup. Take your time to carefully adjust for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as needed.
07 -
If the broth requires thickening, make a slurry by melting ¼ cup of butter in a separate small saucepan and whisking ¼ cup of flour into it. Stir for several minutes. Add the slurry to the soup to thicken. Bring the soup back to temperature, stirring constantly. Taste again for seasoning.
08 -
Serve the soup with a garnish of fresh herbs (like parsley or thyme) and a sprinkle of snipped dried cranberries.
# Additional Info:
01 -
Prepare all ingredients before beginning for a more enjoyable and stress-free cooking experience.
02 -
For smaller bites of cranberry throughout, snip the cranberries two to three times with kitchen scissors.
03 -
Depending on the brand of wild rice, sometimes the rice itself lends enough starch to thicken the broth.
04 -
Before adding the milk and cream, check that the carrots and rice grains are cooked and tender.
05 -
Once you've added the milk and cream, ensure not to let the soup reach a boil again to prevent separation.
06 -
This soup is perfect for using leftover turkey after Thanksgiving or Christmas.