Minnesota Wild Rice Chowder Soup

Hey foodie friends! Gourmet Gus is heading home this week in addition to craving some homemade Wild Rice soup! Although, Gus loves being out for an adventure he loves being home in Minnesota with a bowl his famous Minnesota Wild Rice Chowder Soup. When we cook up this delicious soup friends and neighbors will come knocking on Gus’s door soup cups in hand. With a soup this tasty anyone would be ready to eat it all themselves, but this cozy warm soup is best with friends, family, and crusty buttered bread. Firstly, let’s get this tasty slower cooker crock pot soup cooking. Secondly, grab a loaf of tasty crusty bread from your local bakery, or bake up your own. Lastly, get ready to share this tasty soup and for the kids to mop up every last drop with a slice of bread!

Gourmet Gus’s comforts of Home

Wild rice, a tasty grain native to North America, has deep roots in in Minnesota and surrounding states. Long ago, Native Americans in the Great Lakes region harvested wild rice, also known as “Manoomin,” as a source for food and nutrition. They carefully collected wild rice from the pristine lake & river waters, which is a practice that still continues continues today.

Now, let’s talk about this Gourmet Gus version of Wild Rice Soup, though this time with a chowder twist! Wild rice soup indeed celebrates the rich heritage of wild rice in Minnesota. Moreover, as mentioned, it was traditionally harvested as “Manoomin” for countless years.
Gus’s Minnesota Wild Rice Chowder blends the nutty, earthy flavors of wild rice with with vegetables, rich broth, and tarragon, and above all helps the wild rice truly shine! Therefore it’s time to gather family & friends, gather ingredients, stir the pot, and get ready for a tasty adventure from home with Gourmet Gus!

Wild Rice…is it even rice?

Is wild rice actually rice? Or is it something else?

You’ve got an inquisitive mind kid! Wild rice is sometimes called rice, but it’s not technically rice like the white or brown rice you might be used to. It’s actually a different kind of grain altogether! While it’s often called wild rice, it’s more closely related to grasses. So, even though it’s not your typical rice, it’s just as tasty and versatile in its own unique way!

What is the liquid to wild rice ratio? Is it the same as white rice?

An excellent question and something to share with your parents! The liquid-to-wild rice ratio is slightly different than white rice. While cooking white rice requires a 1:2 ratio (one cup of rice to two cups of liquid), wild rice needs a bit more water. You’ll want a 1:3 ratio, which means one cup of wild rice to three cups of liquid. This ensures your wild rice turns out perfectly fluffy and delicious!

How much will wild rice expand when cooked?

Great Questions! Wild rice is a bit unique. Unlike some other rice varieties that expand significantly, wild rice doesn’t expand as much. When you cook it, it will expand to about 2.5 to 3 times its original size. So, keep that in mind when measuring it out for your recipes—it’s a little different from regular rice!

What to look for when checking wild rice for doneness?

When checking wild rice for doneness, you’ll want to look for a few things. Firstly, make sure the grains have split, revealing their tender interiors and look a little like, well never mind. Secondly, rice should be soft and slightly chewy when you take a test bite and not hard or gritty. Lastly, the rice grains should have absorbed most of the cooking liquid, leaving very little or none at the bottom of the pot. With these signs, you’ll know your wild rice is perfectly cooked and ready to enjoy!

Wild rice chowder, a comforting soup for the whole family

Attention Parents Cooking with Kids

Parents should use their own discretion in which steps their kids perform and should always prioritize kitchen safety!

Chopping Vegetables: (Kid Effort Score 2 out of 5) Using a kid-safe knife to chop vegetables can be a fun and educational activity for children. Although, this rating of 2 reflects the fact that this step can be kid-friendly with the right precautions

Measuring Ingredients: (Kid Effort Score 3 out of 5) This one takes a bit of math and supervision to get it right, but at this point it’s all about learning

Assemble the Wild Rice Soup: (Kid Effort Score 1 out of 5) All about the fun here! Have the kiddos dump all the pre-measure wild rice chowder ingredients into slow cooker

Finishing the soup: (Kid Effort Score 1 out of 5) Quick and easy step and the finishing touch here! Add the pre-measured cream and give it a stir to incorporate.

Minnesota Wild Rice Chowder

Midwestern fall comfort food with a chowder twist

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 5

Total Time 5 20

Course dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Traditional American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 400 kcal

Equipment

1 Slow Cooker (e.g. Crock Pot)
1 Kid Safe Knife
1 Cutting Board
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

1 Cup Wild Rice
4 Cups Chicken Stock
1 Cup Corn Kernels (Fresh or Frozen)
1/2 Lb Pre-Cooked Sausage, Diced (Kielbasa or Andouille)
1 Cup Onion, Diced
1 Cup Celery, Diced
1 Cup Carrot, Diced
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced or Grated
2 tsp Tarragon, Dried (or Fresh if available)
1 Cup Heavy Cream (For finishing)
to taste Salt & Pepper

Instructions

Combine Ingredients: In the crockpot, add the following ingredients all at once: wild rice, diced sausage, diced onion, diced celery, diced carrots, minced garlic, dried tarragon, chicken stock, and corn kernels. Stir to combine.
"Set it…and forget it!": Set your crockpot to low heat and cook for about 6-8 hours or on high heat for approximately 4-6 hours. The timing may vary depending on your crockpot, so check it periodically. The rice should be tender, and the flavors will meld together over time.
Finish with Cream: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the heavy cream. Let the chowder continue to cook for the remaining time. Be careful not to let it boil in the crockpot once the cream is added, as it may curdle.
Season and Serve: Season the chowder with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the tarragon, salt, and pepper as needed. Ladle the chowder into bowls, garnish with fresh tarragon if desired, and serve hot.

Keyword Basic Cooking Skills, Basic Recipe, Cooking with Kids, Easy Weeknight Dinner, Family-Friendly Recipe, Kid-Friendly Recipe, Slow Cooker

Wild Rice Chowder

Minnesota Wild Rice Chowder Soup

Gourmet Gus’s comforts of Home

Wild Rice…is it even rice?