Whole food · Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a convenient blend of polished white rice and chewy, nutty wild rice, often pre-seasoned with herbs or broth powders for a savory, aromatic side dish. The texture is a delightful contrast: the white rice is soft and fluffy, while the wild rice kernels pop with a firm bite. Nutritionally, it's a moderate-energy carbohydrate source with a modest protein content.
People love it for its effortless sophistication, transforming a simple side into something with depth, texture, and a gourmet appearance. It's a cultural staple in North American cuisine, particularly associated with hearty, comforting meals.
The added seasoning packets can be high in sodium, which may concern those monitoring salt intake. The white rice component has a high glycemic index, which can cause blood sugar spikes. To counteract this, pair it with a source of protein (like chicken or beans) and healthy fat (like avocado or olive oil) to slow digestion, and consider a smaller portion size.
True wild rice isn't rice at all; it's the semi-aquatic seed of a grass (Zizania) native to the Great Lakes region, historically harvested by Indigenous peoples using canoes.
| Water | 66.2 g |
| Energy | 142 kcal |
| Energy | 595 kj |
| Protein | 3.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.6 g |
| Ash | 1.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 26.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.80 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.40 g |
| Sucrose | 0.40 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 25.0 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 35.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 18.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 73.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 113 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 443 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.60 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.10 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.35 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 4.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.20 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.10 mg |
| Niacin | 2.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.38 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.13 mg |
| Folate, total | 68.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 6.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 68.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 78.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 39.9 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 4.0 ug |
| Retinol | 4.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 16.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 28.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.5 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.50 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.1 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.16 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.69 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.10 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.87 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.18 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 0.67 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.32 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.62 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.25 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.01 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
Is this the same as 'wild rice'?
No. This is a mix of white rice and wild rice. Pure wild rice is a distinct, darker, and more expensive grass seed with a stronger, nuttier flavor.
How do I cook it from the unprepared state?
Rinse the mix, then use a liquid-to-grain ratio of about 3:1 (e.g., 3 cups water or broth for 1 cup mix). Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 45-55 minutes until the wild rice kernels have burst open and the liquid is absorbed.
Why is the texture uneven?
That's intentional! Wild rice has a very tough outer hull and takes much longer to cook than white rice. The blend is designed so that by the time the wild rice is tender and popped, the white rice is perfectly fluffy.