Healthy Wild Rice Stuffing

The Thanksgiving meal would not be complete without stuffing, but traditional stuffing is full of refined flour, which affects your body in a similar way to sugar!  Here’s a recipe for wild rice stuffing that captures the taste you’re looking for, without loading you up on empty calories.  The wild rice, nuts, and veggies are full of nutrients and fiber, so you can enjoy without feeling guilty!  It is significantly lower on the Glycemic Index than other stuffing recipes, because there is no bread.

I used a little bit of bacon to add flavor to this dish.  It’s not very much, and it won’t be too bad for you if you use the nitrate/nitrite free kind.  Nitrates and nitrites are carcinogenic, so it’s best to avoid them!

I think you’ll really enjoy the combination of flavors and textures in this dish.  The flavor of the stock you use really can make a difference in how the stuffing turns out, so shop around and find one you like.  I like the Trader Joe’s organic chicken stock, or the Kitchen Basics brand.  If you want to save time buy the pre-chopped mirepoix mix from Trader Joe’s.

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Before we get to the recipe for the Healthy Wild Rice Stuffing I want to invite you to join with others who are making healthy changes.  I’d love to walk alongside you in your journey towards wholeness and health! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!”  Freedom from food addictions is part of having a truly full life.  

Serves 6

• 2 Cups Wild Rice
• 4 Cups of Your Favorite Turkey or Chicken Stock (Make sure yours doesn’t have barley in it.)
• 4 Slices Nitrate Free Bacon
• 1 Cup Chopped Carrots
• 1 Cup Chopped Onions
• 1 Cup Chopped Celery
• 1 Cup Sliced Mushrooms
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped
• 2 Tbsp Dried Poultry Seasoning
• 1 Cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• 2 Tsp Coconut Oil
• Cook the rice, according to package instructions, in the 4 cups of broth.

Cook the bacon in a large ceramic non-stick pan over medium heat until it is crispy.  Remove the bacon, chop it, and place it in a small bowl to the side.  Add the coconut oil to the bacon fat in the bottom of the pan.  Add carrots, onion, celery, and mushrooms and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Sauté until caramelization is beginning.  Add garlic and saute for 4 more minutes.  The veggies really do look beautiful at this point!  Sprinkle them with poultry seasoning.

Stir together the veggies, rice, nuts, and bacon, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Add the mixture to a baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Enjoy!