This Wild Rice Kale Casserole is a decadent dish full of cheddar cheese goodness! The fresh tomatoes add a fresh quality and the rice gives it its heartiness. This casserole is perfect all by itself or accompanied by a side salad and some crusty bread. Oh, and don’t forget the wine!
You can really smell the fall air right now, which has inspired me to make a hearty main dish that is healthy yet comforting at the same time. This dish satisfies hunger due to the nutrient dense properties of wild rice and kale, and what’s really cool, is that it helps lower sugar cravings as well. The great thing about this dish is that you can assemble it ahead of time and then bake it just before you are ready to serve. It may take longer if it was refrigerated.
This casserole pairs well with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris White Rioja, White Bordeaux, French Chablis, Pinot Noir, Red Rioja or Merlot.
Wild Rice Kale Tomato Casserole with a Cheddar Cheese Sauce Recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 Recipe Wild Rice - recipe below
- 5 Cups Kale - chopped
- 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/2 White Onions - diced
- 3 Cloves Garlic - minced
- 1/3 Cup Dry White Wine
- 3 Tablespoons Butter
- 3 Tablespoons White Rice Flour or regular
- 1 Cups Milk - I used 1%
- 1 Cups Half and Half
- 8 oz. 2 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese - shredded
- 1 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Thyme Leaves - or regular
- 1 Tablespoon Paprika
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Sea Salt or to taste
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 Large Heirloom Tomatoes - 7- 8 thick slices
- 1 Cup Pecorino Romano Cheese - finely shredded
Wild Rice
- 1 Cup Wild Rice
- 2 1/4 Cup Filtered Water
- 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 1 Unsalted Bouillon Cube
- 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions
Wild Rice
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Make sure you rinse well before you cook to remove any particles.
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Bring water, garlic, bouillon and salt to a boil then add the rice, cover and turn the heat to in-between medium-low and low.
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Cook between low and medium-low for 50 – 60 minutes or until rice has split open.
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Every stove cooks differently so if you still have some water left just drain it.
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* Unlike other rice it is ok to take the lid off to check if the water is gone, just put the lid back on. Some people add 3 cups of water then drain after.
Kale
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While rice is cooking, wash kale and tear off the main rib by holding the end of the stem and sliding off the leaves then chop into thin strips. Set aside.
Cheddar Sauce
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In a sauté pan over medium-low heat, add olive oil and onions.
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Cook until soft then add the garlic.
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Cook until garlic just starts to become golden, then add wine and reduce to a syrup.
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Next, add butter to the onions. Once butter is melted, stir in flour and continue to stir until completely incorporated. It will thicken up quite a bit.
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Add milk/half and half a little at a time while whisking constantly. It will seize up at first, this is ok.
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Add cheddar cheese a little at at time making sure to let it melt before adding more.
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When all the cheese is added and the sauce is smooth, add the spices and stir.
Assemble
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
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Add the kale and rice to the cheese sauce, mix well and pour into a 2 1/2 quart (I used a 12.2″W x 7.48″D x 2.28″H) casserole dish.
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Arrange tomatoes slices on top, then top with pecorino cheese.
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Bake on middle rack for 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted to a nice golden color and the juices are bubbling.
Health Benefits:
Kale is low in calories, high in fiber and it is a loaded with antioxidants which help detox the liver. It is also an anti-inflammatory with omega-3 fatty acids, which is helpful for arthritis, joint pain and asthma. Kale has more Iron than beef and more calcium than milk which helps prevents osteoporosis, joint flexibility and helps maintain normal bone health. It is great for cardiovascular support that helps in lowering cholesterol. It is really high in vitamin A, C, and super high in the powerful antioxidant vitamin K (anyone taking anticoagulants should avoid kale because of the high level of vitamin K that may interfere with the drugs.) More on kale
Wild rice is a good source of fiber, therefore, it helps with digestion and to lower cholesterol. It is a complete protein and has twice as much protein as brown rice. Wild rice contains all of the essential amino acids, but it’s a bit low in lysine. It is extremely high in antioxidants so regular consumption protects you from disease and aging. A serving of wild rice is lower in calories than other any other rice and provides 15 percent of the recommended daily value of zinc. It has good sources of essential minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, folate, Vitamin B6, and niacin.
