Wild Rice, Spinach and Fontina Casserole

User Reviews

5.0

9 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Cook Time

    1 hr 30 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 50 mins

  • Servings

    6 people

  • Calories

    283 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish

  • Cuisine

    American

Wild Rice, Spinach and Fontina Casserole

This casserole is so fulfilling and great for a special occasion or any night of the week. You can prepare the dish up to 3 days ahead...just cover it and keep it in the fridge. Uncover and bake when ready to serve. Amazing!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 cup wild rice blend uncooked, approximately 2½ cups once cooked, see NOTES
  • cups chicken broth or vegetable, divided, see NOTES
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon thyme fresh, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg ground
  • 8 oz spinach fresh, mature, washed with stems removed
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk whole
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained, chopped
  • 1 cup fontina cheese shredded, and divided into 2 half cups.
  • cooking spray
  • ¼ cup almonds sliced
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Instructions

  1. Cook rice according to packaging instructions. If desired, cook with chicken or vegetable broth (instead of water). Set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  3. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the thyme and nutmeg and cook another minute.
  4. Add the spinach and cook until completely wilted, about 3 minutes.
  5. Sprinkle the flour over the spinach and stir, cooking for another minute.
  6. Carefully whisk in the milk and 1 cup of broth. Continue whisking and then stirring with a wooden spoon until the sauce has thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
  7. Stir in the rice, sun-dried tomatoes, and ½ of the cheese (½ cup).
  8. Lightly grease the baking dish with cooking spray.
  9. Transfer mixture to dish and top with remaining ½ cup of cheese and then sprinkle on the almonds.
  10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
  11. Let the casserole rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. 
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  • We recommend a wild rice medley. However, check the packaging instructions on how long to cook the rice. Wild rice cooks much longer than most other types. 
  • You can cook the rice in chicken or vegetable broth/stock, or just water. If using water, you'll only need 1 cup of broth/stock for this recipe. Also, you can substitute Swiss or Gruyere cheese for the Fontina.
  • If using frozen spinach, allow it to thaw completely first and then squeeze as much of the water out of it as possible. 
  • The casserole can be assembled 1 to 3 days before baking. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until ready to bake (if chilled, you may need to bake it an extra 10 to 15 minutes - keep an eye on the almonds, if they are getting two brown, cover with foil.
  • Leftovers will keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven (350°F) until heated through, or heat in the microwave on HIGH in 1-minute intervals.  The casserole can be frozen for 2 to 3 months. Let thaw completely before baking. 

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 283kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 12g (24%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 0.002g Cholesterol 32mg (11%) Sodium 592mg (25%) Potassium 597mg (17%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 3923IU (78%) Vitamin C 16mg (18%) Calcium 245mg (25%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 283 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 283kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Protein 12g 24%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 7g 35%
Trans Fat 0.002g 0%
Cholesterol 32mg 11%
Sodium 592mg 25%
Potassium 597mg 13%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 3923IU 78%
Vitamin C 16mg 18%
Calcium 245mg 25%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

5.0

9 reviews
Excellent

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