Wild Rice with Bacon and Fennel

By GadgetGirl

For this earthy salad, make sure to use wild rice, not a blend, to get a nice chewy texture.

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups uncooked wild rice
• 4 bacon slices
• 1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, cut into thin wedges
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh fennel fronds or flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Preparation

Step 1

1. Cook wild rice according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 7 to 8 minutes or until crisp; drain on paper towels, reserving 1 Tbsp. drippings in skillet. Chop bacon.

3. Sauté fennel bulb and onion in hot drippings over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add broth and next 3 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 8 minutes or until tender. Stir in rice and bacon; cook, stirring often, 3 minutes.

4. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Stir in fennel fronds and vinegar. Stir in walnuts just before serving.

Note: Use wild rice, not a blend, for the best texture.