Zesty & Creamy Italian Wild Rice Soup

Anne Lauer, Hugo, MN
2022 wild rice recipe contest finalist

½ lb ground pork Italian sausage
½ medium onion, sliced
1 celery rib, thinly sliced
1 tsp canola oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup water
½ cup chopped cauliflower
1 medium tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 medium carrot, sliced
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp each: dried basil and dried thyme
¼ tsp each: dried oregano and ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
1 cup cooked wild rice
2½ cups whole milk, divided
1 tbsp flour

In medium saucepan, stir-fry sausage, onion, and celery in oil. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Add water, cauliflower, tomato, carrot, and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover; simmer 15 minutes. Stir in wild rice and 2 cups milk. In small bowl, whisk flour into ½ cup milk; whisk into soup, stirring constantly. Bring to boil; cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove bay leaf.

Recipe compliments of the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council