• The almond “amandine” end and smoky bacon add crisp distinction to a creamy, richly savory filling.
• Simmering the wild rice in broth builds deep taste and retains the grains pleasantly chewy as a substitute of mushy.
• Rotisserie rooster, pantry staples, and a single Dutch oven make this crowd-sized bake easy and dependable.
Classic amandine, which is French for “with almonds,” normally means a fast stovetop therapy that ends with a bathe of toasted nuts. This casserole interprets that elegant end right into a comforting, shareable bake. It begins on the range with bacon, whose drippings develop into the bottom for a basis of mushroom, shallot, and thyme. A spoonful of flour turns these greens and drippings into a lightweight roux, able to thicken loads of rooster broth. Instead of stirring in already-cooked rice, you’ll simmer the wild rice mix proper in that savory liquid, which suggests it absorbs taste whereas maintaining its signature chew. A splash of sherry vinegar brightens the pot, balancing the richness and lifting the earthiness of mushrooms and garlic.
Crisp-tender haricots verts slide in close to the top so that they hold their colour and snap. Rotisserie rooster and pimientos fold by way of for little pops of sweetness and smoke with weeknight ease. The combination strikes to a baking dish, will get a beneficiant blanket of uncooked sliced almonds (they’ll toast within the oven), and bakes till effervescent and golden on the edges. The last flourish is the bacon you cooked in the beginning, which is sprinkled excessive proper earlier than serving for optimum texture.
It’s a big-pan, bring-the-family dish with a refined nod to French method, but streamlined. One pot builds the bottom, and it solely wants one bake to complete. Serve this casserole with a inexperienced salad and a easy French dressing, or cross heat rolls to catch each little bit of creamy sauce and nutty, almond-studded topping.
Wild rice vs. wild rice mix
True wild rice is the seed of North American aquatic grasses (genus Zizania), not rice. It’s lengthy, darkish, nutty, and takes a very long time to cook dinner. For this recipe, we advocate a mix like Lundberg Family Farm’s California-grown Wild Blend Ricea multigrain combine comprising long-grain brown, candy brown, Wehani pink, black, and wild rice. It’s designed for fragrant taste, colour, and a constant 45-minute cook dinner. The mix yields a tender-chewy chunk and even starch launch, whereas 100% wild rice stays firmer, toastier, and extra separate when cooked.
Serving solutions
Chicken amandine loves crisp, vivid sides that minimize the buttery almond sauce. Try a easy Arugula-Fennel Salad or Green Salad with Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette. A wedge of crusty bread and salted butter is at all times a sensible choice, too.
Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen
- Raw sliced almonds toast completely in the course of the bake so there’s no must pre-toast.
- Taste the broth earlier than baking and modify vinegar or salt. The almonds and bacon add salt and crunch on the end.
- Wild rice ought to be al dente within the pot. The oven time finishes it with out turning the grains mushy.
Suggested pairing
2022 Chehalem Winery Inox. Its vivid apple and lemon core, light creaminess, and refined nutty notes mirror the casserole’s almond high and buttery texture, whereas recent acidity cuts the richness of bacon and mushrooms. It received’t overpower the inexperienced beans or pimientos, and its clear, mineral end retains every chunk vigorous. Prefer beer? A Belgian-style witbier gives citrusy carry and spice with out bitterness.
This recipe was developed by Jasmine Smith; the textual content was written by Breana Killeen.
