Prepared multiple times. This recipe has quickly become a winter time staple.

Unfortunately, I cannot figure out the source or date of this recipe clipping. It does not seem to be from either Bon Appetit or Gourmet magazine as the recipe does not show up on the Epicurious website. I find their website difficult to search through--seems they have made changes. My search for this recipe only turned up a few random categories--and almost zero recipes using wild rice. 

Before I get going on an epic rant about search engines. Here is a picture of the recipe as printed. If any one can identify its source please let me know. Use as is if you want but don't say I didn't try to warn you to use precooked wild rice.

 

 

Sausage and Wild Rice Casserole

6-8 Servings (As a side dish--I use it as a main course)

1 pound bulk sausage (I generally use mild Italian)

Olive Oil if desired

1/2 cup chopped celery (I don't actually measure the celery and onions--I probably use more)

1/2 cup chopped onion

(I also add a couple of cloves of chopped garlic)

Salt and pepper 

Now I completely go off recipe:

I make my own cream of mushroom soup:

1 small container (8oz?) of mushrooms (I have used different varieties depending on my mood and what I have on hand)

3 TBS butter (have a little extra flour and butter and milk to hand so that you can make adjustments as necessary)

3 TBS flour

 2 cups whole milk

Salt and pepper

1 cup wild rice

(PLEASE take the time to precook your rice--this is a serious missed step in the as-is printed recipe) (Also I used red rice because it was in my cupboard--I liked it so much that I will probably always use PARTIALLY COOKED red rice for this recipe)

1 cup grated cheddar cheese (this dish pares will many kinds of cheese and is a great way to use up leftover ends and bits)

Salt and pepper

Seasoned breadcrumbs toasted in butter. 

Preheat oven to 325° F.

PRECOOK your rice. Cover 1 cup of rice with enough cold water to immerse the rice. Add some salt and butter (or olive oil). Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to simmer and cooking the rice until it is almost tender.  This is known as PAR COOKING as in the rice is partially but not all the way cooked. If you don't cook the rice before hand then it will both adsorb all the liquid (dry casserole) and the wild rice will still be underdone. If you precook the rice to tender then one might end up with mushy rice from the continued cook in the oven. Remove your rice from the pan and set aside. Season it to taste with salt and pepper.

In the same pan melt the 3TBS of butter. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms begin to brown and the liquid evaporates. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir the 3TBS of flour into the mushrooms until it completely disappears. You may need to add a little more butter to smooth out the roux. Slowly begin to add the milk constantly stirring (or whisking) letting the mushrooms adsorb the milk before adding more--as the sauce develops add the remaining milk. Let this cook for a few minutes then make adjustments. 

Make adjustments--it is best to err on the "a little thin" side as the sauce will both be adsorbed into the rice and thicken more in the oven. If it looks like a slightly thin soup--hooray-- If it seems too thick add more milk to thin it out. If it seems too runny then take about 1 TBS of flour and 1TBS of water and whisk together--stir this a little bit at a time into the mushroom soup. Salt and pepper to taste. 

I use a Le Creuset cast iron casserole pot for this dish. Starting on the stovetop add some olive oil to the Le Creuset and then break up and brown the sausage. Once the sausage gets going add the onion and the celery letting everything get nicely brown. Throw the garlic in at the last so that it doesn't burn. The original recipe states that you should drain the drippings and discard--I skip this step unless the sausage was super fatty. I don't like throwing away flavor.

Mix in the PRECOOKED rice, the mushroom soup, and the grated cheese. If you have been seasoning as go then you may not need more salt and pepper--but taste to make sure. 

Off recipe again! Original recipe calls for 1-1/2 hours in an uncovered 9x13" glass baking dish. 

I put the lid on the casserole dish and put it in the oven for about 45 minutes. I remove the lid and sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of casserole and bake uncovered for remaining 45 minutes.