Organic Wild Rice 500g

Wild rice is botanically not rice at all — it is the seed of Zizania, a genus of aquatic grass native to North America, traditionally harvested by Indigenous peoples from lakes and rivers. These certified organic wild rice from Just Natural Organic have a dramatic appearance — long, slender, black-brown grains that split open when cooked to reveal a white interior — and a distinctive, nutty, slightly smoky flavour unlike any other rice.

Wild rice is nutritionally exceptional: providing 14g of protein per 100g (double most rice varieties), significant folate, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese, alongside high fibre content and notable antioxidant activity from its dark pigment compounds.

Certified organic by the Soil Association. Plastic-free, home-compostable packaging. Available in 500g.

Use in grain salads, stuffings, soups, and pilafs. Excellent mixed 1:3 with white or brown rice for visual and textural contrast. Cook on its own in a 1:3 ratio for 45–55 minutes until the grains split open. Rest 5 minutes.

Recipe idea — Wild Rice & Roasted Squash Salad: Cook 150g wild rice (45–55 minutes), cool. Roast 1 small butternut squash (cubed) at 200°C for 30 minutes with olive oil, sage, and a pinch of chilli. Combine wild rice with squash, 50g dried cranberries, toasted pecans, baby spinach, and a dressing of orange juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and honey. A stunning autumnal salad with a remarkable range of textures and nutrients.

Key nutrients: Exceptionally high protein (14g/100g — double most rice), high in folate (95mcg/100g — 48% NRV), magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, and fibre. Very low in fat.

Ingredients: Organic Wild Rice.

FAQs

Is wild rice really rice?
No — wild rice is the seed of Zizania aquatica, a different genus of aquatic grass to cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). It is native to North America and was a staple food for Indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes region for thousands of years. Despite not being true rice, it is used in the same culinary contexts and is one of the very few grains native to North America.

Why is wild rice so expensive?
Traditional wild rice is still hand-harvested from lakes and rivers in canoes, which is highly labour-intensive and subject to natural yield variation. Most commercially available wild rice is now cultivated in paddies, which reduces cost, but it remains more expensive than conventional rice varieties due to lower yields.

Is rice gluten-free?
Yes — all rice and wild rice are naturally gluten-free.