Wild Rice with Caramelized Onions and Dried Cranberries

I am not much of a side dish person.  I'd much rather make a one-dish meal.  Like a chicken and vegetable stir-fry served over brown rice, or some ground beef with tomatoes, onions, and peppers served over pasta.  That kind of thing.   But every once in a while I'll make a "proper" meal with a piece of meat and some sides.

This is a side dish that I modified from a package of Craisins many years ago. I've thought about buying lots of packages of cranberries around Thanksgiving when they're cheap, and drying them myself.  Maybe I will do that later this year.

I love the sweetness of the caramelized onions, but I'm not always patient enough to wait until they're done.  If I cook them for less time, it's just not as sweet, and thus not as delicious.  If you don't have wild rice, you could just double the amount of brown rice - this would make the recipe less expensive.  I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect that this recipe would be even better with dried cherries. 

Wild Rice with Caramelized Onions and Dried Cranberries

2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
3 tbsp. margarine
3 medium onions, sliced
2 tsp. brown sugar
1 cup dried cranberries

Combine vegetable broth and both rices in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat.  Cover and simmer 45 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.  Meanwhile, melt margine in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onions and brown sugar.  Cook 6-7 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.  Reduce heat to low and continue to cook onions, stirring often, for 25 minutes or until onions are a caramel color.  Stir in dried cranberries, then cover and cook cook over low heat for 10 minutes or until cranberries swell.  Fold cranberry/onion mixture into cooked rice. 

Check out more recipes at:

• Crock Pot Wednesday  
• Ultimate Recipe Swap Thursday 
• Food on Fridays 
• Friday Feasts 
• Recipe Trader Sunday 
• Mouthwatering Monday 
• Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap 
• Tuesdays at the Table 
• Foodie Friday
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
• What's Cooking Wednesday
• Lovin' from the Oven 
• Homemaker Monday 
• Finer Things Friday
• Cooking Thursday
• Weekly Recipe Swap 
• Real Food Wednesday
• Pennywise Platter Thursday 
• Meatless Monday Recipes 
• Meals with My Deals 
• Food Revolution Fridays