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Here I go again.
Making traditional recipes all weird. Typical, right?
It’s not THAT weird though, I promise, and the flavors are kind of awesome. A little middle eastern flavors at the Thanksgiving table never hurt.
As far as casseroles go, this may just be one of my favorites.
I mean, I love sweet potato casserole like no other and I will forever serve it every Thanksgiving (and most of the time on Christmas too), but this is just something a little different but so good, and umm, hello? Crispy prosciutto. The best.
This recipe actually happened by accident way back in September and I have been waiting to show it to you because I thought it would be the perfect Thanksgiving side.
You know those nights when things are just so crazy? It’s eight o’clock, it’s still extra hectic, dinner isn’t made and the cats food is spilled all over the floor because he is a slob and begging for attention? Yeah, well maybe that’s just our house, but those are the nights when the “everything in the fridge casserole” happens. I have mentioned these casseroles to you guys before, but now you actually get to see one up close and personal. Are you excited?
Of course the one YOU are looking at I actually took the time to make pretty, because well, it’s for you guys. Duh.
Speaking of my cat? You guys he was all cute when we first got him back in January and trust me, he is still crazy cute, BUT wow he can also be crazy annoying too. He basically does every annoying thing you could imagine. Drinks your water, tries to eat off your plate, spills his water bowl all over – multiple times a day, begs for food even though his food bowl is full, lunges at you from out of nowhere, and the worst? He has somehow learned how to open my bedroom door and every morning he comes in and wakes me up. Sometimes this is fine because I need to get up, but when I still have an hour of sleep and he is pouncing all over me? Yeah, that’s when it’s no fun. At all.
We think he’s just looking for attention, but the thing is Asher spends hours playing with him (ahh…or torturing him, we are not sure exactly which it is) every day. The two have this weird relationship where they both basically torture each other. We don’t get it, but I guess it works for them.
If anyone knows why our cat is crazy, let me know.
So back to this wild rice dish, like I said before, this recipe just happened one night. I had a bunch of wild rice left over from trial recipes of this dinner, some homemade harissa sitting in the fridge and loads of cheese. But I always have loads of cheese on hand. Doing what I seem to be doing best these days, I tossed it all together, added some veggies and topped it off with some almost too old to use prosciutto, and in the oven it went.
I realized as I was making this though that this was probably going to be an awesome dinner. I am not normally this “up” on my own recipes, but I had some good flavors going on and I had a pretty good feeling about this one. Is that weird that I have good feelings about food? Probably, but then again so am I.
I loved the combo of wild rice, harissa, spinach and broccoli. It’s super earthy, but in a totally good way. And all the cheese + crispy prosciutto helped to balance out the earthy flavors and make them a little more well, Gerard family like.
I don’t think that prosciutto is typically paired with harissa and I don’t think harissa is typically paired with gruyere and gouda, but I just want to tell you, no shout to you – it all works! Like really well, you just need to give it a try.
OK, and now my spiel as to why you should make this for Thanksgiving.
One, this harissa, broccoli, spinach, wild rice casserole with crispy prosciutto is the easiest casserole to make (not to say). Two, it’s something a little different – but not so different that no one eats it. Three it’s actually pretty healthy. Most importantly though, it’s cheesy and delicious. See, winner!
Harissa Broccoli, Spinach and Wild Rice Casserole with Crispy Prosciutto.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 639 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil divided
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 4 cups cooked wild rice
- 1/4 cup to 1/3 [homemade | https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-harissa-spicy-red-pepper-sauce/] or store-bought harissa
- 1 1/2 cups frozen broccoli
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen spinach thaw and squeeze dry if using frozen
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped + more for garnish
- good pinch of salt + pepper
- 4 ounces gruyere cheese shredded
- 2 ounces gouda cheese shredded
- 5 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
- 2 tablespoons pistachos chopped
Instructions
- Grease a 2-3 quart casserole dish. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Heat a very large skillet (one big enough to fit all of the rice + spinach) over medium-high heat. Once hot add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the onions and garlic. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the onion is soft and lightly caramelized. Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked wild rice, harissa (I used 1/3 cup), frozen broccoli, spinach, dill, cilantro, salt and pepper. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and mix well to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the cheeses over the casserole and then add the prosciutto. Bake the casserole for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the prosciutto is crispy.
- Sprinkle the casserole with fresh cilantro and chopped pistachios. Serve!
Notes
*To make this casserole into more of a meal, serve with poached, fried or hard boiled eggs.
It’s also really good with fried eggs. Like really good. <–DO IT
I made this last night for our Christmas Eve dinner and it was so fabulous. I have to be honest with you, I doubted the combination a little… but it all worked so well! It was like a fancy shmancy adult mac N cheese (kinda) 🙂
THANK YOU! So happy you loved it!
Can I substitute anything for the harissa? Maybe a chili paste?
Het Lindsay,
If you use chili paste, it will still be good, but not as flavorful as the harissa. Can you not fin harissa? You can make it at home too. Here is my recipe. Let me know if you have questions.
Looks fabulous! Any thoughts on using fresh broccoli? I have a large bag left over from a crudite platter… Maybe sautee with the onions? Or pre-steam? Then add fresh spinach? And what kind of brown & wild rice blend is that? It looks like one from Trader Joe’s with brown, wild, and radish seeds called “Harvest Blend?” Can’t wait to make this!
Hey Carissa,
I would sautee with the onions, that will work great! Also, I am not sure what brand rice I used, but it was just a wild rice blend. I got it at City Market (a Kroger Store).
Hope you love this!
This casserole looks delicious – loving the different flavour combinations of the harissa + cheese + prosciutto!
Thank you!
This looks absolutely delicious, Tieghan!
Thank you so much, Jennifer! Hope you are having a great week!
We have an Amazing cat~Zen (just in case she’s reading this while I type), but it’s amazing how inventive w/ the torture she can be until she gets her “wet” food, crunchies just won’t do.
Harissa is somthing I’ve never heard of before, intersting.
LOL! Thanks Sarah!
I somehow just discovered your blog…it seems like I should have been reading it ages ago because everything you make looks delicious! I love harissa and love the idea of this casserole.
As for your cat….I think cats are just crazy. My cat used to wake me up every morning by batting my nose with his paw….he also used to sleep on my pillow on my head until I got a separate pillow especially for him…and then he still really wanted to sleep on my head anyhow. I think he thought my head was actually his pillow.
Thank you so much, Nicole!! 🙂
And yes, I have to agree with you, cats are crazy! Kind of cute that he wanted to sleep on your head though!
It is earthy, but it make me think small French town for some reason. I like the feel of that. Especially for winter. I like the snap and snippets of different flavors too.
Thanks Carol!
A friend had a cat that played with its bowl so her grandfather (a carpenter)made a wood base that a bowl with rim would fit in and then put a hinged cover on top that she could lock down–cat was mad for awhile but no more spilled water–lol.
I said wouldn’t it be easier to just get a really heavy ceramic bowl??
That is genius!! But yeah, I think a ceramic bowl might do the trick. He is just a small little guy. Ha!
That crispy prosciutto top – yes! Just love this!
Thanks Laura!
I just love how you come up with the most unique dishes that look beyond delicious! Don’t know how you do it, but keep em coming!
Thank you so much, Hannah! Hope you are having a good week!
This looks great! Now I’m craving prosciutto!
Thanks so much!
Hah, I know how you feel about the cat! My friend’s cat got to my birthday cake before any of us got a chance at it! This casserole though, looks SO yummy!
Oh no!! Man, these cats are crazy! 🙂
Thanks Lisa!
I’ll eat anything that has gruyere, gouda, and rice in it…so this looks perfect in my book! 🙂
Thanks Jennifer!
Um, yum! Can not wait to make this! It is such a weird combination of flavors. But at the same time I have to wonder why no one combined them before. They seem perfect together 🙂
Thanks Amber!