Turkey and Rice Casserole With Fresh Mushrooms, Broccoli and Cheese

What to do with the leftover turkey at Christmas and Thanksgiving? Why not use it to make a healthy and delicious turkey casserole? Winter is just the right time for home-made, slow baked, old-style cottage comfort food. Even after stuffing ourselves we still yearn for hearty, earthy food made from fresh ingredients, like turkey, wild rice and harvest vegetables. This is a delicious casserole that can be put together any time of year. Whole turkeys are generally inexpensive and roasting one during the summer can mean putting together a number of different dishes, everything from sandwiches, to salads, soups to this casserole which is enough to make a meal or be an excellent side dish.

This delicious casserole combines turkey with two types of rice, sauteed mushrooms, broccoli, carrots and celery. Well seasoned, the meat and vegetables are combined with a wine and cheese sauce, and baked to a golden brown finish. Cooking the rice takes about a half hour, and could be done in advance, even the night before. The casserole can be finished under the broiler for a minute or two, if desired.

Rice

Turkey and Rice Casserole with Fresh Mushrooms, Broccoli and Cheese

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Wild Rice, cooked tender in chicken stock
1-3/4 cups Long Grain Rice, cooked tender in chicken stock
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups sliced Fresh Cremini or Button Mushrooms
1/2 cup Fresh Broccoli Florets
1 small White or Yellow Onion, chopped
1/4 cup grated Carrot
1/4 cup sliced Celery
4-5 cups Turkey, cooked and diced
1 (2 ounces) jar Diced Pimientos, drained
1 teaspoon Coarse Salt
1/2 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
5 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
3 cups Whole Milk
1/4 cup White Wine or Chicken Stock
2 cups Shredded Swiss Cheese
2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Add extra virgin olive oil to large skillet.
3. Saute sliced mushrooms, broccoli florets, chopped onion, grated carrot and sliced celery over medium heat until tender.
4. Stir in the cooked turkey, cooked rice, pimientos, coarse salt, fresh ground black pepper and dried oregano.
5. Add flour, whole milk, wine or stock, to large saucepan. Stir to combine.
6. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to medium and while constantly stirring, cook 2 minutes, or until thickened.
7. Stir in the Swiss cheese and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese. Continue stirring until melted.
8. Add the wine and cheese sauce to the turkey mixture. Stir to combine.
9. Transfer to a greased 13" x 9" x 2" casserole dish.
10. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over the top.
11. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F., for 25-30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is golden brown.

Turkey and Rice Casserole With Fresh Mushrooms, Broccoli and Cheese

The ultimate comfort food, casseroles are a part of nearly every cuisine around the world. For the best, taste-tested casserole recipes representing the best the culinary world has to offer, head to http://www.CasseroleRecipes.net.

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