Wild Rice Pilaf | The True Story Behind Rice-A-Roni | Instant Pot Recipe

Learn to make perfect Wild Rice Pilaf in the Instant Pot — a dish with roots deeper than you think. When Tom and Lois DeDomenico rented a room from Pailadzou Captanian, an Armenian Genocide survivor, she shared her family’s pilaf recipe: rice and pasta toasted in butter, simmered in broth until nutty and tender. That humble dish inspired Rice-A-Roni, “The San Francisco Treat,” in 1958. In this video, I’ll show you how to make a modern version that honors the original. You’ll discover: Why wild rice isn’t really rice at all The difference between converted rice and regular long-grain How to toast orzo (the traditional vermicelli substitute) for a rich, nutty base When to add fine herbs for a bright, balanced flavor How to use Better Than Bouillon for depth without leftovers turning into fridge science experiments Vegan option: Swap olive oil for butter and vegetable base for chicken base. 📖 Full recipe, history, and FAQ: https://the-good-plate.com/wild-rice-pilaf/