🎉 Introduction
There’s something magical about autumn — the crisp air, golden leaves, cozy evenings, and comforting soups that taste like the season itself. This Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup captures all of that in one nourishing, hearty bowl. Packed with earthy mushrooms, tender sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, fresh kale, aromatic garlic, and nutty wild rice, this soup is a warm embrace on a chilly fall day.
Unlike traditional creamy soups, this recipe stays naturally dairy-free thanks to creamy coconut milk, which blends beautifully with vegetable stock and Old Bay seasoning to create a rich, comforting broth. The wild rice adds a wholesome, toothsome texture, while the vegetables offer deep flavor and beautiful autumn colors.
Each bite is earthy, creamy, and full of fall-inspired warmth. This soup is perfect for weeknight dinners, cozy evenings, meal prep, or holiday gatherings. It’s simple, nourishing, vegan, and incredibly satisfying — a must-have recipe for the heart of the season.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large soup pot or Dutch oven
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Ladle
- Optional: immersion blender for thickening
- Serving bowls
🛒 Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 large sweet potato (about 1 lb), peeled and cubed
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large handfuls of kale, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
Liquids
- 6 cups vegetable stock
- 1 (14 oz) can unsweetened coconut milk
Grains
- 1 cup wild rice
Seasonings
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1 — Prep your vegetables
Cube the sweet potato, slice the mushrooms, dice the carrots and celery, chop the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the kale. This helps everything cook smoothly.
Step 2 — Sauté the aromatics
In a large soup pot, heat a splash of oil (optional). Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until soft and fragrant.
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Step 3 — Add mushrooms & sweet potato
Add the sliced mushrooms and cubed sweet potato. Cook for another 3 minutes to release flavors.
Step 4 — Add seasonings & bay leaf
Stir in the Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
Drop in the bay leaf.
Step 5 — Add wild rice & broth
Pour in the vegetable stock and add the wild rice.
Stir well and bring to a boil.
Step 6 — Simmer
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45–50 minutes, or until the wild rice opens and becomes tender.
Step 7 — Add coconut milk
Stir in the unsweetened coconut milk for a creamy, silky texture.
Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
Step 8 — Add kale
Add the chopped kale and let it wilt for another 2–3 minutes.
Step 9 — Taste & adjust
Add more Old Bay, salt, or pepper to taste.
Step 10 — Serve warm
Ladle into bowls and enjoy the cozy fall comfort.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 6
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 65 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
- Store for 4–5 days in an airtight container.
- Wild rice will continue to absorb liquid — add extra broth when reheating.
Freezer
- Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
- Warm on low heat, adding broth as needed to thin the soup.
- Stir often for best consistency.
🥄 Variations
1. Extra Creamy Version
Add an additional 1/2 cup coconut milk.
2. Savory Herb Version
Add fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage.
3. Spicy Autumn Soup
Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños.
4. Protein Boost (Vegan)
Add lentils, chickpeas, or white beans.
5. Mushroom Lovers’ Edition
Add shiitake or oyster mushrooms.
6. Gluten-Free
This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
7. Low-Calorie Version
Replace half the coconut milk with more broth.
8. Smoky Version
Add smoked paprika for warmth.
9. Harvest Mix
Add butternut squash or pumpkin.
10. Thick Stew Style
Blend 1 cup of the soup and return it to the pot.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Is wild rice the same as regular rice?
No — wild rice is nuttier, firmer, and more nutritious.
2. Can I substitute wild rice?
Yes — brown rice works but cook time increases.
3. Can I use spinach instead of kale?
Yes — add at the very end.
4. Does coconut milk make the soup sweet?
No — it becomes creamy and mild in flavor.
5. Can I make this oil-free?
Yes — sauté vegetables in broth instead.
6. Can I add potatoes?
Yes — Yukon gold potatoes work well.
7. Can this be made ahead?
Absolutely — it reheats beautifully.
8. Can I use light coconut milk?
Yes — it will be slightly less creamy.
9. How do I thicken the soup?
Blend a portion or simmer uncovered.
10. What do I serve with it?
Crusty bread, vegan biscuits, or salad.
🏁 Conclusion
This Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is everything fall should taste like — warm, hearty, nourishing, creamy, and full of earthy seasonal vegetables. With wild rice, sweet potato, mushrooms, carrots, kale, and coconut milk, it creates a bowl of comfort that feels both rustic and refined.
It’s the perfect recipe for cold evenings, meal prep, and cozy weekends at home. Once you try this comforting soup, it will become a fall staple you look forward to every year.
Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup – Warm, Creamy & Perfect for Fall
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cube the sweet potato, slice the mushrooms, dice the carrots and celery, chop the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the kale. This helps everything cook smoothly.
- In a large soup pot, heat a splash of oil (optional). Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and cubed sweet potato. Cook for another 3 minutes to release flavors.
- Stir in the Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Drop in the bay leaf.
- Pour in the vegetable stock and add the wild rice.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45–50 minutes, or until the wild rice opens and becomes tender.
- Stir in the unsweetened coconut milk for a creamy, silky texture.
- Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped kale and let it wilt for another 2–3 minutes.
- Add more Old Bay, salt, or pepper to taste.
- Ladle into bowls and enjoy the cozy fall comfort.
Notes
Refrigerator Store for 4–5 days in an airtight container. Wild rice will continue to absorb liquid — add extra broth when reheating. Freezer Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating. Reheating Warm on low heat, adding broth as needed to thin the soup. Stir often for best consistency. 🥄 Variations
1. Extra Creamy Version Add an additional 1/2 cup coconut milk. 2. Savory Herb Version Add fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage. 3. Spicy Autumn Soup Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños. 4. Protein Boost (Vegan) Add lentils, chickpeas, or white beans. 5. Mushroom Lovers’ Edition Add shiitake or oyster mushrooms. 6. Gluten-Free This recipe is naturally gluten-free. 7. Low-Calorie Version Replace half the coconut milk with more broth. 8. Smoky Version Add smoked paprika for warmth. 9. Harvest Mix Add butternut squash or pumpkin. 10. Thick Stew Style Blend 1 cup of the soup and return it to the pot. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. Is wild rice the same as regular rice? No — wild rice is nuttier, firmer, and more nutritious. 2. Can I substitute wild rice? Yes — brown rice works but cook time increases. 3. Can I use spinach instead of kale? Yes — add at the very end. 4. Does coconut milk make the soup sweet? No — it becomes creamy and mild in flavor. 5. Can I make this oil-free? Yes — sauté vegetables in broth instead. 6. Can I add potatoes? Yes — Yukon gold potatoes work well. 7. Can this be made ahead? Absolutely — it reheats beautifully. 8. Can I use light coconut milk? Yes — it will be slightly less creamy. 9. How do I thicken the soup? Blend a portion or simmer uncovered. 10. What do I serve with it? Crusty bread, vegan biscuits, or salad. 🏁 Conclusion This Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is everything fall should taste like — warm, hearty, nourishing, creamy, and full of earthy seasonal vegetables. With wild rice, sweet potato, mushrooms, carrots, kale, and coconut milk, it creates a bowl of comfort that feels both rustic and refined. It’s the perfect recipe for cold evenings, meal prep, and cozy weekends at home. Once you try this comforting soup, it will become a fall staple you look forward to every year.
