A vineyard harvest meal should taste like the season gathered itself into one dish: earthy rice, roasted grapes that turn jammy at the edges, sweet potatoes, sausage, pecans, and a little balsamic bite.
It is practical enough for a work crew and handsome enough for the first-vintage table.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked wild rice blend
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges
- 2 cups seedless red grapes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon crushed rosemary
- ½ cup chopped toasted pecans
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
How to make it
- Heat oven to 400°F. Cook the wild rice in broth according to package directions.
- Brown the sausage in a skillet, breaking it into bite-size pieces. Drain excess fat.
- Toss sweet potato, onion, and grapes with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring once.
- Combine cooked rice, sausage, roasted vegetables and grapes, pecans, and cranberries in a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and bake for 15 minutes, until hot and lightly crisp around the edges.
- Finish with parsley before serving.
From Susannah’s Kitchen
Roasting the grapes may sound fussy. It is not. They collapse into bright pockets of sweetness and make the whole casserole feel tied to the vineyard without turning dinner into dessert.
The Book Connection
Book 9 is about broken ground becoming productive again. This bake uses humble ingredients, patience, and a few surprising pairings to create something generous enough for a harvest crowd. It belongs at the diner celebration where Lark Mesa recognizes what Renee and Deacon have grown.
Cook Along with Lark Mesa
Stubborn Ground
This kitchen story is paired with Book 9 in the Lark Mesa Romance series. Meet the people, places, and small-town moments behind the recipe.
Explore the Lark Mesa books →