Did you know there are more than 100,000 varieties of rice on this planet? White rice is merely one option, with brown and various long-grain rices being some of the healthiest foods you can ingest. Rice is also a highly versatile food that lends itself to all kinds of recipes, making it a fantastic dinner option in times of emergency.
Check out some of the many ways to cook with rice before buying it in bulk:
Pilaf
Make a rice pilaf using whatever spices and veggies you have lying around that blend well together. (If unaware what a pilaf is, it’s pretty much just rice with assorted spices and veggies.) For example, if you have cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom, you’ve got yourself a yummy ‘lil pilaf, especially when paired with basmati rice.
Tostadas
Rice is a staple in many Mexican dishes. It’s not usually part of tostadas, however Alicia Silverstone has a yummy “tostada” recipe in her book The Kind Diet that involves the super grain. Think brown rice, whole-wheat tortillas, celery, carrots, cucumber, sunflower seeds and avocado. If all you have is some beans and cheese, they work just as well with rice and tortillas to make a hearty tostada option.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is another easy option that requires cooking a few veggies first, such as daikon root, garlic, onions, and carrots with olive oil, then adding the rice. Again, work with what you have, and throw that rice on a skillet.
Red Beans And Rice
This New Orleans staple simply consists of rice and — you guessed it — red beans. Brown rice is the better option, though most red beans and rice dishes feature white rice with a pile of red beans in the middle.
Salads
There are plenty of salad recipes that incorporate rice, such as chicken/wild rice salads. Other ideas include black beans, rice, and onions with veggies such as tomato and celery.
These are merely a few of the many ways to use rice! Other ideas include burritos, cheesy-rice casseroles, and cilantro-lime rice among lots more recipes. It also simply works on its own as a side or an entire meal if necessary, and is very inexpensive!
What are your favorite rice recipes? Share them in the comments section!