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Check out our favorite rice recipes that are perfect for any day of the week. We cover the basics such as white and brown rice but also have weeknight inspirations such as one pan rice and chicken recipes and many side dishes to choose from!
If you have followed us for a while, you know that rice is one of our main and favorite ingredients to work with. So we gathered all our favorite rice recipes in one place for you to check out. Don’t forget to check out my notes and tips about what kind of rice to choose, how to store and serving suggestions!
Table of Contents
Rice – A humble but mighty grain!
Rice is a common grain all around the world and many cuisines use it commonly. It comes in many varieties and the cooking method is different for each of them. Here are some facts about rice:
- It’s the most popular gluten-free grain and works for many people suffering from celiac.
- Rice is anti-inflammatory and helps with your gut.
- Brown rice is low in fat, sodium and cholesterol, but high in fiber.
What type of rice should I use?
There are many different types of rice and the use for each is different. Some of the popular types are rice are:
- Basmati: This long grain rice is easy to cook and is fragrant. The grains don’t stick together after cooking. This type of rice is popular in Mediterranean, Middle Easter, Indian and Pakistani cooking.
- Arborio: Used in Italian cooking, specifically risotto, this medium grain rice releases starch while cooking to create a creamy texture.
- Jasmine: Popular in Thailand and some other parts of South East Asia, Jasmine rice is medium grain and is stickier than basmati. You can use it particularly in fried rice recipes.
- Brown rice: Brown rice is just white rice but with its outer bran layer. All varieties of rice also come in the brown variation. It contains more fiber ad because of the bran layer, this type of rice requires more time and liquid to cook.
- Bomba: Popular in Spain and also known as Valencia rice, bomba is a medium grain rice that’s used specifically to make Paella.
Best rice recipes
Instant Pot White Rice Recipe
Tomato Rice Persian Style (Dami Gojeh Farangi)
Persian One Pot Tomato Rice – Dami Gojeh Farangi
Instant Pot Brown Rice Recipe
Spanakorizo Greek Spinach Rice Recipe
Spanakorizo Greek Spinach Rice Recipe
Greek Lemon Rice Recipe
Persian Style Shrimp and Rice (Meygoo Polo)
Persian Style Shrimp and Rice (Meygoo Polo)
Persian Rice and Tahdig – A Step-by-Step Guide
Persian Steamed White Rice – Chelow
Mujadara – Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions
Mujadara Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions
Turkish Rice Pilaf with Orzo Recipe
Easy Lebanese Rice with Vermicelli
Easy Lebanese Rice and Vermicelli
Turkish Rice Pudding Recipe (Sutlac)
Dill Rice with Peas (Persian Style)
Persian Dill Rice with Peas
Lubia Polo Persian Green Bean Rice
Lubia Polo Recipe (Persian Green Bean Rice)
Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian Barberry Rice with Chicken
Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian Barberry Rice with Chicken
Sabzi Polo (Persian Herb Rice)
Sabzi Polo (Persian Herb Rice)
Greek One Pan Chicken And Rice
Greek One Pan Chicken and Rice
Saffron Rice
Easy Instant Pot Chicken And Rice (Video)
Easy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Mexican Rice Recipe (Arroz Rojo)
Tahchin – Persian Savory Saffron Rice Cake
Persian Savory Saffron Cake – Tahchin
Skillet Chicken and Rice with Veggies
Skillet Chicken and Rice with Veggies
Quick Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice
Quick Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice
What to serve with rice
Rice is a great accompaniment to many main dishes. It’s easy to make and you can customize it to your liking. Here are some of our suggestions for main dishes to serve with any rice side dish:
- Chicken: Turkish style roasted chicken and vegetables, baked Greek chicken, Mediterranean garlic chicken, grilled zaatar chicken or many other grilling recipes!
- Beef: Korean beef, beef shish kabob, kofta kebab, soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs in tomato sauce) and kabab tabe i (Persian pan kebab).
- Seafood: Garlic lemon tilapia, parmesan baked cod, shrimp kabobs and baked salmon fillet.
- Vegetables: Mirza ghasemi (Persian smoked eggplant and tomatoes) and vegetable tikka masala.
- Stews: Ghormeh sabzi (Persian herb stew), gheimeh (split chickpea stew) and khoresh bademjan (eggplant and lamb stew).
How to store rice
- Uncooked rice: It’s best to store uncooked rice in a sealed container in a cool and dry place. Rice absorbs moisture quickly so it’s best to keep in sealed at all times.
- Cooked rice: Place cooled cooked rice in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat the rice only once. You can also freeze cooked rice in a freezer bag or a container for up to 1 month.
How to reheat rice
Freshly cooked rice is very moist and when it’s refrigerated or frozen, it loses some of that moisture. To reheat rice, it’s best to place it in a pan or pot and add about 1/4 cup water. Turn the heat on to medium low and let it steam and reheat. Mix the rice using a spatula to make sure the heat is distributed evenly.
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Easy Rice Recipes You’ll Love!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup long grain rice
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder
Instructions
- Rinse the rice a few times to get rid of the excess starch.
- Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat. Saute the rice for 5 minutes until lightly toasted.
- Add the garlic, salt, cumin and chili powder. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, chicken bouillon powder and 3 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes .
- Uncover and cook until the water is fully evaporated.
- Turn the heat off and cover with a lid. Let the rice sit for 10 minutes. Fluff it with a fork and serve as a side dish.
Notes
- It’s best to rinse long rain rice a few times to get rid of the excess starch.
- Store leftovers rice in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pan or saucepan with a few tablespoons of water.
- You can make this dish with long grain brown rice. However, cooking time will be longer.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am not commenting about this particular dish, incredible though it was incredible, i am commenting on your vast array of absolutely outstanding recipes. Your unique uses of ingredients and combinations are an inspiration to experience the great foods of the Middle East. Thank you for sharing.
Mike
Rice is a staple in my house! Made the chicken and rice recipe the other day. It was the perfect quick meal to make after a busy day! Really enjoyed it!
I have rice basically every day, so these ideas are perfect for me! Bookmarked to make later, thank you so much for this collection!
Wow! So many great rice recipes! The pineapple fried rice seems like a good place to start! Delish!
These rice recipes look so good I can’t wait to try them all! I might have to try the Mujadara Lebanese Lentils and Rice — that looks amazing!
So much variety from such a humble grain! Love this collection and have a whole new list of inspiration to try out. Thank you!
My family loves rice! So many great ideas here to try.