Tasty But Unusual Ways to Use Rice in Healthy Meals

Rice, the magical staple food that has sustained generations of Asian civilizations for centuries, is nowadays typically associated with sushi, pilafs, risotto, and stir-fries.

It would do it justice to say that the versatility of rice extends beyond these traditional dishes. With its mild flavor and superpower to absorb flavors, rice can be transformed into innovative dishes that are both nutritious and pleasing to other senses.

Let’s dive into the magical world of unusual rice dishes in hopes it may give you inspiration to get creative and invent a new recipe or two.

Rice Bowls With Global Flavors

Rice bowls are a popular dish no matter where one goes. The fact that rice is easy to prepare and super absorbent allows makeshift cooks from around the globe to experiment with whatever ingredients are sitting in their fridge or on the kitchen aisle.

Why not experiment a bit with global flavors?

Here are some ideas:

•         Top-cooked rice with Korean-style bulgogi beef, spicy kimchi, and a fried egg

•         Add grilled falafel, tzatziki sauce, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives to your rice bowl

•         Top your rice bowl with teriyaki chicken, sliced avocado, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, edamame beans, nori strips, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of teriyaki sauce

•         Pile your rice bowl with seasoned black beans, grilled chicken or beef, corn salsa, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream or guacamole

•         Add coconut curry tofu, steamed broccoli, sliced bell peppers, shredded carrots, bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, and a squeeze of lime juice

•         Top with spiced masala chickpeas, sautéed spinach, roasted cauliflower, diced tomatoes, cucumber raita, chopped mint, and a sprinkle of toasted cumin seeds

The list goes on. Inspired yet?

Rice Salads With Seasonal Ingredients

Rice salads are a refreshing meal that can be customized with seasonal ingredients. In other words, one recipe to rule them all!

Start with cooked rice as the base and add fresh vegetables, herbs, nuts, dried fruits… whatever suits your palate. Take a look at this spicy rice salad to get some ideas, and we’ll add a couple of our own:

•         Spring: Combine cooked rice with blanched asparagus spears, fresh peas, chopped radishes, sliced green onions, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss with a lemon vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and honey.

•         Summer: Mix cooked rice with halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, fresh basil, and crumbled goat cheese. Dress with a balsamic vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

•         Fall: Combine cooked rice with roasted butternut squash cubes, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, chopped kale, and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with a maple Dijon dressing made with maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil.

•         Winter: Combine cooked rice with roasted Brussels sprouts halves, pomegranate arils, sliced almonds, diced red onion, and chopped parsley. Dress with a honey mustard vinaigrette made with honey, whole grain mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil.

•         Any season: Mix cooked rice with diced apples, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, chopped celery, and shredded carrots. Toss with a yogurt dressing made with Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar or lemon, honey, and cinnamon.

Rice-Stuffed Vegetables

Stuffed vegetables are always a popular choice. For starters, vegetables are healthy and in some cuisines, they also serve to add color to the dish (Asian cuisines in particular).

Try stuffing bell peppers, tomatoes, or zucchini with a rice mixture of your choice. It’s a suitable option for vegetarians and vegans and also way healthier than traditional meat-based filled vegetables.

There are many variations to experiment with. One of the most common rice mixtures includes ingredients like sautéed onions, garlic, diced vegetables, herbs, and spices. With so many spices to choose from, recipe invention can be a lifelong quest! Bake the stuffed vegetables until tender and serve them with a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

In addition to rice, you may also use rice flour. Sticky rice flour (a.k.a. glutinous rice flour), in particular, is widely used across Asia for traditional dishes. The most illustrative example is Zongzi (Chinese rice dumplings), which is made by wrapping glutinous rice dumplings in bamboo leaves and filling them with a variety of ingredients. Some common fillings include pork, salted egg yolk, mushrooms, and chestnuts.

In other words, instead of stuffing vegetables with rice, you can reverse the process.  

Here are some ideas:

•         Fill bell peppers with cooked rice mixed with diced tomatoes, feta cheese, olives, spinach, oregano, and parsley.

•         Stuff poblano peppers cooked rice mixed with black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and taco seasoning.

•         Fill eggplants with cooked rice, cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, parsley, pine nuts, cumin, and cinnamon

•         Stuff zucchini halves with cooked rice, marinara sauce, cooked ground beef or turkey, diced onions, garlic, and shredded mozzarella cheese

•         Roll cooked rice with tofu, shredded carrots, diced water chestnuts, green onions, and soy sauce in blanched cabbage leaves. Bake in a sweet and sour sauce.

Hopefully, these ideas got you inspired. Remember that rice can turn any dish into a feast when you unleash your creativity. Experiment away and don’t forget to write down your favorite recipes!