Questioning what to do with leftover rice? There are a pair apparent decisions—which are no much less scrumptious for his or her ubiquity—however there are additionally loads of different artistic leftover rice recipe concepts you would possibly by no means have considered earlier than.
Most of those work finest with cooked lengthy grain or medium grain rice. Brief glutinous rice may be too sticky for sure purposes, though all the things can also be a matter of non-public style, so be at liberty to attempt it out in any of those dishes (positively use it in rice pudding). However for one thing significantly properly suited to brief grain rice, do that Sticky Rice Cake with Coconut, Ginger & Coconut Milk recipe, or this Coconut-Turmeric Sticky Rice Pancakes recipe.
Additionally value noting, brown rice begins out chewier than white rice, so anticipate it to be extra toothsome in its second incarnation too.
Wild rice (spoiler alert!) isn’t truly rice, however it may be utilized in a lot of the similar methods; it simply has an excellent firmer chew and nuttier taste. It received’t maintain collectively so properly in truffles or be the only option for fried rice however can go in soups, stuffings, and pudding.
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Methods to Reheat Leftover Rice
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Even when your leftover rice goes into one other cooked dish, it’s a good suggestion to rewarm it first so the grains separate and can combine simply into different elements. There are a couple of methods to do that, however the two finest are as follows:
- Reheat it in a pot on the stovetop over low warmth with a pair tablespoons of water or broth added and the lid on, stirring each jiffy till it’s heated by and gently breaking apart clumps because it warms.
- Reheat it within the microwave after breaking apart clumps with a fork; once more, add a splash of water or different liquid and place a moist paper towel immediately on the floor of the rice. Nuke on excessive till it’s heat, which received’t take lengthy in any respect (test after a minute after which each 30 seconds or so).
The Greatest Leftover Rice Recipe Concepts
Strive these if you need to remodel your leftover rice into one thing greater than only a aspect dish.
1. Fried Rice
The primary manner to make use of leftover rice might be additionally the best. Make fried rice a couple of occasions and also you received’t even want a recipe, however in the event you’re unsure the place to begin, attempt these eight fried rice recipes. Because the above anchovy and parmesan fried rice instance exhibits, you may get as ingenious along with your add-ins as you want—or maintain it traditional with soy sauce and veggies.
2. Rice Pudding
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The opposite traditional choice for repurposing rice is fairly candy, but additionally open to interpretation. To make rice pudding with leftover rice, simply simmer the grains in your dairy (or oat milk or coconut milk) till they’re creamy. Then combine in no matter extras you want; vanilla and cinnamon, maple syrup, raisins and almonds, recent mango…it’s laborious to go mistaken. Relying on how decadent you get (or don’t), you’ll be able to get pleasure from it for breakfast or dessert.
3. Stuffed Peppers
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Stuffed peppers will fortunately take virtually something you need to throw at them (or in them), and cooked rice is an ideal strategy to bulk them up. Including moist elements to the filling, like cooked onions and/or meat, will assist rehydrate the rice, however you may as well add a splash of broth if it appears tremendous dry earlier than you stuff the peppers. Irrespective of the way you tweak the filling, don’t forget crucial ingredient!
4. Arancini
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Whereas these are historically made with recent arborio or Canaroli rice that’s properly chilled earlier than rolling into balls and frying, there’s no purpose you’ll be able to’t make a model with leftover rice (any form). Simply reheat it with a little bit broth or water to assist the grains loosen up, combine within the cheese, tomatoes, salt, and pepper, and proceed per our Arancini recipe directions. You too can use your cooked rice in Cajun boudin balls.
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5. Risotto Muffins
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For those who even have leftover risotto as a substitute of plain rice, you are able to do the identical factor with it—make ersatz arancini—or just kind it into flatter truffles and fry them up for supper. Dredge them in overwhelmed egg and panko earlier than they hit the pan to assist them crisp up. Pair with a salad for a full meal, or make them smaller and serve along with your protein of alternative.
6. Hen and Rice Soup or Mushroom Wild Rice Chowder
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Actually, you’ll be able to add leftover rice to any soup the place you need it within the combine—simply wait till all the things else is able to eat, and stir particular person parts of your cooked, gently reheated rice into every bowl so it doesn’t find yourself mushy (or clumpy). Don’t overlook jambalaya.
7. Veggie Burgers
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Cooked rice is a standard part of do-it-yourself veggie burgers, so attempt making your individual meatless patty for a change. Our Final Veggie Burger recipe and our Black Bean Burger recipe are good locations to begin. They each use brown rice, however you’ll be able to swap in white if that’s what you’ve.
8. Meatloaf or Meatballs
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Equally, cooked rice makes a tremendous binder for meatloaf or meatballs rather than the standard breadcrumbs. They’ll lend a distinct texture (and, uh, probably divisive look) to the completed dish, however you need to use round 1/Four cup for each pound of meat in your recipe to assist maintain it collectively. Wild rice works right here too.
9. Burritos or Burrito Bowls
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Both of those choices are significantly good with leftover Spanish rice or Arroz Verde, however in the event you simply have plain white or brown rice, if you warmth it up, stir a little bit scorching sauce, taco seasoning, and/or recent herbs into it earlier than constructing your wraps or bowls. Relying on the way you prime them, they work for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
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10. Leftover Rice Bake
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Mixing leftover rice with a number of scrumptious issues and baking it simply lengthy sufficient to heat it by (and soften the cheese in the event you’re utilizing it, which you need to!) is a simple dinner that may welcome different leftovers too, from roasted greens to leftover hamburger.
Do that One Skillet Mexican Rice Casserole recipe, or use this Grandma’s Rice Dish recipe as a template relying on what you’ve, however be sure you add a minimum of a cup of liquid to assist hydrate the dish. The 12 ounces of enchilada sauce within the former recipe and the juice within the can of tomatoes within the latter are there for taste too, however in the event you’re constructing your individual model of both dish and never utilizing both of these elements, add a roughly equal quantity of runny salsa, leftover gravy, or hen or vegetable inventory as a substitute.
You too can totally embrace dairy (and ease) with this Tacky Rice Bake recipe; add scallions for a little bit extra chunk.
11. Congee
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This extremely comforting Chinese language porridge (which can also be loved in different nations, together with Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia) is often made with uncooked rice that slowly breaks down right into a creamy deal with over the course of an hour or so. However this fast model has you blitz leftover cooked rice in a blender earlier than simmering for about 5 minutes so the grains launch their starch into the broth. Don’t skimp on the garnishes; leftover hen is an efficient one, however roasted peanuts and scallions add additional taste and texture. Spice fiends will need chili oil on the aspect as properly. Eat it for breakfast per custom, or tuck in for a simple, cozy dinner.
12. Tuna and Rice Salad
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For those who want a fast lunch and have each leftover rice and tuna within the pantry, you’re in luck. Briny olives, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and vinegar assist maintain leftover rice from seeming dry. Utilizing a lush, oil-packed tuna additionally helps. However gently rewarm the rice earlier than mixing all the things collectively so it doesn’t keep in clumps, and blend within the liquids first (not the water, although, which is simply in the event you’re cooking your rice for the dish!). Get our Tuna and Rice Salad recipe.
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13. Idli
For the uninitiated, this Indian dish is like tender, fluffy, steamed pancakes created from floor rice (or different grains, like millet). Making them often requires a 10-12 hour fermentation step, however utilizing cooked rice is a superb shortcut. Relying in your normal pantry staples, chances are you’ll want to purchase a couple of different particular elements, however they’re simple to get on-line or at an Indian grocery retailer. You too can make idli with out molds in a microwave-safe bowl. Serve them along with your favourite Indian chutney or condiment, or attempt them with maple syrup. Get the Leftover Rice Idli recipe.
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