Cooked rice is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are thirteen recipes that will help you use up your leftover cooked rice.
1. Fried Rice
What it is: Fried rice is a popular dish made with cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok or frying pan. It is often made with other ingredients such as vegetables, meat, and eggs.
What you need:
-1 cup cooked white rice
-1/2 small onion, diced
-1/4 small green bell pepper, diced
-1 small carrot, peeled and grated
-1/4 cup frozen peas
-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
-2 eggs, beaten
-2 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions:
1. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened.
2. Add the bell pepper, carrot, and peas and cook for 2 minutes until tender.
3. Add the cooked rice and eggs and stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes until the eggs are cooked through.
4. Stir in the soy sauce and serve.
2. Rice pudding
What it is: Rice pudding is a sweet, creamy dish made with cooked rice, milk, and sugar. It is often flavoured with vanilla or cinnamon and can be served warm or cold.
What you need:
-1 cup cooked white rice
-2 cups milk
-1/4 cup sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Combine the cooked rice, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes until the mixture comes to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes until thick and creamy.
3. Serve warm or cold.
3. Rice and beans
What it is: Rice and beans is a popular dish made with cooked rice and beans. It is often flavoured with spices such as cumin, chilli powder, and garlic.
What you need:
-1 cup cooked white rice
-1 cup cooked black beans
-1/2 small onion, diced
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-1 teaspoon cumin
-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened.
2. Add the black beans, chilli powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt and cook for 2 minutes until heated through.
3. Add the cooked rice and stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes until heated through.
4. Serve warm.
5. Rice salad
What it is: Rice salad is a dish made with cooked rice and various vegetables and fruits. It is often dressed with a vinaigrette or mayonnaise-based dressing.
What you need:
-1 cup cooked white rice or any rice you choose – it works well with brown basmati rice.
-1/2 small cucumber, diced
-1/4 cup diced red onion
-1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
-1/4 cup diced celery
-1/2 small apple, diced
-1/4 cup raisins
-1/4 cup chopped walnuts
-1/2 cup mayonnaise
-1 tablespoon white vinegar
-1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper, celery, apple, raisins, and walnuts.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, white vinegar, and sugar. Pour over the salad and stir to combine.
3. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
6. Sushi rolls
What it is: Sushi rolls are a type of sushi made with cooked rice and other ingredients such as fish, vegetables, and nori (seaweed paper).
What you need:
-1 cup cooked white rice
-4 sheets nori
-1/2 cucumber, peeled and sliced into thin strips
-1 avocado, peeled and sliced into thin strips
-1/4 cup cooked salmon, shredded
Instructions:
1. Place a sheet of nori on a bamboo sushi roller or a clean, dry surface.
2. Spread 1/4 cup of cooked rice over the nori, leaving a 1-inch border.
3. Arrange the cucumber, avocado, and salmon in the centre of the rice.
4. Roll up the sushi tightly from bottom to top and seal with a dab of water.
5. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
6. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger (if desired).
7. Add it to Homemade Dog Food
If you have a pet dog at home, then you can add leftover rice to their homemade dog food. This will help to bulk up the food and make it more filling for your pet. Just make sure that the rice is fully cooked before adding it to the dog food.
8. Freeze Single Servings for Easy Meals
Leftover cooked rice can be portioned out and frozen for quick and easy meals later on. This is great for those nights when you don’t have time to cook dinner from scratch. Just reheat the rice in the microwave or oven and enjoy.
9. Make Cabbage Rolls
Cabbage rolls are a traditional dish made with cooked rice and other ingredients such as ground meat, onions, and garlic. They are usually served with a tomato-based sauce.
10. Arancini
What it is: Arancini are a type of fried food made with cooked rice and other ingredients such as cheese and meat. They are often flavoured with spices such as garlic or onion powder.
What you need:
-1 cup cooked white rice
-1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
-1/4 teaspoon onion powder
-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
-2 eggs, beaten
-1 cup bread crumbs
-vegetable oil for frying
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well.
2. Shape the mixture into balls about 1 inch in diameter.
3. Place the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls.
4. Dip each ball first in the flour, then the eggs, and then the bread crumbs.
5. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the arancini and cook for 3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy
11. Stuffed Green Peppers
Stuffed green peppers are a classic dish made with cooked rice, ground meat, and vegetables. They are usually served with a tomato-based sauce.
12. Make a Skincare Mask
Rice has many benefits for the skin, such as exfoliating dead skin cells and reducing inflammation. You can make a homemade skincare mask by mixing cooked rice with other ingredients such as milk, honey, and olive oil.
13. Make Burrito Bowls
Burrito bowls are a type of Mexican-inspired dish made with cooked rice, beans, vegetables, and meat. They are usually served with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
There you have it! These are just some of the ways that you can use leftover cooked rice. Be creative and see what other
