11 New Ways To Cook With Rice
/

11 New Ways To Cook With Rice

Rice is one of the most versatile things you can have in your store cupboard, but it can be easy to fall into a rut, using it only to make the same dishes time and again. From salmon poke bowls to cheesy arancini balls, we’ve rounded up 11 recipes to freshen up your weekly repertoire.
By Sherri Andrew /

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

Herby Rice with Roast Harissa Tomatoes & Feta

Serves
4
Total Time
30 Minutes
Ingredients
200g of brown rice
For the tomatoes:
300g of cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp of olive oil
For the harissa dressing:
2 tbsp of harissa paste
4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
To stir in:
150g of feta
10g of fresh dill, chopped
15g of fresh mint, chopped
Method
Step 1

Cook the rice as per the pack instructions.

Step 2

To cook the tomatoes, preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Add the cherry tomatoes to a large baking tray and toss them in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until soft and browning a little. Set aside.

Step 3

To make the dressing, add all the ingredients to a jar and mix to combine then season to taste.

Step 4

To serve, toss the rice with the dressing, fresh herbs and feta. Top with the roast tomatoes.

Salmon Poke Bowl

Serves
2
Total Time
30 Minutes
Ingredients
150g of sushi or jasmine rice, rinsed under cold water in a sieve until the water runs clear
1 tbsp of rice wine vinegar
75g of frozen edamame beans
Salt, to taste
150g salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 1.5cm cubes
1 small carrot, peeled & shredded
Pickled cucumber or pickled red cabbage
1 ripe avocado, halved, stoned & thinly sliced
2 spring onions, trimmed & thinly sliced diagonally
Mixed black & white sesame seeds, toasted
For the marinade:
1 tbsp of dark soy sauce
½ tbsp of rice wine vinegar
½ tbsp of toasted sesame oil
1 small pinch of dried chilli flakes
For the sauce:
2 tbsp of thick mayonnaise
½ tsp of dark soy sauce
¼ tsp of sesame oil
Sriracha sauce, to taste
Method
Step 1

Put the rice into a small pan with 180ml of cold water, put the lid on and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer very gently for 13 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to steam for 10 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and stir in the rice wine vinegar. Divide between two bowls.

Step 2

Meanwhile, cook the edamame beans in a separate small pan of boiling well-salted water for 3 minutes, then drain and cool.

Step 3

Mix the marinade ingredients together in a small mixing bowl and stir in the salmon. Set aside. Mix the sauce ingredients together in a separate small bowl and set aside.

Step 4

Arrange the carrot, edamame beans and pickled cucumber (or other pickles), with a little of its juice, in groups over the rice around the edge of the bowls. Then add the salmon, with its marinade, in the same way. Remove the avocado halves from their skin with a large spoon, fan out the slices and arrange on the rice.

Step 5

Drizzle the sauce in lines over the top of the bowls or spoon it into the bowls. Scatter with the spring onions and some toasted sesame seeds. Serve.

Recipe taken from book by Jane Lovett,  

Vegetable Fried Rice

Serves
2
Total Time
20 Minutes
Ingredients
500g of cold, cooked Japonica Rice (medium-grain European rice that is produced in Greece with a stickier consistency works best)
1 tsp of neutral veg oil
1 tsp of salt
1 tbsp of dark soy sauce
100g of sliced shiitake mushrooms
1 small carrot, cut into thin slices
50g of frozen edamame beans or peas
2 spring onions, whites cut into 1cm pieces & green finely sliced
2 eggs
Black sesame seeds
Method
Step 1

Mix your cold rice with the salt and soy sauce.

Step 2

Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over high heat, add in your rice and stir to coat in the oil.

Step 3

Pat the rice down to ensure good contact with the pan until you start to get crispy edges, remove from the pan.

Step 4

Heat a little more oil and fry your mushrooms and the whites of the spring onion on high heat until browned, add in the carrot and cook for 1 minute.

Step 5

Add the rice back into the pan with the edamame beans and cook for 2 minutes.

Step 6

Divide between two bowls and then fry 2 eggs on high heat until bubbling and lacey.

Step 7

Top your rice with an egg, sliced green spring onions and sesame seeds.

Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls

Serves
4
Total Time
30 Minutes
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts
1 tbsp of olive oil
6 spring onions, chopped
1 tbsp of coconut/olive oil
200g of jasmine rice
400ml of light coconut milk
200ml of water
For the dressing:
1 tbsp of maple syrup
1 tsp of brown rice miso
1 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbsp of rice vinegar
1 tbsp of sriracha
1 tbsp of toasted sesame oil
Method
Step 1

To make the rice, fry the spring onion in a large pan with the oil. Now add the rice, coconut milk and water. Stir, then cover pan with lid and simmer until the liquid is absorbed (12-14 minutes).Once the liquid is absorbed, turn off the heat, keeping the lid on the rice for 10 minutes. Season to taste.

Step 2

To make the dressing, add all the ingredients to a jar and mix to combine.

Step 3

For the chicken, preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Score the chicken breasts and heat the oil in a griddle or frying pan. Cook the chicken for 7-8 minutes on one side. Transfer the chicken to a large baking tray and spoon over the dressing. Bake for 5 minutes until they are bubbling.

Step 4

To serve, spoon the coconut rice into bowls, top with the chicken and your choice of garnish.

Cheesy Pea Arancini With Garlic Mayo

Serves
16-18
Total Time
30 Minutes
Ingredients
800g of leftover risotto
150g of frozen peas, defrosted
Juice of ½ lemon
100g of mature cheddar, grated
200g of toasted bread
50g of plain flour
2 eggs, beaten with 1 tsp of water
Method
Step 1

To make the arancini, mix the leftover risotto with the peas, lemon juice and cheddar, seasoning to taste.

Step 2

Scoop up a golf ball-sized amount and roll into a ball. Place the balls on a plate ready for rolling.

Step 3

To make the crumb, break up the toast a little and add to your food processor and blitz until you get a fine crumb and add to a shallow dish.

Step 4

Add the plain flour to a shallow bowl and the beaten egg to another.

Step 5

Roll each arancini in a little flour, then egg and finally coat in the breadcrumbs. Repeat.

Step 6

Drizzle a baking tray with olive oil and add the balls. Bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through.

Step 7

To serve, top with a little olive oil and fresh herbs.

Tray Baked Moroccan Salmon & Rice

Serves
4
Total Time
55 Minutes
Ingredients
2 Cooks&Co Green Frenk Chillies
1 large courgette
250g of basmati rice
2 Cooks&Co Roasted Red Peppers, finely sliced
1 preserved lemon, skin & pith finely chopped
12-14 pitted green olives, halved
½ tsp of ground turmeric
½ tsp of ground cinnamon
1 tsp of ground cumin
500ml of hot vegetable stock
3 tsp of harissa paste (or less if it’s a very spicy one)
3 tbsp of natural yoghurt
4 salmon fillets, skin on
Olive oil for drizzling
Small handful pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
½ lemon
Flaked sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
Method
Step 1

Heat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6.

Step 2

Roughly chop 2 of the Cooks&Co Green Frenk chillies and put them in a large roasting tray, approximately 25cm x 35cm. Cut the courgette in half lengthways and then cut into half-moon slices. Add to the tray along with the rice, Cooks&Co Roasted Pepper strips, preserved lemon, olives, dried spices and pour over the stock. Briefly stir everything together. Cover the tray with a piece of foil, wrapping tightly to prevent any steam escaping. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, combine and mix the harissa, yoghurt and a pinch of salt and use this to coat the salmon all over.

Step 4

Remove the tray from the oven, take off the foil, taking care as the hot steam escapes and sit the salmon on top, spreading excess yoghurt on top of the fillets. Season with salt and black pepper and drizzle the whole thing with a little olive oil. Return to the oven and cook for a further 20 minutes.

Step 5

Lift the salmon onto serving plates. Run a fork through the rice to separate the grains and serve scattered with pistachio nuts, a squeeze of lemon juice and extra chillies.

Kedgeree With Watercress

Serves
2
Total Time
40 Minutes
Ingredients
100ml of whole milk
2 smoked haddock fillets
100g of basmati rice
½ tbsp of olive oil
½ onion, chopped
Small piece of ginger, grated
1 garlic clove, minced
½ tsp of turmeric
½ tsp of curry powder
2 eggs
80g of watercress, finely chopped
Method
Step 1

Heat the milk and around 50ml of water in a large pan on a low heat. Add the fish, skin-side down, and poach for around 5 minutes. Remove carefully and flake it – set aside and reserve the liquid for later.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the onion before adding garlic, ginger, turmeric and curry powder. When the onion is soft, add the rice and allow it to soak up the flavours in the pan.

Step 3

Make the reserved poaching liquid up to around 150ml to 200ml with water before adding it to the pan. Simmer for around 10 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, in a pan of boiling water, boil the eggs for around 6 minutes – this should give you a gooey yolk (although you can boil for longer if you prefer.)

Step 5

Once the rice is cooked, stir through the haddock and watercress. Quarter the cooked eggs and place on top to serve.

Vegetable Provençal Boursin Tian

Serves
4-6
Ingredients
150g of dry rice
3 tbsp of Boursin Garlic & Herbs
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 courgettes
1 aubergine
6 tomatoes
1 red onion
3 cloves of garlic
2 tsp of herbes de provence
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Method
Step 1

Slice the aubergine and place face down in the tin, generously season with salt and leave to soak and release moisture.

Step 2

Place the rice in a pan, with 300ml of water, ½ tsp of salt, cover and bring to boil.

Step 3

Once it is boiling, remove from the heat and leave for 10 minutes covered.

Step 4

Wash and slice courgettes, tomatoes, onions and garlic. Rince the aubergines, pat dry with a kitchen towel and brush with some olive oil.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 189°C/Gas Mark 4. To assemble the Tian, drizzle some olive oil at the bottom of the tin, spread the cooked rice and crumble the 2 tbsp of Boursin on top.

Step 6

Cover the rice with the vegetable slices, tomato, courgette, aubergine, onion, garlic then drizzle with olive oil, herbes de provence, and season well with salt and pepper.

Step 7

Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour and serve hot.

Roasted Red Pepper Risotto

Serves
4
Total Time
40 Minutes
Ingredients
1 red onion, peeled & diced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled & diced
300g of risotto rice
2 tsp of paprika
2 vegetable stock cubes
A large handful of grated parmesan
Olive oil
Pinch of salt
For the red pepper paste:
1 jar of roasted red peppers, drained (350g drained weight)
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp of harissa paste
Pinch of salt
Method
Step 1

Place the stock cubes in a large bowl with 900ml of boiling water and mix until well dissolved.

Step 2

Place a pan over a medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Once warm, add the chopped garlic, onion and a pinch of salt, mix well and cook for 5-10 minutes until soft.

Step 3

Once the onion has become soft, stir through the risotto rice and paprika, and cook for 2 minutes before adding a quarter of the hot vegetable stock.

Step 4

Mix well and leave to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring constantly and topping it up with a quarter of the stock every time the risotto rice looks like it has absorbed most of the water.

Step 5

While the risotto rice simmers, place all of the paste ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth, adding a dash of water to create a red paste.

Step 6

Once the risotto rice feels soft and has absorbed all of the water, stir through the red pepper paste and parmesan (or nutritional yeast).

Step 7

Cook for 5-10 minutes until everything is piping hot and cooked through.

Rice Salad With Salmon, Greens & Lemon Tahini Dressing

Serves
4
Total Time
25 Minutes
Ingredients
200g of long-grain rice
2 salmon steaks
1 onion, sliced
100g of cabbage greens
1 courgette sliced
Fresh mint, to serve
For the dressing:
Juice of ½ lemon
2 tbsp of runny tahini
1 tbsp of olive oil
50ml of water
Method
Step 1

To make the rice salad, cook the rice as per the pack instructions. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In the meantime, pan fry the salmon steaks in a little oil for 2-3 minutes on each side. Set aside and flake up when cool. In a separate frying pan, add the onion and fry for 5-6 minutes. Now add the cabbage and courgette and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add in the cooked rice.

Step 3

To make the dressing, add all the ingredients to a jar and mix to combine.

Step 4

Add the rice and greens to a large bowl, add the flaked salmon and toss lightly to combine. Serve with dressing and fresh mint.

Sticky Mango Rice Bowls

Serves
4
Total Time
25 Minutes
Ingredients
100g of sushi rice, pre-soaked
250ml of plant-based milk
½ can of coconut milk, (200ml)
3 tbsp of caster sugar
1 tsp of vanilla extract
Method
Step 1

In a medium pan, combine the sushi rice, plant based milk, coconut milk and sugar and stir well. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes or until the rice is tender and has thickened. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 2

To serve, divide into bowls and top with the mango, coconut and pistachios. Add a little additional coconut milk if needed.

Fashion. Beauty. Culture. Life. Home
Delivered to your inbox, daily