Find delicious ways to repurpose leftover cooked rice. From rice bowls to rice pudding, these recipes will help you make the most out of your leftovers.
We have all done it! Cooked too much rice, stashed the leftover away in the fridge with no clear idea of what to do with it.
There are countless delicious and creative ways to repurpose that leftover rice into new and exciting dishes. From rice bowls to rice pudding, the recipes below will help you make the most out of your cooked rice leftovers, save money, and reduce food waste in the process.
How to use leftover rice
Leftover rice: Rice bowls
Rice bowls are a quick, versatile, and convenient way to enjoy leftover rice, transforming it into a delicious and satisfying meal. From Asian-inspired flavours to Mexican-inspired rice bowls, the possibilities are endless.
Crispy Fried Tofu Bowls l The Flexitarian
Doused in a delicious peanut butter sauce, these crispy fried tofu bowls are served on a bed of rice with some quick pickled vegetables on the side.
This recipe features some of my favourite things: extra crispy tofu, quick pickled vegetables, and a rich and tasty peanut butter sauce.
Vegan Bibimbap l The Flexitarian
Vibrant and colourful Korean bibimbap gets a plant-based makeover in this tasty vegan version: brown rice, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, spinach, beansprouts, and edamame served with pickled vegetables and a classic bibimbap sauce.
Leftover rice: Soups
Whether you have cooked white rice, brown rice, wild rice, or even fried rice leftover, you can incorporate it into soups to add texture, depth, and substance.
Mushroom and Rice Soup l The Rice Chick
Perfect for colder days, this comforting Mushroom and Rice Soup by The Rice Chick is easily customisable and can be made vegan by using plant-based ingredients.
Leftover rice: Fried Rice
One of the most popular ways to repurpose leftover rice is by turning it into fried rice. Highly customisable and versatile, this is an ideal option to use up any odds and ends in your fridge. While fried rice is often associated with Asian cuisine, don’t hesitate to explore different flavours combinations like Mexican, Middle Eastern, Spanish, or even Nigerian.
Kimchi Fried Rice (with smoked tofu)) l The Flexitarian
Loaded with vegetables, this kimchi fried rice makes a quick and very tasty meal. It is flavoured with kimchi, and gochujang paste a Korean fermented chilli paste which gives it a lovely spicy kick.
Thai Green Curry Fried Rice l My Pure Plants
A delicious combination of creamy, sweet, and citrusy, this Thai green curry fried rice is ready in just half an hour and will have your taste buds dancing in no time!
Vegetable Egg Fried Rice l What To Have for Dinner Tonight
This vegetable egg fried rice is one of those incredible quick dinners that can be whipped up with store cupboard ingredients and some veg from the fridge. It’s ready in 15 minutes and is full of vegetables and protein.
Vegetarian Nasi Goreng l What To Have for Dinner Tonight
Nasi Goreng is the Indonesian version of fried rice. It’s easy to make, seriously tasty, and can be customised with whatever vegetables you have at hand.
Leftover rice: Arancini
A staple of Sicilian cuisine, arancini are made with leftover rice or risotto. These delicious fried rice balls are typically filled with ingredients such as meat, cheese, peas, then coated in breadcrumbs before being deep-fried.
Vegetarian and vegan versions such as the ones below are always popular and can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner with a crunchy green salad on the side.
Vegan Arancini Balls with Mushrooms l The Vegan Larder
Yummy leftover risotto becomes delicious mushroom filled arancini! Crunchy on the outside and lovely and creamy in the middle
Italian Rice Balls l Cooking Gorgeous
Stuffed with mozzarella, these vegetarian arancini are covered with breadcrumbs, and then fried until golden and crispy.
Leftover rice: Rice pudding
It might conjured up memories of school dinners for some, but rice pudding is a comforting and versatile dessert enjoyed all over the the world and the perfect treat to enjoy warm or cold.
While many recipes typically call for pudding rice (its high starch content produces a deliciously creamy texture when cooked), rice pudding can be made with other types of rice, including leftover cooked rice.
Rice Pudding l Spend with Pennies
This classic rice pudding recipe is a sweet, creamy dessert made with rice, milk, and eggs.
Old Fashioned Baked Rice Pudding l Cooking with Carlee
If you like a thick custard style rice pudding, this is the recipe for you. It is a perfect way to use leftover rice and turn it into a rich and delicious dessert.
Other things you might enjoy
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