Rice is everywhere, it’s pretty much universally known.
Such an affordable ingredient that has become a staple in many households around the world.
However, even though there are so many recipes and ways to cook rice, it can get a little boring, especially for the little ones in the house.
But it just feels like a safe, accessible option, so why give up on it?
Well, good news, you don’t have to!
Learn new and exciting ways you can experiment with this simple grain, and you will never take it off your grocery list.
So, instead of your regular rice and chicken recipe, try these innovative and delightful ways to cook rice to surprise your family.
Table of Contents
Rice pancakes
Starting off strong, this leftover rice recipe is sure to wow your kids once they sit for breakfast and get them ready for the day.
Please keep in mind leftover rice is good as long as you let it cool after preparing and store it properly.
Making this is so quick and easy you won’t even know what to do with the spare time! And you only need a few ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of cooled cooked rice.
- 1 large egg.
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract.
- ½ tsp. cinnamon.
- ¼ tsp. salt.
- 1 tbsp. cooking oil.
Rice pancakes preparation:
- Mix the rice, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl until it’s evenly blended.
- Pour the oil on a skillet (preferably non-stick) and heat for a moment.
- Scoop a small amount of the rice mixture into the skillet. You can press the batter down with a spatula to get an even pancake.
- Cook the pancakes for a few moments on each side, beware they don’t burn to a crisp, you want a firm and slightly browned result.
They may not look super pretty at first glance and the texture could make you frown for a second there, but you will be on for a ride once you try them. Serve with any topping of your choice, like peanut butter, honey or jam.
Rice balls
Do you ever want to clean out your fridge but have no clue what to do with the ingredients there? I feel you, therefore we share this handy rice balls recipe that includes simple at-home ingredients to prepare a delicious snack or pack in a lunch box for your munchkins.
Clearly our main character here is the rice, so you can switch out some of the other ingredients to your and your family’s preferences. Here is an idea to start with:
Spinach and ham rice balls preparation
- Finely mince ham pieces, green onion and chopped baby spinach.
- Sauté the spinach and green onion in a pan with a little oil until wilted (don’t use too much otherwise the rice will be slippery and won’t stick together). Season with just a bit of soy sauce.
- Mix the cooked rice, ham, and spinach with onion together in a bowl. Add salt and pepper if you wish.
- This is the fun part. After thoroughly cleaning your hands, take a spoonful of the mixture and squeeze into a small ball. Bring the kids to help with this step, it can make them feel included!
Pro tip: Apply a small amount of oil on your hands to grease them up and make the rice balls easier. You could also use plastic gloves.
Any food than can be eaten just with your fingers is sure to be the star of the meal.
If you want to knock it out the park, add some spices to bring out more flavor and include more veggies or protein, and for the finishing explosive touch, hear me out: you can fry them!
Some protein options are boiled egg, canned tuna, or bacon. As for vegetables, you could use carrots, peas or broccoli, just remember to chop them into small bits so they can be balled up.
If you are wondering to include Rice in your Menu with these recipes, I’ve got a great recommendation for you.
Try the long grain white rice found here: https://carolinarice.com/products/white-rice/.
You can never go wrong with this super convenient type of rice; besides, it’s probably already sitting in your pantry!
