Best Rice Recipes for Dinner and Dessert

Turn leftovers and freezer staples into an instantly flavourful dinner with this recipe from Guy Fieri. Sambal oelek is a gingery, spicy paste that’s worth seeking out at Asian grocers. It’s great mixed into dipping sauces, on eggs or mixed into a marinade.

Rice pudding is a simple comfort dessert that takes you back to your childhood with each bite. Using a short grain rice like Carnaroli or Arborio will help you create that pleasing creamy texture.

Only 10 minutes of prep time—how easy is that? A teaspoon of stunning and precious saffron threads turns a simple, seasonal rice dish into a luxurious treat.

This recipe uses some interesting spices like tonka bean (a fragrant spice with a vanilla-meets-clove-meets-almond sort of flavour) and long pepper for a little bit of heat.

If you’re a bit short on spices but have ketchup at hand, this recipe will work for you!

A simple yet satisfying rice pudding that can be topped with anything from stewed fruit to cinnamon or nutmeg.

This recipe includes making your own cashew milk, a rich and tasty alternative to almond milk.

Both brown rice and wheat berries are high in energizing B-vitamins and filling fibre, making this Mediterranean grain bowl an ideal lunch you can make ahead.

Make weeknight dinners a breeze with a creamy, veggie-filled casserole topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs.

Oil pulls all the flavour from anything it’s infused with. Chives are employed in this recipe as the flavouring and garnish, for a gentle onion taste that won’t overwhelm.

Coconut milk and brown rice combine deliciously for this surprisingly light rice pudding that’s ideal for breakfast. Add some flavourful flair by adding such toppings as diced fresh or dried mango and pineapple, raspberries, toasted shaved coconut chips and chopped crystallized ginger.

Succulent scallops and sweet crab are complimented by a touch of red Thai chili, white wine, Parmesan and lemon for a creamy, classic Italian risotto recipe with real coastal style. Entertaining-worthy but weeknight-friendly, this risotto will delight any gourmet.

Use puffed brown rice or another gluten-free puffed grain (millet, amaranth and quinoa will all work) to create a lightly sweet, wholegrain snack the whole family will love.

Creamy rice pudding gets a dairy-free lift from tropical coconut milk. It’s a subtle and comforting finale to a spicy Thai- or Indian-inspired dinner, and makes a lower sugar afternoon snack as well. Upon serving, fresh fruit such as mango, pineapple and berries adds a pop of colour and contrasting tang.