If the new year has you itching to travel, why not start in your very own kitchen? Rice dishes from around the world offer adventure, excitement, and a wealth of bold, bright flavors from places near and far. Getting away not an option? Instead, take your tastebuds on a culinary tour with grain dishes that wow!
As the saying goes, the world really is your oyster! When you grab hold of inspiration from a range of fascinating international destinations, you’ll fend off post-holiday blues and cooking fatigue as you improve your skills and delight in delicious new flavors.
For weeknights or parties, meal planning or just for fun, these dishes offer something new to discover. Whether you’re looking to master iconic recipes or want to broaden your horizons with creative spins on tradition, these grain and rice dishes will keep things fresh as you embark on a new year.
Sourced from and inspired by a multitude of places, RiceSelect® Rice and Grains are the perfect companions to globally-inspired dishes. No matter what you’re cooking up—from Thai food to risotto, a Peruvian meal or a casual South Asian stunner—the right grain will take it from adequate to awesome! From jasmine rice to arborio, quinoa to basmati, RiceSelect® has the ingredients you need for every exceptional meal.
Make this the year you travel through taste with RiceSelect® and flavor inspiration from across the globe.
Asia
Vegan Asian Rice Salad
Light and lively, this plant-based salad is just the thing to brighten up your January.
Made with crisped RiceSelect® Premium Jasmine Rice, a medley of fresh vegetables and a punchy dressing, every bite is filled with sweet and savory, crunchy and creamy surprises.
Vietnamese Inspired Lemongrass Chicken Skewers with Jasmati White Rice
Start the year with a trip to Vietnam, with this grilled chicken and RiceSelect® Jasmati White Rice dish.
A meal that excites every tastebud with a range of bitter, salty, sweet, sour and umami notes, this one will also satisfy every type of eater—from adventurous to timid.
Thai Salmon Fish Cakes
A dish that marries your desire to eat well with your need for delectable bites, these Thai-inspired fish cakes are just what January ordered.
Red curry paste, cilantro, lime and fish sauce place these squarely in novel territory.
Vegan Bang Bang Tofu Black Rice Bowl
Whether or not you give up animal-based ingredients for the month of January, you won’t want to miss jumping on this bang bang bandwagon!
A dish that never fails to draw raves, this one finds nutty RiceSelect® Premium Black Rice topped with a rainbow of vegetables, bang bang tofu and creamy tahini miso dressing.
Ginger Chicken with Broccoli
Just because it’s a weeknight doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun! Toss the takeout menu in favor of this 25-minute Chinese food dupe.
Flavored simply with garlic, ginger, soy and oyster sauces, juicy morsels of chicken are a savory topping for fluffy bowls of warm RiceSelect® Jasmati White Rice.
Korean Beef Rice Bowls
Tired of rice bowls? This one just might change your mind! Zhuzhed up with delicious Korean ingredients—including fish sauce, kimchi and gochujang—plus tender steak, fried eggs and RiceSelect® Premium Jasmine Rice, this bowl satisfies in ways others never can.
Shrimp Thai Curry Paella
Head to two destinations in just one night with the help of this Thai-style Spanish paella. A recipe that combines the hallmarks of the classic—tender grains and fresh seafood—with coconut and Thai red curry paste, this dish is striking and savory, elegant and guaranteed to wow!
Black Sticky Rice
For breakfast, brunch or dessert, this sticky sweet RiceSelect® Premium Black Rice dish is an alluringly extraordinary option. Infused with the tropical notes of pandan and coconut, it’s also topped with ripe mango, kiwi and strawberries for freshness in every mouthful.
Sticky Rice Dumplings
A culinary project for confident cooks, these dumplings are made with RiceSelect® Premium Jasmine Rice and a savory chicken filling laced with Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms and dried shrimp. As the dumplings steam, they’re infused with the earthy aroma of the lotus leaves.
Thai Basil Chicken
Thrill the family (and the cook!) with this straightforward yet satisfying Thai-inspired dish. All it takes is a little fish sauce, basil, soy sauce, brown sugar and lime juice to turn your everyday chicken and rice into a Thai-style sensation.
Japanese Style Sweet Rice Balls
Never made wagashi, or Japanese confections? Make this the year that you do! With this easy-to-follow recipe and a handful of ingredients, including sugar and soybean powder, RiceSelect® Sushi Rice becomes a nutty, chewy, irresistible sweet to serve as a snack, dessert or breakfast treat.
Thai Peanut Curry
See a jar of peanut butter and think, sandwich? We see this silky rich curry! Blended with coconut milk, curry paste and plenty of aromatic seasonings, peanut butter transforms into a luscious sauce for chicken, or your protein of choice.
Thai Massaman Curry
Combine curry paste, coconut milk, chicken, veggies and a slew of seasonings in a pot and what do you get? Possibly your favorite dish of the new year! Hearty and robust, spiced, saucy and pungent, this dish will banish memories of dinnertime boredom.
South Asia
Simple Chicken Biryani
A one-pot meal that’s great for the family or for guests, this biryani is a complete meal that’s comforting and layered with flavor.
Best of all? It’s a breeze to toss together in just 35 minutes.
Chicken Korma
Kissed with a flurry of spices, then simmered with yogurt, nut butter and broth, chicken thighs become the juicy, flavorful weeknight hero you crave.
Pair this effortless curry with RiceSelect® Premium Basmati Rice for the full experience.
Butter Paneer
A dish that gets better with time, this riff on butter chicken is a mouthwatering vegetarian meal. With basmati rice, squeaky bites of paneer and a lush, generously spiced tomato cream sauce, it feels like it took all day to make, despite being ready in just 25 minutes.
Africa
Chicken Olive Couscous Tagine
Embrace the vibrancy of a souk with this delectably spiced Moroccan-inspired dish.
Buzzing with the flavors of ginger, paprika, coriander, allspice, and more, this chicken and RiceSelect® Pearl Couscous dish is the best bait for getting everyone to the table in record time.
Moroccan Spiced Roast Chicken with Pearl Couscous Chickpea Stew
Kick up next Sunday’s roast dinner with the sweet and spicy flavors of Morocco!
Rubbed with ras el hanout, then cooked until succulent and golden, a whole chicken becomes the centerpiece of this meal, alongside RiceSelect® Tri-Color Pearl Couscous and a rainbow of roasted vegetables.
Roasted Seven Vegetable Couscous
All eyes will fall on this colorful plate of caramelized veggies and RiceSelect® Couscous when it arrives at the table.
A light drizzle of punchy, creamy tahini dressing ties every golden, tender, zesty element together.
Jollof Rice with Fried Plantains
Popular in West Africa, jollof rice is a hearty, smoky tomato-based rice dish that can be vegetarian or made with meat.
This version omits the meat, instead pairing the generously seasoned rice with the sweetness of gently fried ripe plantains.
Senegalese Peanut Soup with Spicy Rice Timbales
Creamy, spicy, rich and sweet, this dish is unlike anything you’ve ever had! It features salsa-flavored RiceSelect® Jasmati White Rice swimming in a heady soup made with coconut milk and peanut butter.
Together, they make for a comforting meal with intrigue in every bite.
Middle East
Chicken Shawarma Turmeric Couscous Salad
Feel like you traveled halfway across the globe with these loaded shawarma plates.
Piled high with savory crisped chicken, springy grilled halloumi, spiced couscous, fresh vegetables and tahini sauce, it’s got something for everyone.
Jeweled Rice with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Gorgeous and golden, this RiceSelect® Texmati White Rice dish will impress guests all year long! Inspired by Persian tahdig, this version is layered with seasoned sautéed onions, dried apricots, raisins and goji berries, almonds and pistachios for a range of flavors and textures.
Europe
Easy Paella
Take a trip to Valencia with this simple take on paella packed with chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp.
A one-pan meal that also includes RiceSelect® Arborio Rice, bell pepper, peas, olives and herbs, it boasts an abundance of smoky, juicy, sweet flavors.
Italian Sushi
Give your favorite Italian ingredients—parmesan, basil and prosciutto—an inventive spin with this special sushi recipe!
A dish that trades seaweed for cured ham and seafood for roasted peppers, this one’s a fun nibble for parties and get-togethers.
Risotto Milanese with Seared Scallops
Master the art of making risotto and you can journey to Italy any day of the week! Laced with saffron and white wine, RiceSelect® Arborio Rice is a tender, flavorful bed for golden seared scallops in this elegant dinnertime dish.
Classic Italian Risotto
RiceSelect® Arborio Rice is the ideal choice for this Northern Italian dish. A type of rice that slowly releases starch as it cooks, it makes for risotto that’s silky, savory and satisfying.
Pumpkin Arancini Balls
Puréed pumpkin and nutmeg take these classic Italian appetizers into seriously autumnal territory. Still, with their crisp, golden exterior and rich interior, they’re a fun snack any time of year.
Old Fashioned Rice Pudding
Scented with warm spices, creamy and sweet, this dessert is proof that classics never go out of style. Raisins add a nice pop of flavor but feel free to omit them or to replace them with cranberries or chopped dried apricots.
North America
Taco Rice Casserole
Trust this loaded casserole to warm up any weeknight! With seasoned beef, beans, corn and RiceSelect® Texmati White Rice, it’s the perfect base for a wealth of tempting toppings, from avocado and cilantro to tangy sour cream and salsa.
Chicken Cheddar Rice Bake
Similar to a Midwestern hotdish, this comfort-food casserole flaunts an abundance of savory ingredients and plenty of ooey gooey textures. Sub in cooked ground beef for the chicken, if you prefer.
Latin America
Ceviche
Multi-grain RiceSelect® Royal Blend Rice adds nutty notes and tempting aromas to this tropical treat. For a light lunch, dinner or snack, the sunny flavors of citrus-cured white fish, juicy peaches and chili peppers are hard to beat!
Horchata
Get a taste of Mexican sunshine with a tall, cold glass of this cinnamon-scented RiceSelect® Texmati White Rice drink.
Plan to make this the day before you want to serve it, as it takes a few hours for the rice to infuse the water with flavor
Creamy Cinnamon Horchata Popsicles
The type of treat you could find on a Mexican beach, these RiceSelect® Premium Basmati Rice horchata pops are a velvety, luscious dream. Pop one out of the freezer for a blissful moment of escape.
Caribbean
Coconut Quinoa Jerk Chicken Bowl
For days when you’re craving a delicious culinary project, this dish delivers! With the goodness of spiced RiceSelect® Tri-Color Quinoa, mouthwatering jerk chicken, and fruity homemade salsa, this dish is like a vacation in a bowl.
Instant Pot Caribbean Rice Beans with Grilled Jerk Eggplant
A vegetarian feast infused with the flavors of the tropics, this dish is a smoky, spicy stunner you can serve throughout the year.
For the most pronounced flavors, stock up on fresh spices before you tackle this project.