More people eat rice than any other food in the world.
This humble, inoffensive grain is a food staple, a necessity for human survival because of its low cost of production, accessibility, and for its ability to nourish. According to National Geographic, around 3.5 billion people eat rice as a regular part of their diet.
We often forget that rice is much more than the bedding of a meal or companion to soak up the tastes and flavors of the meat and vegetable dishes we create and cook. It’s the bedrock for most diets from Asia to Africa.
Rice can be used in a variety of creative ways to make some of the most enjoyable, culturally important meals spanning regions, countries and continents. The collection below details the top 10 best rice dishes in the world, but the opportunities for flavorful meals incorporating rice are almost endless!
1. Spicy Thai Rice
The different regions of South East Asia have their own interpretations of fried rice, featuring enjoyably subtle nuances between local flavors and fresh ingredients. This beautiful Spicy Thai Rice takes top spot because it’s a little spicier and zestier than other regional versions. It differs from Chinese fried rice (found below) because it uses jasmine rice, a shorter, more fragrant grain, and is traditionally cooked without soy sauce.
And, having lived in Chiang Mai for a couple of years, Thai-style rice should always come with a fried egg on top (cooked to your liking of course).
2. Jambalaya
An amazingly rich creole and cajun dish integral to Louisiana, Jambalaya warms your stomach and soul. It mixes the richness of French cuisine and the heart of Spanish cooking, but with that special touch of the South. A classic ‘mix up’ of flavors, vegetables, rice, and meats, I love how easy a Jambalaya brings together disparate elements, from Andouille sausage and shrimp to celery and spices. Check out this fantastic Slow Cooker Jambalaya recipe. It’s simple to make and absolutely delicious!
3. Easy Chicken Biryani
Biryani is a popular rice-based dish that originated with the Muslim peoples of the Indian subcontinent. Biryani is a rich and tasty meal but due to the use of ghee, starchy rice, and potatoes, however, it is high in calories and carbs. It can be made crafted in a variety of forms, with one of my homestyle favorites this delicious Easy Chicken Biryani. The key to biryani lies in the complex layering of flavors, such as mint, aromatic dried fruit, garlic, turmeric, and cardamom.
4. Shrimp and Sausage Paella
Similar to Italian risottos and the American Jambalaya, Paella is another epic rice-based dish. This Shrimp and Sausage Paella soaks up stock, sauce, and spices into a large and lively mix of piquant flavors, with a pleasant crispness in the rice base.
Again, there are quite a few variations that Paella can take, although it’s best shared amongst friends and family. When I first travelled to Spain, I’d never tried paella before. By the time I left three weeks later, it had become one of my favorite meals, synonymous with sunny afternoons, sangria, and good company.
5. Pineapple Fried Rice Skillet
The most popular fried rice worldwide, Chinese-style fried rice utilizes soy sauce, along with the use of longer rice grains. Great as its own meal, this yummy, slightly sweeter Pineapple Fried Rice Skillet also excels as a work lunch or served alongside barbecued meat and grilled seafood.
6. Broccoli Cheddar Baked Risotto
The Northern Italian classic rice risotto can be prepared in so many different ways. This Broccoli Cheddar Baked Risotto soaks up flavors of herbs, spices, cheese, and white wine. While I usually prefer a buttery saffron chicken risotto, this earthy mix of vegetables and cheese is perfect for a main or side, along with a cheeky glass of Chardonnay!
7. Rice Pudding
A list like this needs a dessert such as rice pudding, an understated worldwide classic. Rice Pudding and Apple is a dish that remembers when times were tough, and adults and kids needed to be fed as simply as possible. My father, born and raised in post-WWII London before taking a ship to Australia, used to tell me how big and important a deal it was when his family got to eat rice pudding as a treat.
8. Bibimbap
Bibimbap roughly translates to mixed rice in English. It’s a fun and popular way to make a healthy, low-calorie Korean-style meal that retains a unique personality and flavor. In its simplest form, bibimbap is a bowl of steamed white or brown rice that’s surrounded by small strips of meat and a number of fresh and/or pickled vegetables.
Accompanied by traditional Korean sauces, such as the salty doenjang or spicy gochujang and ssamjang, you can enjoy bibimbap however you most like, combined together or mixed and matched flavors as you go.
9. Tave Kosi
The most low-profile dish on this list, Albanian favorite Tave Kosi may be the most delicious. It’s an easy-to-cook mix of spiced lamb (or chicken), rice, and yoghurt baked into a thick, rich casserole that looks almost like a golden pie.
To get a lovely thick casserole, the lamb, spices, and yoghurt are combined with a roux that’s baked over time. When ladled onto your plate it looks like a baked cheese pie crossed with risotto.
If you are looking to try a rice dish very different from the norm, I can’t recommend Tave Kosi enough!
10. Nigiri
Nigiri is a small piece of salmon served on top of a layer of vinegar rice, often affixed there with a small dollop of wasabi (a spicy horseradish paste). It differs from sashimi, which is served without rice at all, and maki, where the rice and fish are rolled and wrapped like other sushi.
A singular piece of nigiri is hardly a meal, yet the challenge is to keep from eating all the pieces – it’s most delicious as lively, fresh-caught seafood served right in front of you. I could go with most sushi types in this space, given it’s now a popular, healthy light meal for many people right across the globe.
Conclusion
Do you have a favorite rice meal? I’m certain a few of the dishes described above can become part of your household rotation, especially since they’re often a lot of fun to create.