Vegan Rice Recipes

Varieties of rice

There are tens of thousands of rice varieties!

Depending on how they are produced, they can be brown or white.

In the case of brown rice, the whole kernel is intact and it is surrounded by all the bran layers. The rice can be further processed by removing all of the bran layers producing white rice.

Quick cook or instant rice takes it one step further and precooks the rice making it quicker to cook once you get your hands on it. It does cost a bit more, but I find the convenience totally worth it.

For convenience sake, I am focusing on the most popular varieties of rice for this article and featuring them in the delicious rice recipes that follow. Note that most of these varieties can be found in both brown and white versions.

Arborio Rice

Arborio rice is mostly used for making risotto, a creamy broth based dish. It’s an Italian short grain rice with a lovely chewy texture that absorbs liquid easily to become creamy.

Basmati Rice

Basmati is an Indian long grain rice. It is wonderfully fragrant and flavorful. It comes in both white and whole grain brown varieties. You can find quick-cooking options for Basmati as well.

It pairs beautifully with curry dishes.

Black Rice

Black rice is sometimes referred to as Forbidden rice or purple rice because of its deep hue. It is nearly always sold as a whole grain with the entire bran intact, like brown rice.

It has a nutty flavor and chewy texture. There are actually several varieties of black rice.

It is often used in desserts!

Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice is a Thai long grain rice. It’s nutty, floral and fragrant and is one of my favorite rice varieties. It comes in whole grain brown or white versions and is relatively quick cooking compared to other varieties.

I love it with curries or tomato based dishes and BBQ flavors. It really goes with everything!

Long Grain Rice

Long grain white rice is one of the most popular rice varieties in the US. It has a mild flavor which lends itself well to any number of dishes. It is also extremely affordable. Long grain rice also comes in brown varieties.

Sushi Rice

Sushi rice is a short grain Japanese rice. It is very high in starch, similar to sticky rice, but it can be used just like you would any white rice.

Wild Rice

Wild rice isn’t actually rice. Like rice it is a seed of grass, but wild rice comes from grass that grows in shallow fresh water and is not related to regular rice at all. It can, however, be used as you would use other types of rice.

How to cook rice

Rice can be cooked in a rice cooker, simmered on the stovetop, in the microwave, baked in the oven, or even in the Instant Pot.

Personally, I find the stove top the easiest method for myself. Just make sure you use a large pot to prevent boiling over.

I almost always rinse rice before cooking. This decreases the starchiness and ensures it cooks up fluffy. Note: Do not rinse if you want your rice to be sticky or creamy, like in risotto or sushi.

The most common liquid to rice ratio is 2:1, but this does not work for every type of rice. Each variety will take a different amount of time to cook through, as well. Be sure to read and follow package directions for the variety you are using.

Storage and freezing

Pantry: Store dry, uncooked rice in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It will keep well for 6 months to a year. White rice keeps longer than brown rice.

Fridge: Cooked rice can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days.

Freezer: You can freeze cooked rice in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 6 months, so it’s ready to be used in any of the delicious healthy rice recipes featured here.