Our Best Rice Recipes

Nasi Goreng Jawa
Photo: Photo by Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Marian Cooper Cairns / Prop Styling by Natasha Kolenko

Rice is a grain so ubiquitous in cooking that its versatility and deliciousness is often underestimated. Don't make that mistake. Whether it's long- or short-grained, brown or white, steamed or fried, rice can easily be the centerpiece of the table. Here, our best rice recipes.

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Garden Paella

Garden Paella
David Malosh

This vegetarian version of paella uses eggplant, zucchini, and tomato cooked into the rice dish. The Spanish short-grained rice Bomba is the star here, crisping up on the bottom to make the traditional soccorat, a crackling crust that forms where the rice touches the pan.

02 of 12

Khichdi

Khichdi
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

A comforting dish made from mung beans, rice, and a variety of spices, this khichdi comes from the Thikse Monastery in Ladakh, India, and employs ginger and garlic alongside turmeric, fenugreek, cumin, and coriander.

03 of 12

Island Jollof Rice

Island Jollof Rice, from THE RISE
Angie Mosier

Jollof is a wildly popular dish across West Africa, and there are many regional variations. This recipe, from Chef Eric Adjepong, includes smoked fish, turkey bacon, and scotch bonnet chiles.

04 of 12

Kiribath with Lunu Miris (Coconut Rice with Sambal)

Kiribath with Lunu Miris (Coconut Rice with Sambal)
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This Sri Lankan dish is traditionally served to mark new beginnings. Coconut rice is gently shaped into diamonds and then topped with a sambal made from fresh chiles, red onion, lime juice, and spices.

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Yogurt Rice

Yogurt Rice
Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer

One of Restaurant Editor Khushbu Shah's go to meals for comfort and nourishment, yogurt rice combines long grain rice and whole milk yogurt with spices and herbs for a simple but delicious one bowl meal.

06 of 12

Ba Bao Fan (Eight-Treasure Rice)

Ba Bao Fan
Charissa Fay

Sweet glutinous rice forms the backbone of this dessert, decorated by candied and dried fruits. Danielle Chang includes candied orange peel, goji berries, amarena cherries, kumquats, lemon peel, edible flowers, mandarins, lychees, red dates (jujube), maraschino cherries, gooseberries, kiwi berries, pomegranate, dragon fruit, and sliced figs, but you can substitute what you like.

07 of 12

Nasi Goreng Jawa (Javanese Fried Rice)

Nasi Goreng Jawa
Photo by Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Marian Cooper Cairns / Prop Styling by Natasha Kolenko

Nasi Goreng is the classic Indonesian fried rice dish, and this version is one chef and TV personality William Wongso grew up eating.

08 of 12

Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani

Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani
© David Malosh

A showstopper of a rice dish, this Biryani cooks under a lid of dough to seal in moisture and flavor. Discard the dough lid before digging in.

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Crispy Tofu Bibimbap with Mustard Greens & Zucchini

Crispy Tofu Bibimbap with Mustard Greens & Zucchini
© Con Poulos

A vegan version of the Korean rice bowl, this bibimbap uses tofu and mustard greens alongside shiittake mushrooms.

10 of 12

Arroz con Pollo

Arroz con Pollo
© Abby Hocking

Rice, vegetables, and chicken all cook in the same pot for a fantastic richly flavored one-pot meal. Use dark meat here if you can—it'll amp up the taste considerably.

11 of 12

Sabzi Polo (Herbed Rice)

Herbed Rice (Sabzi Polo)
© Con Poulos

Traditionally served during Persian New Year, this herb-packed rice dish's signature is the deeply browned crust that holds it all together and gives textural contrast o the interior.

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Ginger Crispy Rice with Salmon and Bok Choy

Crispy Rice with Salmon and Tok Choy Recipe
Victor Protasio

Cooked in a clay pot, this ginger-infused Jasmine rice is an ideal bed for gently cooked fish and vegetables.

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