Brown rice is the little black dress of healthy eating. You can dress it up with any of your favorite toppings and create a spectacular dish. Its neutral flavors go well with nearly any ingredient, and the extra fiber is a simple way to bulk up a meal without adding refined carbs.
Check out these tasty brown rice dishes you can make any night of the week.
1. Fried brown rice Fried brown rice is the perfect leftover dish. You can make the recipe with raw chicken, but if you have leftover meat (or even a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store), this meal is a great way to get dinner on the table fast.
2. Corn, broccoli and brown rice casseroleThe next time you want to switch up a regular rice dish, use brown rice instead of white. Brown rice tastes much nuttier than white rice, which can sometimes be quite bland. Plus, brown rice is also much chewier with just a touch more firmness that works well in casseroles, including in the recipe that follows. When cooking the rice, stock is used that also infuses flavor into this dish. Even though this recipe uses chicken stock, you can keep it completely vegetarian by choosing vegetable stock instead. Get the full recipe
here.
3. Sweet potato black bean burger (h/t Minimalist Baker)This may be one of the most creative ways I've seen brown rice used in a dish. Add it to some mashed sweet potato and black beans for a vegetarian option that's family-friendly too.
4. Sushi (h/t The Rawsome Vegan Life) Sushi is happiness. White rice... maybe not so much. But, swap out that white rice for brown, toss in avocado and zucchini and poof: let the healthy, happy party in my mouth begin.
5. Brown rice Greek salad (h/t The Lemon Bowl)If you're sick of shoveling down the same old salad, try this twist for your next lunch. It takes a bit to prepare this meal, but if you make enough you can have a healthy lunch option for a few days.
6. Toasted brown rice with mushroom and thyme (h/t Cookin' Canuck) Brown rice gets to play the costar a lot. But it takes a leading role in this tasty dish. The mushrooms and thyme make this recipe one that people keep coming back for.
7. Spanish brown rice (h/t Vanilla and Bean) The flavors of this dish are sure to be a winner. An even bigger winner is this pro tip: Cook up your rice and then refrigerate it overnight before adding seasoning. It makes for fluffier rice.
8. Creamy cauliflower and garlic rice (h/t Pinch of Yum) Brown rice and creamy sauce are akin to peanut butter and jelly. The cauliflower adds a delectable flavor, and the cheese makes the recipe extra tasty. If you want to amp up the nutritional value, try tossing in some spinach or broccoli.
