Rice & Grains
2019 recipes found

Mushroom and Egg Donburi
There are many different types of donburi, a Japanese rice bowl topped with some combination of meat and vegetables, including gyudon (beef), katsudon (pork) and oyakodon (chicken and egg). In this meat-free version, which was inspired by oyakodon, mushrooms and leeks simmer in a dashi-based sauce before beaten eggs are poured over and cooked until custardy. The combination of mushrooms and leeks is especially satisfying because it doubles down on the savory and sweet contrast in the sauce, but vegetarian versions of oyakodon are also frequently made with cubed tofu or other thinly sliced vegetables and egg. To keep it vegetarian, use fish-free dashi, which can be purchased or made with dried shiitakes and kombu. (You can add the rehydrated shiitakes to the mushroom mixture.)

Sweet Potato Cornbread
Old-school Southern cornbread is good anytime and anywhere, but make it a bit more surprising with sweet potato. This cornbread is seasoned with caramelized sweet potatoes and warm spices, then smeared with a delicious sweet potato-brown sugar butter that’s reminiscent of classic sweet potato pie. To save time and energy, a can of sweet potato stands in for fresh ones that require roasting. When jazzed up by caramelizing in a skillet, its flavor instantly changes from back-up dancer to star.

Haleem (Spiced Beef, Lentil and Barley Stew)
Heavily spiced with peppercorns, fresh ginger, cumin and garam masala, this slow-cooked stew is rich with meltingly tender beef and thickened with tender, broken-down dal and barley. It’s typically prepared in big pots to feed a crowd for special occasions like Eid in Muslim communities across India and Pakistan. While haleem is traditionally slow-simmered on the stove for a few hours (see Tip for the stovetop method), this version, made in an Instant Pot, achieves a similar result in just over an hour. Briefly pulsing the stew in a food processor or using an immersion blender during the final moments of cooking is the easiest way to achieve the stew’s signature silky texture, but vigorous whisking will also do the trick. Serve with roti, naan or pita.

One-Pot Kabocha Squash and Coconut Rice
Great on its own, this rice dish makes for a light, low-effort vegan meal, but it can also be served alongside seared tofu or grilled chicken. Kabocha wedges are shingled over a base of coconut rice seasoned with garlic and ginger. You’ll marvel at how the rice cooks through in the time it takes for the squash to tenderize. There’s an art to cooking rice in a pot, and the details make a difference. First, be sure to wash the rice thoroughly before cooking to rinse out the starch from the grains for a fluffier texture. Be patient and try not to peek under the lid while the rice is cooking, as you’ll want to keep the hot steam inside the saucepan. If the brand of coconut milk you’re using does not have any stabilizer, the liquid may appear curdled. Don’t be alarmed: It’s all fine and will still taste delicious.

Chile-Lime Crispy Rice With Roasted Vegetables
Cool-weather eating can mean heavy flavors and dishes that rely on richness to wake up your palate. This recipe makes a sharp left by combining sweet, caramelized vegetables with an ultrabright, spicy dressing and unexpected pops of crunch and chew from skillet-crisped rice. Serve as is, or toss in chopped peanuts, cooked shrimp, ground pork or shredded chicken for added protein.
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Pohé (Flattened Rice)
In the Indian state of Maharashtra, this savory breakfast known as pohé is a favorite. It features parched, flattened rice (also called pohé or poha) paired with onions, a medley of spices, and vegetables such as potatoes, green peas, cauliflower, or tomatoes.

Sabzi Polo (Herbed Rice With Saffron)
Sabzi polo is an essential part of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, symbolizing renewal and prosperity with its vibrant mix of fresh herbs. This fragrant, fluffy rice dish is traditionally served with fish, honoring an age-old custom that ties the holiday to themes of abundance and good fortune. The combination of dill, cilantro and parsley infuses the rice with a bright, earthy aroma, while saffron lends a deep golden hue. One of the most treasured parts of sabzi polo is the tahdig, a golden, crispy layer at the bottom of the pot. In this version, tender lettuce leaves create a unique variation of tahdig. To ensure the tahdig releases beautifully, use a nonstick pot. Serve this alongside mast-o-khiar, a cucumber-yogurt sauce, which can be spooned over the rice or used as a dip for the crispy tahdig.

Sausage and Barley Soup With Greens
This simple, satisfying soup relies on sausage as its flavorful base. Start by cooking raw sausage, rather than precooked links, since it generally has better texture and flavor for soup. Pearled barley adds heartiness and a wonderful chewy texture. Stir in a handful of greens at the end, plus a little vinegar for brightness, and you have a cozy meal in less than an hour of mostly hands-off time. To make this soup gluten-free, you can substitute French green lentils for the barley. If you are making it ahead of time, wait to add the greens until you’re ready to serve to preserve their bright, fresh flavor.

Bourbon Beef and Farro Stew
Reminiscent of a soothing beef and barley soup, this bourbon-scented short rib and farro stew brings much-needed comfort during the cold season. As with many beef stews, you’ll start by searing the short ribs. Beef short ribs are not the cheapest cut, but they are prized for their marbled fat, which builds complexity, and they simmer up deliciously fork-tender. Making the most of the flavor-packed fat rendered from the short ribs, the onions get lightly caramelized in it, then showered in splashes of smoky, sweet bourbon. Next, everything goes in the pot: The short ribs are gently simmered in beef stock alongside paprika and cumin-spiced onions, carrots and farro. A splash of balsamic finishes the stew, balancing out the rich, meaty flavors.

Skillet Cornbread
This cornbread recipe from photographer, documentarian and writer Pableaux Johnson is a simple and rustic standard. Baked in a hot skillet to encourage crispy edges and a substantially toasty bottom, cornbread is traditional to many regions in the South. This recipe was passed down by Mr. Johnson’s grandfather, Achille Leon Hebert from Baton Rouge, La., and it was served every Monday at Mr. Johnson’s legendary red beans and rice community table at his home in New Orleans. It traveled with him across the country on his Red Beans Roadshow, where he collaborated with local chefs and served dozens of communities over the span of almost a decade.

Shake and Bake Pork Chops
This homemade version of the nostalgic seasoned bread crumbs from the supermarket yields pork chops that cook up almost as easy and fast — and even juicier. The recipe also gives your spice cabinet a workout with a delicious blend of spices. Start by brushing a thin layer of mayonnaise on boneless pork chops to lock in moisture and add flavor. Then coat the chops in a heavily seasoned sweet and savory bread crumb mix and bake until perfectly crispy and moist. Served with applesauce on the side, these pork chops are perfect for quick weeknight dinners. In fact, the bread crumb mix can be made in large batches so it is always on hand.

Boneless Buffalo Wings
This potentially controversial recipe takes a few steps away from traditional Buffalo wings: It starts with boneless chicken breasts, pan-fries them, and then serves the Buffalo sauce on the side for dipping instead of coating the chicken. But it’s got a goal: This ensures all the hard work of securing a crispy piece of chicken doesn’t go to waste. These boneless wings are crunchier, and, without the pesky bones, they’re arguably more snackable. The elusive texture of wet-crunchy is in full effect here when chunks of crisp chicken breast and celery get dunked into the zingy Buffalo sauce.

Easy Cooked Grains
If you can boil pasta, you can cook most any grain. While grains come in all shapes, sizes, hues and textures, they can all be cooked using the same straightforward method. For evenly cooked grains, just let them tumble in a saucepan of simmering, salted water until tender, then drain them of excess water. For a warm side, rest them in a covered pot. For separated grains to add to salads or bowls or refrigerate for the future, cool and dry them on a sheet pan before using. With such a simple, multipurpose method, the bouncy chew of barley, the springy pouf of quinoa, the bitter edge of buckwheat and the sour tang of rye berries can all easily be incorporated into your cooking routine.

Oysters Mosca
In this one-pan gratin, inspired by a favorite appetizer at Mosca’s, an Italian restaurant just outside of New Orleans, fresh oysters are covered in a garlicky butter sauce, topped with a mélange of breadcrumbs and freshly grated Parmesan and baked until tender yet juicy. It’s a hit with those who love oysters — and even those who aren’t fans of raw ones. The shellfish are full of flavor from the Creole seasoning that accents the sauce, with a hint of Italian influence from the herbs and Parmesan. At Mosca’s, they use plump Gulf oysters from nearby waters, a variety that’s especially good cooked and worth seeking out if you live near the Gulf Coast. Otherwise, any oysters work: Using preshucked oysters packed in their liquor at your local grocer or fishmonger makes preparing this dish a breeze. Best enjoyed warm from the oven, this appetizer is meant to be shared with a group.

Chicken and Rice Casserole
A 20th-century American dish that has withstood the test of time, chicken and rice casserole continues to win the hearts of home cooks looking to get an easy meal on the table without breaking the bank. This version has minimal prep: Uncooked chicken, rice, mushrooms and celery are tossed together in the dish, then a creamy sauce is poured on top. (If you have precooked, leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken on hand, simply chop the meat into bite-size pieces and swap it in.) Crumbled crackers add a welcome salty crunch on top. While the dish bakes, toss together a simple salad with a citrusy vinaigrette to cut through all the richness.

Hainan Chicken Rice
The joy of Hainan chicken rice is in the sum of its parts: The skin-on chicken is rendered silky and luscious by poaching, with a flavor and texture that’s best enjoyed lukewarm or at room temperature. The liquid is then used to cook the rice, imparting deep flavor and a golden sheen. Finally, the trio of sauces adds a bit of choose-your-own-adventure. Popularized largely in Singapore, this dish is beloved throughout Southeast Asia and its diaspora. This recipe is inspired primarily by a version from Los Angeles chef Johnny Lee, who’s made his reputation in recent years as a Hainan chicken evangelist in Southern California. (You can find a more streamlined one-pot version of the dish here.) There are two essential pieces of equipment for this recipe: an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked through, and a pot large enough for the poaching liquid to completely submerge the chicken.

Chocolate Sesame Dumplings
Can you wrap just about any filling in dough and consider it a dumpling? These bite-size desserts prove you can. Lightly salted melted chocolate, creamy like a truffle, is stuffed into chewy homemade wrappers, naturally sweet from glutinous rice flour. Taking cues from black sesame treats often made for Lunar New Year, these sticky steamed dumplings include toasted sesame oil in both the filling and wrapper. Making dumplings from scratch is a fun group project and these are especially great for kids. The dough is the easiest possible kind to shape — it doesn’t require a rolling pin; it’s simply rolled into balls then pressed into flat rounds by hand.

Broccoli-Quinoa Soup With Turmeric and Ginger
Turmeric and ginger are generous ingredients: You need only a little of each to deliver plenty of complex, comforting flavors. They work together in this recipe to bring warmth, earthiness, smokiness and spice to this hearty soup. Often a salad ingredient, quinoa proves its versatility here, providing a substantial and protein-packed foundation. The quinoa will continue to absorb the broth once the cooking is complete, so serve immediately for the ideal broth-to-quinoa ratio. (However, if you plan to prepare this soup ahead of time, you can simply thin it out with a little water or stock once you’ve reheated it.) There’s a lovely finishing touch: The chile oil cuts through the richness of the coconut milk and adds to the vibrant colors of this dish.

Gukbap (Beef and Bean Sprout Soup With Rice)
Gukbap means “soup rice”: a rich category of Korean dishes where a scoop of steamed white rice is served inside a warming bowl of brothy soup. This variation of a classic Korean gukbap from Jeonju, South Korea, leads with beef and radish, bolstered by a hearty handful of kongnamul, or bean sprouts, which lend both protein and aroma. Many soups can be gukbap, so long as you serve it with the rice. The key to a good gukbap is the homemade broth, threaded with quiet umami: the kind of flavor you can’t get from a box.

Ultimate Veggie Meatballs
On busy weeknights when you crave comfort, these vegetarian meatballs are the answer. Texture is the star of this recipe. The combination of halloumi, zucchini and couscous creates the perfect balance, as the mixture is dry enough to be formed into balls and fried; it’s also light and fluffy yet sturdy enough to be cooked in rich tomato sauce. Fresh herbs add a vibrant touch, enhancing the dish’s overall lightness. For a classic “Lady and the Tramp” moment, serve these over a tangle of spaghetti. They also pair beautifully with couscous or bulgur, or a fresh green salad. This crowd-pleasing vegetarian dish just might make you forget its more traditional meaty predecessor.
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Mushroom and Sun-Dried Tomato Farotto
In this farotto recipe, whole-grain farro delivers deeper flavor and a more substantial chew than traditional risotto made from rice. Here’s how to make a creamy, satisfying version packed with savory mushroom and sun-dried tomato flavor.
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Simple Fluffy Couscous
Cooking couscous according to the packaging instructions is quick and easy, but it almost always results in sticky, unevenly cooked couscous. But this unique technique guarantees fluffy, perfectly cooked couscous every time.

Herbed Rice in Chard Leaves
This savory dish echoes the flavors of stuffed grape leaves, but this large-format version is easier. (Of course, if you prefer to make smaller dolma-like packages, that’s fine, too.) It’s best served warm with a good dollop of tart yogurt on top, but if your yogurt isn’t sufficiently sour, add a little lemon juice or sumac. Though this is a happy main course side by side with a beet salad, it could also be an accompaniment to roast chicken or grilled fish.

Roasted Cauliflower With Nước Chấm Sauce
Hearty slabs of cauliflower are deeply caramelized in the oven on high heat then dressed with a riff on the traditional Vietnamese nước chấm sauce — an umami-rich mix of fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic and chiles. Fish sauce and garlic add pungency, vinegar brings a touch of sourness (in place of more traditional citrus), sugar rounds out these strong flavors with some sweetness, and chiles bring the heat. Mild, subtly sweet cauliflower benefits a great deal from getting burnished in the oven, and again from the sauce, while crushed roasted nuts add texture and bring out the vegetable’s nuttiness. Serve this dish as a starter or side, or supplement with rice to make it a main.