Rice is one of the most important foods in most Asian and African countries. In every house in India, White Rice is cooked every day. You don’t even have to think a lot about “What to eat with white Rice”. Rice will make your stomach full without much effort. You can either cook one pot meal with it or cook some side dishes to have with it.
Rice is the only food that is supplied worldwide, and everyone on Earth must have seen Rice at least once. But White Rice is not alone, Rice also has its variety and so much to offer.
One of the most cultivated grains in the World is Rice. You can store the uncooked rice for a long period. Rice is the food source which is eaten by almost half of the World’s Population. Now let’s see what kind of tasty foods we can make with Rice and What to eat with white Rice.
1. Rice (Scientific Name: Oryza Sativa)
Rice is one of the most important Staple foods consumed Worldwide. It is initially a grain/cereal and comes from the grass plant family of Poaceae. It grows annually and is cultivated manually.
Rice is a source of Nutrition, Protein, vitamins, and minerals. White Rice is cultivated the most, but there are other varieties of rice to choose from. Rice has been eaten since the ages of human life.
The Paddy field looks surreal and so pretty. The grains of the rice are first harvested then dried in the sunlight and are de-husked through the milling process. After all this process you get the rice, and most products are made from this Rice itself.
For example: Rice drinks, Rice barn oil, Flattened Rice, puffed rice, Rice flour, Rice Paper, etc.
We can cook so many yummy foods from rice, including Rice Cakes. That’s why it is the Staple food of so many countries.
1.01. Rice-producing Countries
Rice is grown in almost every Country, it’s just that some country produces less rice, some more. The crop of Rice needs a hot and humid climate to grow, so it can’t grow everywhere.
It needs proper exposure to sunlight with enough water/rain. Places with less amount of water/rainfall can grow it through the help of Irrigation.
The production of Rice is highly done in Countries like “China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Pakistan, and Brazil”. These are the top 10 rice-producing Countries.
The least Rice producing countries are “Algeria, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Congo, South Africa etc.”
Overall, China tops the Rice production, and even though other countries produce less rice. Rice is traded and exported Worldwide, through different parts of the Country.
1.02. Health Benefits Of Rice
Rice has a lot of Health benefits. It gives you nutrition, Carbohydrates, and all kinds of minerals and protein needed for your body. Rice energizes your body for the whole day. It is a very healthy food, and you will be far from many kinds of diseases.
“Some of the Health Benefits of Rice” are as follows: –
Rice gives you a full pack of power and energy. If you have only a little amount of time to cook food, then you can cook white rice. You can also prepare any side dish or make something interesting with the rice itself. Don’t worry, we will give you the ideas below.
It helps you maintain your body weight. Though white Rice is a powerhouse of Energy, you won’t suffer from obesity. You won’t gain weight from consuming it daily, so don’t be afraid of gaining more weight.
It also prevents heart disease and helps in the normal function of cells as it is rich in Magnesium.
These are only some of the benefits of White rice, but there are still a lot more.
2. Different Types of Rice
If you are among those who think that Rice is all the same, then you are wrong. There are so many types of Rice that we cannot even think about. There are different types of Rice available worldwide.
Every type of Rice has its charm and can help to cook different types of yummy foods. No matter what its type, all kinds of Rice are healthy to eat and rich in fibre.
We can’t cover all kinds of Rice, but we will briefly inform you about some types of Rice.
So, some of the different types of Rice are as follows: –
2.01. Brown Rice
Brown Rice is rough in Nature. As the name suggests, it’s brown and it’s because “the barn layer and germ layer” remains in it. It is an unpolished version of rice and is chewy in Nature. But don’t let its colour stop you from having it. As its two layers are not removed, Brown Rice is full of nutrition.
It is even healthier than White Rice, but taste-wise White rice is better. This rice is good for sick people or for those who are health conscious.
2.02. Wild Rice
Wild Rice is a unique type of rice with a nutty flavour and whole grain. It does not have a direct relation with Rice but is edible grass that grows in aquatic places.
Wild rice has also got the name “Indian Rice, manoomin, water oats.”
It originated in “Canada and the United States”. It has a longer shape, and its outer layer is a bit tough.
This kind of rice also has an earthy smell. Even though this is not directly related to Rice, it is considered one and is used to prepare a lot of tasty meals.
2.03. Black Rice
Black Rice or Purple Rice or Forbidden Rice is another kind of Rice. It is full of nutrition, fiber, minerals, protein, and vitamins. It is rich in everything as this rice is not refined and is also the healthiest Rice.
Its first origin was in Japan and later on, this rice started reaching China where it got its “Forbidden Rice” name. It was also called Emperor’s Rice because it was only available for those Chinese presents in the Imperial Court.
Even today, it is expensive and has that elegant feel and taste with a lot of health Benefits.
2.04. Red Rice
Red Rice is semi-polished or unpolished Rice. Its barn layer is red, and it is very rich in fiber. It has long grains and is the most nutritious. Red Rice can also be a great replacement for White rice and has that nutty flavor.
It gets the colour red because of its “anthocyanin content”. It also has a lot of health benefits such as controlling Diabetes, preventing asthma, is digestive and reduces fatigue, and so on….
2.05. Basmati Rice
Basmati Rice’s grains are “long and slender”. It has that aromatic smell and has that Royal feel in it. If you make any meal using Basmati Rice, you are going to enjoy it a lot.
Basmati rice grows longer when cooked and is very tasty to have. It’s a fluffy white rich to cherish.
While growing Basmati Rice, Farmers have to give it a lot of care and so it is called as “King of Rice”. Not only that, but it also smells so good that it has also earned the title of “Queen of Fragrant Rice”.
That’s how special Basmati Rice is. This type of Rice is quite expensive but then again, it’s worth all money.
2.06. Jasmine Rice
As its name suggests, Jasmine Rice is named after the flower “Jasmine”. This type of rice grains is also long, and they are widely found in Thailand.
Almost all of the Thai dishes are made with this type of Rice. Just like the Flower Jasmine, this Rice also has that subtle smell and unique texture.
2.07. Arborio Rice
Arborio Rice is popular in Italy and has short grain and a shiny pearl white exterior. They are oval and quite wide.
These are some types of white rice found in many parts of the World. Now let’s see What to eat with white rice and eat delicious food.
2.08. White Rice
White Rice is widely consumed in Asian Countries. It is a polished version of Brown Rice, after removing its husk through milling. The barn and germ layers are also removed from this type of rice.
This type of rice is pearly white and shiny, this type of rice is polished. It may not be as nutritious as Brown Rice, but it is a meal that can give you energy for the whole day.
This type of Rice is highly common, and anyone can afford it, as its price is not so high. This type of Rice can also be stored for longer terms.
3. Some Of The Health Benefits Of White Rice
Some health benefits of white rice are as follows:
- Powerhouse of Energy
- Comfort Dish
- Easy Digestion
- Low amount of Fat
- Strengthens the muscle
- Low Calorie
And so on …….
4. What To Eat With White Rice
As our main focus is on white rice, we will be covering “What to eat with white rice”.
White Rice is very common and is cooked in all the houses almost each and every day. Some house even consumes it three times a day, so the thought of what to eat may come into everyone’s mind.
White rice also has its variety, and many tasty types of rice are available in this. So, don’t think that white rice is bland and cannot be tasty enough.
4.01. Chilli Chicken
Chilli Chicken is the best go-to food to have with white rice. Have it dry or with gravy, it’s still going to taste yummy. You just have to get boneless chicken, different types of sauces, capsicum, and onion.
Just get a bowl of steamed white rice and have this side dish and there you get a delicious match.
It is also a perfect dish to serve if you don’t have time and also need to eat something delicious. You have the choice to either make it spicy or just cook it however you prefer.
Tips: Don’t forget to fry the chicken.
4.02. Lentils
Lentils is also easy to make, and you can enjoy it hot with steamed white Rice. You can mix any veggie you like in it and have it all together.
In India, this duo is consumed with other side dishes like meat or veggies. But a hot bowl of lentils and white rice alone can also do wonders.
These are also kid-friendly and are rich in nutrition, protein, and fiber. Both are not so expensive and can also be eaten daily. You will end up licking your finger and plate for sure.
Tips: You can cook lentils in soupy form as well as salad.
4.03. Black Beans and Chickpeas
This also comes from the family of Legumes. This is very rich in protein and nutrition; they are also very tasty.
They are quite different from lentils and are bigger in shape. Vegetarians can have this dish and it is also very healthy.
You can mix both beans and chickpeas and prepare a dish or you can cook them separately and enjoy. As this also comes from the family of lentils, you have the advantage of having it dry or in soup. It’s going to be tasty in both forms and also healthy.
Tips: Put the right number of spices and enjoy.
4.04. Roasted or steamed Veggies
Roast or steam whatever vegetable you want to have. You can prepare it in less time and it is also healthy and tasty. What more do you want? Take any veggies you like, for example, Broccoli, Potatoes, Cauliflower. Just do anything you prefer, then steam those veggies or roast them.
You can also mix this all and turn this side dish in just one single hot pot and enjoy. This duo is very healthy and will give you lots of energy.
Tips: Season it with black salt/anything you prefer and also pour some olive oil in it.
4.05. Seafoods
This is another great choice to cook and enjoy with white rice. You can choose to cook any seafood you prefer. Whether it be, fishes like Tuna, Salmon, Crabs, Lobster, or Shrimp. Anything, just cook anything you like, and enjoy your “hot, tasty, and healthy food”.
This is indeed going to be tasty, nutritious, and a very healthy food to eat.
Tips: You can also add vegetables like baby corn or cauliflower in it.
4.06. Paneer Or Tofu
Another tasty, veg option is to prepare a side dish with this dairy product. If you choose to avoid the dairy option, then you can opt for Tofu. This dish is going to be yummy and nutritious.
Tofu and Paneer are quite similar in taste so you can choose anything you prefer.
Some veggies can also be added to it. There is this Indian cuisine where “Matar-paneer and palak-paneer” is famous and loved by almost everyone. Cook this healthy side dish with any veggie you like and enjoy it with your hot white rice.
You can also cook Paneer Chilli with the same fresh ingredients mentioned above, of course except for chicken.
Tips: You can fry Paneer and tofu or cut it into square pieces and cook without frying. Both going to taste yummy.
4.07. Sausage
Sausage is also a great option to enjoy with white rice. It’s an excellent dish to have together. You can grill your Sausage or not, it’s your choice. You can cook gravy and put some tomato and soy sauce and dip your sausage in it.
Enjoy this gravy of sausage with your white rice and enjoy your healthy food.
4.08. Ramen
Another food you can have with white rice is Ramen. Ramen is a delicious, spicy, noodle from Japan and South Korea, you can also have this dish with white rice.
You can cook this in many ways and can either have Ramen or fried rice. Or cook ramen noodles separately and mix in the same bowl as white rice. This is going to taste great and is also really comforting.
This will definitely be a power-pack meal. If you are in a hurry and hungry and are also craving both noodles and Rice, then this delicious meal is for you.
Tips: You can also add a boiled egg or scrambled eggs and double the nutrition. White Rice can also be eaten “if your ramen is too spicy to handle”.
4.09. Beef Steak
You can also enjoy your white rice with beef steak and take the pleasure of these two powerful dishes. Cook your beef steak with bell pepper and enjoy your spicy, hot beef steak with white rice.
You have the choice to mix steak with rice or just enjoy it as a side dish separately and enjoy your delicious meal.
Tips: Season your steak well with pepper and salt.
4.10. Thick Creamy Mushroom Soup
If you want to have something different with your white rice, then mushroom soup is a tasty choice.
Steam your plain white rice and prepare for cooking soup. Wash and cut your mushrooms well and make it a thick layered soup. You are going to get a nutritious meal.
Mushroom soup is tasty in itself and when you mix it with your white rice, it doubles the yumminess. This combo is heavenly, and you will be craving more of it.
Tips: Season it well with fresh herbs, olive oil, and soy sauce, and try to make your soup thick.
4.11. Kimchi
Kimchi is a pickle that is sour and spicy. It is mostly eaten in South Korea. Kimchi and plain white rice are a great match, they go along together so well, that you will crave it again and again.
Kimchi is made of vegetables like cabbage and fermented and put inside an airtight container.
The benefit of Kimchi is you can make it and store it in a jar and whenever you are in a hurry you can take it out and have it with white rice. It’s a great side dish that goes so well with white rice and can also be a great main dish.
Tips: Put as much spices and salt as you prefer.
4.12. One Pot meal with white Rice
One Pot meals with white steamed Rice are a treat to have and personally, it’s my favorite. You can cook so many one-pot Rice main dish and it’s going to be tasty and easy.
Some of the great ideas for One Pot Rice Meals are Fried Rice (Veg/Non-veg), Chicken Biryani, Porridge, Kheer, Bibimbap, Kimchi Fried Rice, Pilaf, Risotto, Jambalaya, etc.
These are some of the one-pot rice meals you can make with white rice and enjoy. One-pot rice is easier to make and is also tasty. Cook these meals and enjoy a hot bowl of it.
5. Final Note
These are some of the dishes you must try with white rice. White rice is a staple food in India and its neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc. It is also commonly available, and you don’t have to search a lot for it like other rice.
White Rice has a lot of varieties on its own to choose from and you can have it with whatever you want. You can even fry it and have it with Tea. You don’t even have to give a lot of thought to food when you have white rice.
It can go well with any meat, Vegetable, Egg, Seafood, Pulses, and soup. Get a packet of white rice steam it and enjoy. Be sure to not cook it under or over, put the right amount of water to steam it.
White Rice is beneficial to your health as well so always choose to have this type of food often.
You must have white rice hot, and you can even make sweet or salty food from it. White rice will give you full nutrition and energy.
It is the staple food in so many countries for a reason. White rice will pair with anything, and you can make so many delicious foods from it.
White rice is also easily accessible and a great way to defeat malnutrition. Many delicacies in many countries include white rice. You must also try all these foods mentioned above and enjoy them with your whole family.
Happy Mealing.
Last Updated on by Priyanshi Sharma
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