With its charateristic texture, brown rice makes for a superb addition to any savory plant-based dish, be it a hearty holiday meal or a light springtime lunch!
What I love about this collection is how pocket-friendly these recipes are.
Reading: best vegetarian dish with brown rice
You can have a delicious meal ready within 30 minutes using whatever you have in your pantry! I hope you’re left as pleased as us and try them as soon as possible!
Table of Contents
Brilliant Brown Rice Recipes
Cold Water Brown Rice
Let’s start with the basics. One particular problem you may face while preparing brown rice in a rice cooker, is how it always comes out sticky and mushy.
I’m sure you’d love to serve fluffy and light rice that looks as pleasing as it tastes! Here’s a method to cook it in an open pot.
Once measured, all you have to do is wash your rice thoroughly and add cold water to it.
Bring the pan to a boil and simmer it for a few minutes. This method works effectively under 35 minutes to give you the desired texture and eliminate the mush factor.
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Fried Rice with Veggies, Tofu and Spices
Sometimes, you just want to eat home-cooked meals rather than ordering takeout. But you also want it to be quick and easy after a long day’s work right?
Veggies like bell peppers, onions, and others are cooked in olive oil. Tofu, garlic and spices such as coriander, ground cumin, and more are then mixed with the veggies.
Once cooked you can serve this with a savory plant-based yogurt salad and count it as an Indian cuisine night!
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Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
You must often have rice leftovers from the meals?
This easy and refreshing recipe will soon become your favorite once you take a bite. The specialty of lime rice is how it tastes the best when made using leftover rice!
All you need is fresh lime, cilantro, salt and pepper. In 5 minutes, you’ve successfully transformed your boring refrigerated rice to new and delicious!
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Vegan Hoisin Duck and Pineapple Rice
If you’re in the mood for a fancy dinner at the convenience of your own kitchen, this one is perfect.
There are two aspects to this dish, and both taste amazing. The pineapple rice has a delicate flavor which complements the hoisin duck.
Ingredients like hoisin sauce, chili flakes, ginger will make you drool with the aromatic fragrance of herbs!
The mock duck can be replaced by any other mock meat or vegan deli if you’d like to bring a variation later!
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Brown Rice Veggie Rolls
Here’s the thing about sushi. I absolutely love everything about it, but the fish is a total no for me. The flavors are clean and cleansing with a bit of tahini to add a burst of spice to delight you.
Veggies like zucchini and carrots are used with avocado to give a perfect balance. The brown rice along with these is rolled and cut to bite-sized pieces.
You can play with the flavor by switching tahini with lime-ginger sauce.
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Black Beans and Rice with Roasted Poblanos and Garlic
One of the most nutritious combinations for a hearty meal has to have black beans and rice at the top of the list.
This recipe is simple and tastes wonderfully exotic with veggies like roasted poblano and grape tomatoes with herbs like garlic, ground pepper, cumin and others.
The brown basmati will give you a very light and fluffy texture. Delicious!
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Brown Rice Stir-Fry with Vegetables
This dish is so easy that you’ll fall in love with it instantly.
Veggies like broccoli, red bell pepper and red cabbage among others make the base of the stir-fry. The seasonings are minimalistic with garlic, tamari and parsley.
To bring extra flavor to your rice and veggies you could use sea salt and a dash of lime for a change.
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Sprouted Bean Brown Rice Dosa
Dosas are a staple for South Indians like me, so I was excited to try this variation!
The batter is made up of soaked and sprouted brown rice, navy beans and greens like fenugreek leaves. You can replace these with spinach or kale if you’d like.
Serving this for breakfast or a light dinner along with simple tomato and garlic chutney and you’re sorted for a happy meal!
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Broccoli, Kale and Rice Casserole
Let’s talk about integrating greens in your meals. It may get boring to keep eating salads for some, so it’s important to keep bringing new dishes to your table, especially if you want your kids to be less fussy about their food.
This casserole is comforting for extra special days when you’re in the holiday mood.
You can replace the kale with spinach and add roasted tomatoes to introduce a bit of tanginess to your palates.
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Oil-Free Vegetable Fried Rice with Baked Tofu
Fried rice without oil seems like a dream come true for those days when you’re craving something spicy and filling minus the oil.
The flavors are refreshing and zingy given the lime juice and other seasonings. Pan-seared tofu and your choice of fresh veggies make this a substantial meal.
The veggies and rice are cooked in broth instead of oil. What I love about this dish is how you can make it differently each time by choosing your combination of veggies.
Totally versatile, you’ll love it!
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Teriyaki Instant Pot Rice
Has your upcoming potluck gathering got you scratching your head for new ideas?
The first step involves sautéing veggies that include onions, bell peppers and carrots along with seasonings.
Once you’ve added the soaked rice to the mix, all you have to do is wait until your food is making everyone drool with its aroma!
You’ll have enough time to make a tofu-chili to go with the rice and produce a well-rounded meal for the guests to enjoy.
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Vegan Jambalaya
The zingy tomato-infused rice is going to become your go-to dish when you realize how scrumptious it tastes.
The rice is spiced up with lots of herbs like dried basil, thyme, smoky paprika and cayenne to name a few.
Veggies like celery, green and red peppers make a great team with black beans, chickpeas and kidney beans.
The recipe is so easy, quick and loaded with flavour!
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Vegetable Fried Rice with Crispy Ginger Garlic Tofu
There are so many things I could make using just tofu.
Here we have a recipe that can be prepared in just 20 minutes.
The rice is made with a choice of veggies like bell peppers, onions, broccoli among others. The seasoning is a basic tamari or soy sauce other than crushed pepper and salt.
Bonus points because you have a lot of flexibility in picking whatever veggies are available in your fridge here!
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Healthy Brown Rice Curry Salad Bowl
The word, “curry,” is enough to stop me in my tracks and go comatose. There are so many variations using curry powder that once a week doesn’t do it justice.
If you’re anything like me, this recipe will be soon on a plate in front of you because it is irresistible.
You can use mashed potatoes with curry powder and chili powder or paprika if you’re not as fond of avocado.
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Radishes-Rice Salad with Apple
The combination here of radishes, apples and rice in a salad are contrasting but taste really good as a team.
The sweetness of the apple cuts the sharp flavor of the radish so that it doesn’t overpower the entire dish.
The salad also consists of green onions, chives along with seasonings like balsamic vinegar and agave syrup.
You’re going to love this dish!
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Easy Coconut Lime Rice
This dish will leave you satisfied and add an exotic factor to your table minus the fatigue that follows a wholesome meal!
Brown rice is cooked in water and coconut milk. Once you have it all fluffy, you can add the lime juice, zest and a garnish of cilantro to it. It’s that simple.
An excellent side dish option would be a sweet-savory ginger stir fry with tofu and spring onions.
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Brown Rice Stir Fry
Read more: crock pot vegetarian main dish recipes
What is better than not having to make emergency trips to the grocery store when you’re starving?
In less than 20 minutes, you can have a mouth-watering stir-fry with customizable veggies and ingredients to suit your cravings.
The sauce is made from scratch using tamari, vegetable broth and ketchup along with seasonings.
Once your rice is cooked and veggies sautéed, you can divide them into equal parts and serve them. Skillet-fried chunky tofu will make it even more substantial.
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Raw Mango and Turmeric Brown Rice
Raw mangoes make me want to jump like an excited little girl. I used to love throwing cricket balls high up into mango trees to “pluck” the raw ones.
Yes, that’s tomboyish enough to give my parents a heart attack regularly.
The flavor of this fruit is more than enough to change an entire dish and make it even better. Now imagine my glee when I read a recipe that highlights raw mango as the main ingredient!
This will make the perfect summer Sunday dish!
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Avocado Zucchini Sushi with Brown Rice
Sliced avocados and zucchini make the other major components of the dish, so you’ll need a spiralizer or julienne peeler.
The choice of sauce is left to you, tamari or tahini couples with a ginger and lemon sauce are one of the combinations that immediately come to my mind.
All you have to do is layer the sheets, roll and cut them in the desired size. Add grated carrots or beet for more color in your sushi.
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The Best Vegan Fried Rice
No matter how many fried rice recipes you try, there’s definitely room for many more!
This one introduces the texture of eggs using silken tofu and nutritional yeast. Veggies like carrots, onions, bell peppers and others are added to the pan and sautéed until cooked.
You can use veggies like French beans, mushrooms and broccoli to make it more filling if you’re looking for a substantial meal. Wonderful!
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Instant Pot Rice and Beans
This pot rice with beans is one such gem. Wholesome enough to keep you full until dinner time, the simple ingredients make it really easy to prep a big batch and store in the fridge too.
All you need is dried beans, salsa, vegetable broth and rice in a pressure pot in layers so they cook better. Cilantro stems are added last to infuse its flavor into the rice.
You can add a lot more spices like cumin or bay leaves if you’re in a fancy mood, but this dish is humble at its best.
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Lentil Salad with Brown Rice
I love this dish as it uses everyday ingredients you can easily swap-out depending on what you have.
Wonderful color and textures means it’s going to be perfect for a Summer cook-out.
Easy to make and tastes great, a winner in every sense!
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Roasted Veggie Brown Rice Bowl
If you’re looking for a recipe that will have you covered for a balanced meal, this one is a must try.
The bowl uses a variety of veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots and more.
The sweet tahini sauce is made from scratch using ingredients like balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and seasonings.
Your taste buds will love you!
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Brown Rice Papaya Salad
There’s something very comforting about a warm bowl of rice and veggies.
This salad is simple, and I’d advise to use freshly cooked brown rice while it’s steaming hot. The onions, papaya, and bell peppers are seasoned with oregano, crushed pepper and lime juice.
It tastes fresh and loaded with flavor!
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Lemony Brown Rice Salad
This recipe can easily become your ritual go-to salad for a brunch on a pleasant day out. The ingredients consist of boiled chickpeas, fresh corn, avocado and tomatoes.
The seasoning for the salad is made of lime juice, cumin, ginger and turmeric and others.
Once you toss them all together nicely, you can top the bowl with chopped mint leaves for a palate cleansing flavor.
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Golden Fried Rice with Scrambled Tofu
This recipe will help you lower your tendency to waste and give you a scrumptious meal at the same time.
The tofu is crushed and seasoned with garlic, onion and turmeric powders along with other spices. The sauce is made using sesame oil, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce and a few herbs. Maple syrup offers it, sweetness.
The rice is simply fried with customizable veggies chopped and cooked with seasonings. I love it!
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Brown Rice Mung Bean Kitchari
Kitchari is a widely used recipe in India. The recipe is meant to be humble, comforting and perfect for days when you’re low on energy.
This recipe is a slightly fancier version of regular kitchadi, and an all-time favorite of mine.
Sauté cumin seeds, onion and tomato paste then add the rice and moong to the mix.
A helpful tip would be to fry it for a bit before you add water for it to cook faster. I totally guarantee this dish!
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Healthy Brown Rice Salad
This recipe is perfect to make a part of your diet regime because it is balanced and very nutritious.
The pepitas are separated and baked on a sheet along with salt, pepper and olive oil until browned. Gather all the other ingredients and follow the simple instructions.
Roast your seeds before you add them for extra crunchiness. Your detox plan will thank you for this delicious offering on a plate!
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Broccoli and Chickpea Rice Bowl
This rice bowl can conveniently be made in a big batch for the entire week!
Just steam everything and you’re pretty much done. The dressing is made using lime juice, pineapple juice and tamari with a choice of seasonings.
The best part about the ingredients are they’re all meant to last a long time when frozen, so you don’t have to fear your lunch for the next few days going bad!
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Easy Pineapple Fried Rice
This recipe is a hot favorite at home because my dad loves the flavor. The only difference is we eat a lot more spice than others so there are different kinds of chilies used.
Veggies like onions, carrots, bell peppers and more are sautéed together and seasoned. Once the rice is added, the pineapple is put in last.
Use sunflower seeds instead of peanuts if you’re allergic!
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Creamy Brown Rice with Shiitakes & Peas
The cream for the dish is made from soaked cashews and the brown rice is cooked according to the packet instructions.
Ingredients like shallots, garlic, peas and shitake mushrooms are cooked in olive oil and mild seasonings.
You can enjoy this dish as a main or a side. Add sun-dried tomatoes and oregano or thyme instead of peas for a change in flavor.
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Spiced Lentils and Rice
I liked this recipe because it is inspired from the Middle-East and has a rich flavor of cumin, cinnamon and cloves among other spices.
You just put all the ingredients in the cooker and walk away to relax.
Once cooked, just separate the pieces of spices and you’re ready to serve! Just add minced parsley and a dash of lime juice to bring out the best flavors from the dish!
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One Pan Harissa Vegetables, Rice and Chickpeas
This is the perfect left-over dish.
Veggies like cauliflower, carrots, fennel and others add more substance to the dish and cooked chickpeas make it more filling.
You can make a batch to last you a couple of days and refrigerate them in small boxes to reheat them on a busy day. Delicious!
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Curried Rice Salad with Orange
Here’s a recipe you can easily rely on when you’re expecting guests over or need to take a dish of your own to a gathering.
Just a couple of easy steps makes this one of the quickest dishes to make!
Read more: Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
The salad tastes amazing with a piece of whole grain bread on the side. You can add pomegranate to the top for a pretty-looking presentation.
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Sausage, Red Pepper and Brown Rice Casserole Recipe
Rest assured, it is just as wholesome as a casserole is expected to be. Your family and friends will love you for serving them a piece of heaven!
The sausages are sautéed along with onions and garlic until it’s a gorgeous brown color. Then rice, tomato puree, vegetable stock and spices are added to the pan and cooked.
Ready to serve in under 30 minutes, this is comfort food heaven!
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Vegan Buffalo Chicken Rice Skillet
The recipe is very simple and sticks to basic veggies like celery stalks, carrots, onions, cauliflower and other.
You’ll also be pleased to know how very little oil is used in this recipe, courtesy to vegetable broth. The rice gets its flavor from the sweet tomato sauce and ranch sauce.
The vegan meat tofu or anything, literally. Versatile and full of flavor!
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Veggie Brown Rice Sushi
The ingredients to this recipe are easily sourced and economical.
The rice is boiled with water while wine vinegar, cane sugar and sea salt are added to it later for flavor.
The sheets are layered with the rice and chopped veggies to be rolled and cut into pieces.
You can also incorporate wasabi, tamari, or pickled ginger while serving yourself a platter.
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Brown Rice Burrito Salad Bowl
Weeknights or weekends, this is the perfect dish.
Why perfect? Because it comes together in 20 minutes or less. It’s full of flavor and can be made into a small to medium bowl for a light lunch or double it for a larger meal.
It’s economical, looks great, and you just never get tired of eating it!
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Southeast Asian Herb Rice with Sweet Potato
If you love to treat yourself with exotic meals once in a while, this Malaysian inspired rice is a beautiful recipe to try.
Toasty coconut along with herbs like basil, mint and others are the heart of this dish.
Your taste buds will receive a burst of flavors that blend together to make one heck of a dish!
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Southwest Bean and Rice Tacos
This recipe is so tasty and filling, you will probably create a taco Thursday ritual as well.
The bean and rice filling is prepared using cooked brown rice and canned pinto beans with other ingredients like onion, garlic and others. The southwest sweet-savory dressing is made from scratch with a cashew base.
You can also use the leftover filling and dressings to make burritos with tofu for lunch the next day, how awesome does that sound?!
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Basil Coconut Brown Rice
Roasted vegetables like summer squash, zucchini and more make the coconut milk infused brown rice more fulfilling.
Herbs like thyme and pepper season the veggies and offer a clean, uncomplicated flavour to the dish.
You can use lime zest and a dash of lime juice with chopped mint to make the rice taste refreshing. Top it off with chopped macadamia nuts and you’re all done!
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Potluck-Worthy Rice Salad
The instructions are so easy to follow when you simply have to boil the rice in the broth along with spices like tamari, garlic powder, ginger powder and others together.
Once the rice is prepped, you can add the chopped veggies like carrots and scallions along with the dried cranberries to fold into the pot rice.
The trick is to let the pot sit for an hour to let the flavors blend into the rice for full effect. Serve it with a dash of lime juice and cilantro to amaze your guests!
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Cheesy Sprouted Brown Rice with Baby Spinach and Mushrooms
One of the best dishes for the holiday season is this one, right here! Comforting, warm and cheesy rice with baby spinach leaves is here to make you feel cozy!
Sprouted brown rice is cooked in a pot to give you perfectly fluffy texture. The veggies like baby spinach leaves and mushrooms are sautéed along with onions and seasonings.
You can add tofu or anything similar if you like? Get creative!
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Arugula, Brown Rice and Roasted Grape Salad
The recipe makes a perfect way to welcome fall in all its glory.
Grapes and shallots are baked to be mixed with cooked brown rice, arugula and roasted sunflower seeds.
The dressing is a beautiful vinaigrette made using balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a choice of herbs.
Once all tossed together, serve yourself a bowl along with a side of pineapple slices to accompany the salad.
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Beet Fried Rice
If you’re looking for a recipe that’ll make a great party addition at the table, this is it.
Divided into three well thought out parts; the base, the stir fry brown rice along with light spices.
Once these two are served together, the final component which is a sauce made using orange juice, lime juice and soy sauce is drizzled over to make a fantastic presentation.
It really is a great dish in every sense!
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Mexican Bean Rice
Cannellini beans, black beans and kidney beans form the perfect blend to give your brown rice a creamy texture.
Green, red and yellow peppers bring forth the Mexican flavors along with herbs such as oregano, paprika, garlic and more.
What more could one wish for on a weekend? You could use the leftovers as taco fillings and add a bit of cilantro and lime juice to bring new life to the dish!
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Sesame Orange Tofu Rice Bowl
This easy and light dinner takes time to cook because it is absolutely scrumptious.
The delightful notes of orange in the tofu bring a different gastronomical experience to please your taste buds.
Once served, garnish with toasted sesame seeds for a crunchy texture. You definitely should keep this recipe for a lazy weekend.
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Instant Pot Spiced Brown Rice
Everyone in India has a different version of spiced rice that reminds them of their childhood and simpler times.
The overall flavor of this rice is mildly sweet but earthy due to the ginger and spice.
The dry fruits provide a richness to the rice which will be complemented by a side of sweet and sour mango or pineapple slices.
One of my favorites!
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Miso Brown Rice Soup
The most comforting and delicious soup! The credit goes to brown rice, of course.
Inspired by noodle soup, the recipe uses veggies like leek, cabbage leaves and mushrooms to be cooked in the broth along with miso, tamari and silken tofu among other ingredients.
Serve yourself and your beloved a bowl topped with kimchi.
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Mexican Brown Rice
This recipe is a reminder of everything sunny and light-hearted to me.
The flavours remind me of really cheerful days and a bowl of this for lunch makes my day even better.
Please note, you’ll need to soak the rice is soaked overnight. Once you’ve fluffed up the rice, you can serve it with grilled tofu and sautéed veggies like broccoli, mushrooms and bell peppers.
So much more than a rice recipe!
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Wrapping Up
You won’t have any guilt when it comes to brown rice because it’s much healthier than white.
This collection and was fun and inspirational to put together as we know you may want to try something new from time to time.
There’s definitely something here for everyone, so, wait no further; choose an appetizing recipe and go get busy!
Read more: Goat Cheese Polenta with Roasted Vegetables
