With the current cost of food and the impact on your household budget, the issue of food waste becomes all the more important. Although it is difficult to enjoy the same boring meal over and over again, it is even more difficult to watch food go to waste.  

A staple in many people’s homes is rice, and unlike many other leftover meals, surplus plain rice is something we can get behind. Reinvent   any unused rice with the following quick and easy dinner ideas; there is no need to be afraid of making too much rice!

8 Ways to Use Up Your Leftover Rice

Appetizers

Spicy Arancini

Arancini are Italian rice balls that are covered in bread crumbs and deep-fried. They make a great shareable appetizer that tastes nothing like plain leftover rice! 

Although this Spicy Arancini recipe calls for arborio (short-grain Italian rice) to be made into a risotto, feel free to skip that step and substitute it for day-old leftover rice. We promise it will be better than the plain rice sitting in your fridge.

Meals

Poached Eggs in Curried Tomato Sauce

Soak up tomato curry and runny egg yolks in leftover basmati rice. This affordable and filling meal won’t take longer than 20 minutes to make, no matter if you’re feeding yourself or a small crowd.

Beef & Egg Fried Rice

Combine your leftover rice with beef, eggs and frozen veggies to make a savoury meal filled with protein to curb your hunger. The best part is it won’t take more than 30 minutes to make.

Bibimbap

Bibimbap is traditionally a Korean colourful rice-based dish that combines a variety of crispy vegetables with meat and chilli paste. Try this Bibimabap recipe for a bright and vibrant meal option.

BLT Power Bowl

Nowadays, power bowls are all the rage because of their versatility, quick cook time, and healthy ingredients. If you’re looking for power bowl inspiration, try this BLT Power Bowl with avocado and eggs.

Gado Gado Harvest Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

This Gado Gado Harvest Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing is not only hearty and flavourful, it’s also quick and easy to make. As a bonus, it’s an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, pantothenate, magnesium, manganese and selenium!

Desserts

Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

This Slow Cooker Rice Pudding only takes 5 minutes to prepare, and will completely transform your leftover rice into a creamy and rich dessert. Just set it and forget it!

Ginseng Chai Tea Rice Pudding

If you are looking for a new spin on traditional rice pudding, this Ginseng Chai Tea Rice Pudding is a great twist on a classic recipe that you’ve probably not tried before.