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Rice hacks: 5 ways to transform leftovers into flavorful dishes

By Anujj Trehaan

May 01, 2025

01:22 pm

What's the story

Leftover rice is a common sight in many homes, which often goes to waste.

But with a few easy tricks, you can make these leftovers into delicious meals that are filling and cost-effective.

From easily available ingredients to easy techniques, you can prepare dishes that give a new lease of life to yesterday's rice.

Here are some useful ideas to help you utilize leftover rice.

Stir-fry

Transform leftover rice into a quick fried rice dish by adding veggies like peas, carrots, and bell peppers.

Heat oil in a pan, toss in chopped garlic for flavor, then add the veggies and stir-fry until tender.

Mix in the rice and season with soy sauce or tamari for taste.

This method not only enhances the flavor but also adds nutritional value to your meal.

Pancakes

If you want to create savory pancakes, mix leftover rice with flour, yogurt or milk, and spices like cumin or coriander.

Shape small patties and fry them on a hot griddle until golden brown on both the sides.

These pancakes are an excellent breakfast option or snack that's easy to make and deliciously filling.

Stuffing

Use leftover rice as stuffing for bell peppers by mixing it with beans, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, and cheese if you want.

Cut the tops off bell peppers and remove seeds before filling them with this mixture.

Bake at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) until the peppers are tender.

This dish is not only colorful but also packed with nutrients.

Salad

Transform your leftover rice into a refreshing salad by tossing it with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and herbs like parsley or mint.

Add lemon juice for zestiness along with olive oil for richness.

This salad makes for an excellent side dish or light meal option that is healthy and invigorating.

Dessert

For those who like sweets post meals, try making a quick dessert with leftover rice by cooking it in milk with sugar, until creamy.

Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, almonds, cashews, pistachios, etc., as per taste.

Serve chilled or warm, as per mood or occasion.

This treat gives a comforting end to any day without putting much effort in the preparation.