Easy Vegetarian Dishes With Rice

I used to think rice was boring. And I guess when you grow up eating white rice with butter, there’s no way to avoid that (incorrect) opinion.

But rice has become so much more than plain as I’ve learned to cook and have explored different cuisines, like Indian, Mexican, and Korean. Rice can be a flavor vessel as a side dish, or it can be the star of the show!

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Rice grains can broadly be grouped into three types: short, medium, and long grain. Short grains are wider than they are long, and are generally best for when you want sticky clumps of rice. Long grains, on the other hand, are 4 to 5 times longer than they are wide, and are great when you want more distinct rice grains. Medium grains run somewhere in the middle, with a somewhat sticky, creamy texture.

Minute Vegetarian Recipe Ideas With Rice

Because of these distinct differences, you should substitute rice varieties with caution. Recipes are often designed around the size and texture of rice, so you may get a different outcome if you substitute a different rice.

Speaking of recipes, here are our favorites! These 19 vegetarian rice recipes are packed with flavor, from zingy stir fries to creamy risotto. Enjoy!

Kimchi bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish made with kimchi, mushrooms, roasted veggies, and a delicious gochujang sauce. And it all sits on a bed of crispy rice!

Easy Vegetarian Recipes

I’m not exaggerating when I say that this Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower tastes better than the Chinese takeout we all know and love (but without the frying or meat!) Rice plays the role of flavor vessel, absorbing all the juices that drip out so you can enjoy every ounce of flavor!

This refreshing Tofu Stuffed Cucumber Sushi Roll is a simple sushi method that involves hollowing out a cucumber, stuffing it with crispy tofu, veggies, and sushi rice, then slicing into colorful pieces of vegetarian sushi!

This Lemon Basil Risotto is rich, creamy, and zingy! Perfect as an easy and unique side dish or delicious and filling main course.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Kimchi fried rice is on another level. Made without meat, this dish is bursting with flavor and is perfect for customizing. It requires just 15 minutes, making it the perfect dish for busy evenings.

Looking for a vegetarian meal prep recipe that’s high in protein and so tasty that you’re actually excited for lunch time? While the photos show quinoa, I also LOVE these bowls with wild rice!

This Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry recipe is an easy, flexible Thai curry recipe that transforms boring weeknight dinner into an exciting meal!

Vegetarian One Pan Mexican Rice (healthy!)

This Vegan Tuna Sushi Bowl has plant-based tuna made with tomatoes, and all the fixings of your favorite poke bowls (including the spicy mayo)! The sushi rice provides that authentic sushi bowl texture, but you can substitute brown or white rice.

A flavor packed (and easy to make) vegan burrito bowl with tempeh taco meat and copycat Chipotle cauliflower rice! (Hint: replace the cauliflower rice with, you know, actual rice for a more traditional burrito bowl).

For a dinner that breaks from your usual routine while also being a flavorful classic, give this Easy Mushroom Risotto recipe a try! Packed with wild mushrooms, wine, and cheese… what more could you want from a dinner?

Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes To Make Forever

Rice is also a great addition to meal prep! Here’s a formula for the easiest, tastiest vegetarian meal prep recipe… Mix & Match Vegetarian Meal Prep!

Easy

This Green Goddess Vegetarian Sushi Bowl takes all the deliciousness of fresh sushi, tosses it easily into a bowl, and drizzles it with sriracha mayonnaise. The same great taste without the hassle. What’s not to love?

Think cauliflower is boring? Dress it up in a quick panko coating and sticky Asian-style sauce and I promise your mind will be changed! Serve over a bed of warm rice for maximum takeout vibes.

Vegetable Rice Recipe

Risotto is a pretty under-appreciated dinner, considering the amount of flavorful creamy goodness it packs into one bowl. With two kinds of cheese, spinach, green onions, and lemon, this Pepper and Gorgonzola Risotto is no exception!

This Chickpea Tikka Masala recipe is an easy dinner to whip up when the Indian food cravings hit (plus, it’s vegan!) Serve with white, brown, or jasmine rice.

This week for lunch, consider Fried Rice Meal Prep your go-to! Consisting of fried rice, tofu, and sriracha mayo, this combo is filling and full of flavor.Simple Veggie Rice Pilaf – An easy side dish to kick your meal up a notch in color and flavor, this vegetable rice pilaf is easy enough for a weeknight, and nice enough for a holiday or big dinner!

Veggie Fried Rice

We’re still very much in the stage of trying to get Milo and Sophie to try new foods and expose them to plenty of new flavors. Veggies are, for the most part, still a real struggle most nights.

I’ve been looking for lots of ways to get them on the table since, for many kids, it’s simply a matter of exposure and time before they are more open to and accepting of veggies. (Isn’t that true of adults too?)

Simple

This simple veggie rice has been a great one for us. Both kids really love rice, and this veggie-fied version has been a great addition to dinner time at our house. Even Milo, whose regular vegetable intake is basically baby carrots and whatever I can puree into a smoothie, ate bite after bite of this yummy rice pilaf. (KNOWING there were veggies in it!)

Quick Vegetarian Recipes

My mom made an awesome rice pilaf when I was growing up that had onion, celery, butter, and was topped with toasted almonds. I knew that my kids would push their plates away if they spotted either onion or celery, so I decided to try other veggies.

Lots of combinations work here–you can certainly add some onion or celery, a little bell pepper, etc.–but for this version, I went with shredded zucchini and carrots. Since they’re grated, they blend right in texture-wise with the rest of the rice, and are, in all honesty, mostly there for color. The orange from the carrots gave an almost cheesy color to the rice, which actually worked to my advantage. The zucchini didn’t add more color than a tiny bit of minced cilantro would, but you can always peel the zucchini ahead of time if you’re nervous.

The other big flavor booster here is the broth. Cooking the rice with broth is a sure-fire way to add an extra layer of flavor. It’s incredible what just adding a little broth can do, especially if it’s homemade. Finish things off with some fresh herbs if you like, and it’s done! This is a perfect side dish on its own, but it’s also a great bed for stir-fry, rice bowls, and more!

Best Vegetarian Dinner Recipes & Ideas

Let’s Talk Rice. I like to use Basmati rice most often. Lundberg is a brand that uses sustainable and responsible growing practices and tends to produce really high-quality rice.

A Little Bit of Color. The veggies you add will bleed a little color into the rice. Carrots lend an almost cheesy color to the rice (which we didn’t mind one bit). Bell peppers can occasionally bleed a little color as well, so just be aware if you go that route.

Family Size. This recipe makes a hefty family-sized batch of rice, which is plenty for us to have two nights’ worth or more. If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, feel free to halve the recipe. (It’s not too tricky!)

Vegan

Quick Rice Recipes, Quick Veg Indian Rice, Khichdi Recipes

Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to low for 15 minutes or until the water has all been absorbed and the rice is tender. Fluff rice with a fork and add additional salt and pepper, as desired, along with fresh herbs (if using).

Family Size – This recipe makes a hefty family-sized batch of rice, which is plenty for us to have two nights’ worth or more. If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, feel free to halve the recipe. (It’s not too tricky!)

1. Try adding onion or celery in with the rice. Both onion and celery are BIG in flavor, so they’ll really add to and wake up the flavors going on. The zucchini and carrot are pretty mild, so if you’ve got super tasters on your hands, you may want to try a mild version first.

Minute Vegan Fried Rice

3. Mix in a flavor booster–a clove of garlic, a squeeze of lemon juice, or a pinch of curry powder or ground turmeric will add another layer of flavor.

4. Sprinkle on some herbs. I’m a big fan of fresh herbs, and love that I can play with the flavor of this rice a lot simply by swapping my herbs. Try a little fresh dill and a tiny squeeze of lemon juice, or a little fresh parsley or cilantro. Add a bell pepper to the veggie blend and try a sprinkle of fresh basil.healthy vegetables, tons of flavor, and is on the table in about 20 minutes! This is the perfect healthy vegetarian, easy, veggie-loaded side to any dinner!

By kids. By veggie-iffy adults. By people who claim they don’t like healthy food….this is one side you can almost count on them gobbling up.

Veg Fried Rice

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