Meal Prep: Rice

Are you tired of the same old meal prep routine revolving around different varieties of chicken and beef? It’s time to expand your culinary horizons with a new player: rice. While often overlooked in meal prep discussions, rice offers a versatile and budget-friendly option for creating a variety of delicious meals. In this guide, we’ll explore the art of meal prepping rice, from perfectly cooked grains to flavorful variations that will elevate your dishes to new heights. Whether you’re craving classic comfort food or exotic flavors from around the world, these rice flavor variations open a world of possibilities for satisfying and nutritious meals.

White Rice Ingredients:

  1. 2 Quarts Long Grain Rice
  2. 4 Quarts Water (you can also use stock or broth)
  3. ¼ C. Salt

Rice:

Thoroughly rinse the rice in a large pot until the water runs completely clear. This may take 4 or 5 full washings. Combine water, rice, and salt in a pot and bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

Stir the rice one time. Be very careful stirring here, we do not want the rice to release its starch, but we want to disturb the cooked rice on the bottom and mix it with the raw rice on top. Recover and remove from heat and allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes or until it is completely cooked through. Lay out on a cookie tray or two and allow to cool completely.

Mushroom Garlic Rice Ingredients:

  1. 2# Cooked Rice
  2. 6 g. Dried Mushrooms (Porcini, Shiitake, or Maitake Work)
  3. 12 g. Garlic Sliced
  4. ½ C. Hot Water
  5. 4 oz. Butter Divided (1 Stick)
  6. 3 ea. Green Onions Sliced
  7. 1 tsp. Salt
  8. ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Mushroom Garlic Rice Method

In a small bowl, combine hot water and mushrooms and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes. In a small saucepot melt 2 tablespoons of butter then sauté the sliced garlic over medium low heat for 2

minutes or until slightly browned. Combine mushroom mixture and simmer until reduced by half. Add in green onions, salt, and pepper and remove from heat. Add in remaining butter and stir until completely melted, it should also thicken up slightly. Fold this mixture into cooked rice and portion into meal prep containers.

Spanish Rice Ingredients

  1. 2# Cooked Rice
  2. 1 C. Store-bought Salsa
  3. 1 ½ tsp. Cumin
  4. 1 tsp. Chili Powder
  5. 1 tsp. Salt
  6. 3 Green Onions (Sliced)
  7. 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Spanish Rice Method

In a small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium high heat until just below the smoke point. Add salsa, cumin, chili, and salt and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat, add green onions, fold into cooked rice, then portion into meal prep containers.

Indian Rice Ingredients:

  1. 2# Cooked Rice
  2. ¼ C. Olive Oil
  3. ½ Small Onion Finely Diced
  4. 1 Tbsp. Curry Powder
  5. ½ Tbsp. Garam Masala
  6. 1 tsp. Turmeric

Indian Rice Method:

Heat olive oil in small saucepan for 1 minute over low heat. If it smokes at any point, throw it away and start on lower heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes on low. Add spices and cook for another 1-2 minutes. The spices should become very aromatic. Fold the onion mixture into cooked rice and stir until homogeneous in color then portion into meal prep containers.

Recipe Recap

Every time I make rice, I don’t measure the water. It seems counterintuitive, but when I do measure the water, my rice comes out over cooked or crunchy. I truly get the best results from the fingertip method. The only way this method will steer you wrong is if you are using brown rice or wild rice.

Mixing in some brown rice can result in higher fiber meals without sacrificing the flavor or texture of white rice. You will have to cook the white and brown rice separately. The same would be true with wild rice.

Summary

Ready to shake up your meal prep routine? Say goodbye to the same old chicken and beef with these innovative rice recipes. Often overlooked, rice offers a versatile canvas for creating diverse and exciting meals. From Mushroom Garlic Rice to Spanish Rice and Indian Rice, each recipe adds a unique flavor profile to your weekly menu, ensuring that meal prep remains anything but boring. Whether you’re craving savory, spicy, or exotic flavors, these rice variations promise to inject excitement and variety into your meals. With practical tips and easy-to-follow methods, you’ll master the art of rice meal prep and transform your culinary experience with every bite.