51 italian rice recipes

Stuffed zucchini blossoms (kolokytholouloutha yemista) filled with rice, fresh mint, parsley, tomato, and olive oil, then simmered in water. A traditional Greek vegetarian appetizer.

A hearty one-pot vegan stew of brown rice and lentils simmered with tomatoes, carrots, celery and Italian herbs. No oil, high in fiber and protein, and everything cooks in a single pot.

One-pot brown basmati rice pilaf loaded with mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions. A dump-and-simmer weeknight dinner using whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Papaya lamb salad pairs stir-fried lamb chops with sweet ripe papaya, roma tomatoes, bean sprouts, and warm rice for a tropical-meets-Asian main-course salad. Served with lemon wedges and crusty bread.

Vegetable salad with herbal vinaigrette: blanched asparagus, carrots, and sugar snap peas tossed with plum tomatoes and a mustardy lemon-garlic dressing. A bright, crisp springtime side.

Brown rice salad tossed with French dressing, water chestnuts, snow peas, mushrooms, and red bell pepper. A crunchy, make-ahead cold rice salad for potlucks and picnics.

Vegetarian Mexican chili burgers made with seven-grain cereal, brown rice, tofu, green chilies, and cumin. Pan-fried golden brown with no meat needed. Makes 12 patties.

A chunky vegetarian minestrone loaded with cannellini beans, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, and spinach, thickened with rice instead of pasta. A hearty, one-pot Italian soup finished with Parmesan.

Grilled sweet potatoes, corn, and poblano peppers meet wild rice in this smoky vegetable chowder brightened with lime and fresh thyme. Grill or roast for depth.

Homemade vanilla custard ice cream topped with a deep morello cherry sauce simmered with lemon, vanilla bean, and the cracked cherry stones for almond-scented depth. Old-world Italian dessert work.

Creamy leek risotto with Parmesan and fresh parsley, built one ladle at a time with vegetable stock. A simple vegetarian Italian rice dish that works equally well with courgette (zucchini) for a summer swap.

Ticino-style brown rice mushroom risotto with rosemary, dried mushrooms, and red wine. A rustic Swiss-Italian vegetarian dish from Italian-speaking Switzerland.

A traditional Italian way to cook rice which results in a creamy side dish

Italian Parmesan risotto topped with garlicky pan-toasted mushrooms. Creamy rice built one ladle of broth at a time, finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano and crowned with golden mushrooms.

Asparagus risotto made with arborio rice, dry white wine, and asparagus-infused cooking water as the stock. A zero-waste Italian technique that builds deep flavor from stalk to tip.

Zucchini halves loaded with a savory ground beef, rice, and fresh dill filling, smothered in spaghetti sauce and Parmesan breadcrumbs. A hearty Italian-style dinner that feeds a crowd.