Regional Cuisine, Rice Recipes

Traditional meat dolma: small green bell peppers stuffed with seasoned meat and rice, gently simmered over parsley stems until tender. Served hot with cool yogurt on the side.

Arroz con habichuelas, Puerto Rican red beans and rice with cumin, garlic, vinegar, and a touch of raw sugar. Soaked dried beans simmered until creamy, served over fluffy white rice.

Irish cream bundt cake made with yellow cake mix, chocolate pudding mix, vodka, and Irish cream liqueur, topped with a simple Irish cream and powdered sugar drizzle.

Kung Pao-style chicken stir fry with deep-fried peanuts, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sherry, and white vinegar. Egg-and-cornstarch coated chicken cubes get a velvety, glossy finish.

Bhindi masala with three pounds of okra cooked in a garlic-heavy base of browned onions, fresh green chilies, turmeric, and cumin. A straightforward Indian okra dish that's vegan, quick, and full of warm spice.

Roasted broccoli sesame salad tossed in a soy, rice vinegar, and sesame oil dressing with toasted sesame seeds. Served warm or at room temperature.

Chinese-style tofu stir-fry in a savory miso, tahini, soy sauce, and honey bean sauce with mushrooms, red peppers, and ginger. A quick vegetarian wok dinner served over rice.

Calamaria Parayemista, Greek stuffed squid filled with spiced rice, tomato puree, cinnamon, and cloves, then braised in white wine. A traditional Greek mezze appetizer.

Indian chilled carrot salad (Sonf Gazar Subji) with cumin, turmeric, asafetida, and fresh dill, tossed with brown rice and eggless mayo. A spiced, cold vegetarian side dish.

This stuffing is for eggplants, pepper, tomatoes and zucchini. It is made with olive oil and served as a cold vegetable dish.

Garlicky paella loads saffron rice with prawns, clams, and browned chicken, perfumed with a heavy hand of garlic. The golden, one-pan Spanish classic, simmered low and never stirred so the rice cooks up tender with a crisp bottom.

Creamy ginger-tofu dressing blended in 5 minutes with sesame oil and rice vinegar. Vegan, dairy-free, and packed with bright, zingy flavor for salads, grain bowls, and more.

Ginger-infused rice made by frying fresh minced ginger in oil before simmering with short-grain rice. A fragrant, simple side dish that pairs with stir-fries, curries, and grilled meats.

Grecian stuffed tomatoes filled with rice, currants, garlic, and onion, baked in olive oil and garnished with fresh mint or basil. Vegetarian and vegan.

Gujar Ka Pullao (Indian carrot rice pilaf): fragrant basmati cooked with caramelized onions, grated carrots, and whole spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and cumin. A vibrant, naturally vegan side from Northern India.

Gujarati dal: a Western Indian lentil stew with eggplant, zucchini, and tomato, tempered with mustard seed, cumin, and asafetida in ghee. Vegetarian, warmly spiced, served over rice.