Rice Recipes
Filipino prefer to eat rice as part of daily meal rather than bread and butter. Rice has always a big part of the Filipino diet. So it’s kind of surprising that we hardly know any rice recipes besides the plain white kind. Some people make fried rice out of their leftovers, but that’s about it. Rice is a very versatile dish, and there’s practically no limit to the things you can do with this staple food.
You might be thinking it’s impractical to serve fancy rice when you already have a number of viands to go with it. But it doesn’t have to be the main dish all the time. You can serve rice as a side dish, appetizer, or even a snack. If you do it right, you don’t even need viands to add to the taste. Here are some unique Filipino food recipes you can do with your rice.
This recipe comes from the Spanish and is great for fiestas, birthdays, and Sunday lunches. It’s a complete meal in one-rice, meat, and vegetables-so it fits right in with Filipino cuisine.
Ingredients:
3 cups rice (cooked in 2 cups coconut milk and 3 cups water)
1 small fryer chicken, chopped into bite-size pieces
¼ kg pork, chopped into bite-size pieces
2 pcs Chinese sausage
1 cup green peas
6 potatoes, cut into quarters
2 red bell peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 large tomatoes, chopped
¼ cup sliced black olives
1 onion, finely chopped
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1 tsp salt
Procedure:
Saute the pork and chicken with the onion, 1 clove garlic and some butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir until the meat becomes slightly brown. In a saucepan, sauté the rest of the garlic along with the onions, tomatoes, and butter. Add in the potatoes, sausages, and he sautéed chicken and pork. Mix well and let it simmer. Add some water if it starts to dry out. When the meat and potatoes are cooked, add the peas, olives and bell peppers. Set aside some of the broth, then add the rice. Mix well and add the stock, then let the water boil down.
This dish has a mild curry flavor that goes well with meat-based Filipino cooking recipes. You can serve it as a side dish or main course.
Ingredients:
1 ½ c long grain rice, uncooked
3 c chicken broth
½ c green onions, chopped
½ teaspoon curry powder
½ c raisins
½ c chopped toasted almonds
¼ c butter, softened
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp salt
Procedure:
Saute the garlic and half of the onions but butter. Add the rice and curry powder, then stir until the rice turns light brown. In a deep saucepan, stir the salt into the broth and heat. Pour it over the rice and mix well. Let it simmer until the rice is soft (about 35-40 minutes). Remove from the heat and add the raisins and the rest of the green onions.
This simple dish is perfect for vegetarians or those who want something light. The flavors are light and subtly, so you can serve it along with other Filipino recipes.
Ingredients:
½ c rice
1 c fresh okra, boiled
½ pc onion, chopped
1 ½ c tomatoes, chopped
1 crushed bay leaf
¼ tsp thyme
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp flour
1 tbsp oil
Procedure:
Cook the rice according to package instructions, then set aside. In a pan, heat the flour and onion in the oil until they turn light brown. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix with the rice, then heat the mixture in a double boiler.
If you don’t have time to cook a full meal, this recipe offers a quick fix. It’s a great alternative to fried rice for breakfast, but you can also serve it for lunch, dinner or even merienda.
Ingredients:
3 cups washed brown rice
4 tbsp butter
salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste
Procedure:
Dissolve some salt in water and boil the rice for about 30 minutes. Drain off the remaining water, then set aside. In a pan, heat some butter and add the rice when it starts to foam. Season to taste. Stir it once in a while to keep it from sticking to the pan. Cook on low heat until the rice becomes crisp and brown.
Can’t get your kids to eat rice? This recipe just might change their minds. The cheese and milk add a creamy texture that kids are sure to love. You can also add your own spices to give it a personal touch.
Ingredients:
3 cups cooked rice
¼ lb grated or chopped cheese
butter
milk
bread crumbs
Procedure:
Preheat the oven to about 350 oF. Mix the bread crumbs with butter, then set aside. Grease a baking dish with a thin layer of butter. Sprinkle some of the cheese on the base and sides. Add the rice and cheese in alternate layers, then pour in the milk until it fills half of the dish. Top with buttered bread crumbs and bake until the crumbs turn golden brown.
It’s not unusual to use rice in Filipino desserts recipes, but it’s often too heavy and filling. If you’re looking for a healthy sweet dish that will fit in with your diet, this rice salad recipe is perfect for you. You have full control over the proportions, so you can maximize the flavor without adding any extra calories.
Ingredients:
cold cooked rice
chopped pineapple
canned or fresh raspberries
lettuce
¾ pint thick cream
½ tsp salt and pepper
½ tsp lemon juice
In a bowl, combine the cream, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix well, then add in the rice, pineapple and raspberries. Line your plates with lettuce leaves. Place the rice mixture at the center and garnish as desired.
