Basmati rice is a popular choice amongst all types of rice for its unique taste and aroma. That’s the reason people prefer it more for a wholesome experience. If you have leftover basmati rice, don’t throw it away. Instead, turn it into delicious basmati rice meals! 

Leftover basmati rice is still as good as freshly cooked rice, as there is no difference in its taste and flavour. This aromatic variety has long grains and looks elegant when cooked. 

We have brought a list of appetizing basmati rice dishes you can make for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! 

The leftover rice can be your source for making appetizers, salads, desserts, and cuisines to your liking in quick time. so, let’s check it out. 

Here are the best leftover basmati rice recipe ideas 

When thinking of how to use leftover basmati rice, think of converting the rice into an excellent recipe that your whole family will love to have any time of the day. Here are the basmati recipes you can try:

Easy Shrimp Fried Rice

If you have leftover rice, turn it into mouth-watering shrimp fried rice! Prepare this easy basmati rice dish by frying the leftover rice and adding shrimp as a quick source of protein. It is unnecessary to wait hours to cook rice since it is already available, isn’t it?  

First, add one teaspoon of oil to a skillet and boil at medium heat. Then add the egg and scramble it quickly to make it soft, then remove it from the wok. You can add snow peas and bell paper. Then, stir rice, shrimp, and other ingredients until heat up sufficiently. Garnish the dish with green onion and serve. 

Cool Beans Salad

The cool bean salad is an energetic recipe that will keep you going for the rest of the day. It is a protein-filled recipe that looks colorful. Add this salad recipe with basmati rice to give it a unique flavour. The bean dressing gives it a bit of crunch.  

Combine kidney beans, black beans, green pepper, onion, jalapeno peppers, lime zest and juice, garlic, cumin, and cilantro in a large salad bowl. Then, sprinkle salt to your taste and enjoy.

Black beans and rice 

If you are looking for a quick breakfast recipe, black beans and rice are among the best options. This preparation instantly uses leftover basmati rice. The ingredients used to make the dish include cooked black beans, cooked basmati rice, green bell pepper, cilantro, lime, and cumin. Just mix them nicely for a quick serving. 

Thai Cashew Chicken Fried Rice

Are you looking for something with chicken? How about giving Thai cashew chicken fried rice a try? You can make this recipe using leftover basmati rice. You would love to have this prepared immediately. You can add Thai chillies to get some tantalising sensation from the recipe. 

First, heat oil in a large wok. Then add cooked chicken until it looks brown. Add salt, sugar, snap peas, chilli paper, and garlic, and let it cook for five minutes. Ensure the chicken is cooked well and the snap peas are tender and crisp. 

Add fresh peas, buttery cashews, and juicy chicken to make the dish tasty and easier to prepare. Sprinkle cashews while serving. 

Cheesy Italian Leftover Rice Bake

The cheesy Italian leftover rice bake is another tasty option to explore when you wish to make good use of leftover cheese and rice. You can turn the leftovers into a nice dinner by combining meat and vegetables with cheese and rice. The rich filling will make this a family-friendly favourite recipe.

All you need to do is mix some vegetables, one cup of cheese, leftover basmati rice, egg, pesto, and ricotta in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper as well. Bake it for 15 to 20 minutes until it turns golden brown, and serve. 

Asian Rice Cups

Another recipe that you can easily prepare using leftover basmati rice is the Asian rice cups. This could be your ideal snack, lunch, or dinner dish. All you need to do is combine various ingredients such as vegetables, green onions, and spices with the basmati rice. That is your way of giving these rice cups your personal touch. Microwave or heat it and serve hot. 

Jerk Chicken Fried Rice

Jerk chicken fried rice is one of the best basmati rice recipe ideas you can explore using leftovers. To make this dish, use the leftover rice from last night. 

Heat oil in a wok or skillet. Then add vegetables such as cabbage, red peppers, red onions, and others until they turn brown. Stir the chicken and jerk the marinade together. Then, cook the leftover basmati rice, soy sauce, and lime juice for about five minutes.  Garnish the dish with green onions. 

Italian Spinach Rice Balls

The Italian spinach rice balls are considered the best snack food. People love these vegetarian rice balls as fun food for the family. Adding your favorite spices and other ingredients can give this dish your personal touch.

Combine rice, spinach, mozzarella, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and pesto in a large bowl.  Divide this mixture into different balls. Fry the balls by dipping it in the whisked egg and breadcrumbs. Serve and enjoy with family.

Garden Stuffed Tomatoes

Stuffed tomatoes have always been popular, and garden-stuffed tomatoes are another dish satisfying your taste buds. You can stuff these tomatoes with mushrooms, carrots, green onions, and other vegetables. 

First, keep the rice in a large bowl, then add the vegetables. Stir the mixture gently. You can then cut the tops of the tomatoes and remove the pulp and seeds from the inside. After stuffing the rice and veggies, pour some cream over the tomatoes as a dressing, bake if required, and enjoy. 

Summer Corn and Rice Salad 

The summer corn and rice salad recipe can prove to be your favourite dish for utilizing leftover basmati rice. This salad is a simple mixture of tomatoes, corn, tangy vinaigrette, and basil with leftover rice. Add salt and pepper per your liking and serve it as a salad. 

Enjoy your delicious leftover basmati rice salad in just 15 minutes! 

Sausage & soy fried rice

Another recipe you can make using leftover basmati rice is sausage and soy-fried rice. This recipe requires basmati rice, spring onions, red chili, garlic cloves, and ginger, as well as sausages, courgettes, frozen peas, and spices of your choice.

After heating oil in a frying pan, cook the onions, garlic, chilli, and ginger for a few minutes until they turn golden. Then, add the sausage pieces and cook them until they turn brown. Mix the courgettes and cook them for around eight minutes. Next, stir basmati rice, peas, and soy sauce with sea salt for about five minutes. When serving, sprinkle some coriander so seasoning and enjoy.   

Old Fashioned Baked Rice Pudding

How about trying out a recipe from the bygone era? This backed rice pudding recipe will take you back to the good old days. The baked rice pudding dish using leftover basmati rice ends up in a warming, creamy, rich, and subtly spiced recipe that you will love to have. 

Combine rice, milk, sugar, eggs, lemon peel, and vanilla in a 2-quart baking dish. Then, fill a large pan with these ingredients and hot water. Bake the pudding for an hour. This will finish the preparation of the pudding, which can be served hot or cold. 

Rice and Squash Breakfast Bowl

For breakfast, try rice and squash. Reheat the leftover basmati rice. Mix roasting squash and poached eggs with the rice. This repurposed food will energize you immediately for the day ahead. 

Mix butternut squash, olive oil, maple syrup, and cayenne. Roast the squash for about 15 minutes until tender and golden. Then, take a deep saucepan and fill it with water. Divide the cooked basmati rice into bowls, each topped with roasted squash and enjoy. 

Strawberry Shortcake Rice Pudding Parfaits

If you are looking for a way to make desserts from basmati rice leftovers, strawberry shortcake rice pudding parfaits are a great choice. This pudding is best during the peak strawberry season. You can also prepare it by adding blueberries and raspberries as alternatives to strawberries. 

These are the recipes using basmati rice that you can try using leftover rice. Make sure that you prepare the dish according to your taste buds. That implies adding the ingredients of your choice, not forcefully including them just for the sake of it. 

Wrapping Up 

Basmati rice is everyone’s favourite for its aroma, flavour, and rich taste. But there is a sizable portion of the rice left unconsumed. However, with some carefully selected ingredients and cooking methods, you can prepare several recipes using leftover basmati rice, that too, easily! These dishes save the rice from going to waste.