Which Rice Is Right for Your Meal? Plus, 5 Ways to Improve Your Cooking Technique

Rice is one of the most common foods in the world. In fact, between 2021 and 2022, research suggests that around 520 million metric tons of rice was consumed around the world. Rice is versatile, nutritious (it’s mainly a good source of carbohydrates), and goes with pretty much anything. But if you’re wondering: which types go best with which meals? You’ve come to the right place.

8 types of rice, and the best vegan meals to serve them with

Nava Atlas

1 White rice

White rice—which is actually rice that has had its outer husk, bran, and germ removed during the milling process—is eaten all over the world with many, many different types of foods. It’s incredibly versatile—you can eat it with pretty much any dish you like. Due to its neutral flavor, it’s the perfect supporting side for an array of flavorful dishes.

Serve it with: Vegan Korean BBQ Bowls With Kimchi, Vegan Smoked Teriyaki Salmon Fillet, and Vegan Copycat Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken

2 Brown rice 

Unlike white rice, brown rice has not undergone the milling process that removes the outer husk, bran, and germ. Because of this, it is considered a healthy alternative, because it is richer in nutrients, like B vitamins and fiber. Just like white rice, however, brown rice has a neutral flavor and goes with many different dishes, from curries to stir-fries.

Serve it with: Sticky-Sweet Vegan Miso Eggplant and Oil-Free Vegan Sweet Chili Tofu Broccoli Mushroom Stir-Fry

Bri Beaudoin

3 Jasmine rice

Primarily grown in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, jasmine rice is a long-grain rice known for its floral aroma and its ability to absorb flavors well. It can be made with brown or white rice, and it’s usually served with fragrant Thai curries, like massaman and green curry, as well as Vietnamese pho, and stir-fries. 

Serve it with: Vegan Thai Vegetable Curry and Vegan Crispy Rice Salad With Smashed Cucumbers and Spicy Pickled Radishes

Sara Kiyo Popowa 

4 Wild rice

This one is sort of cheating because it’s not technically rice. Wild rice is actually grass seed, but because it is cooked and eaten like rice (and it even has rice in the name), we’ve included it in this list. Its grains are long and slender, and it goes beautifully with ingredients like mushrooms, herbs, root vegetables, and creamy sauces. 

Serve it with: Creamy Vegan Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup and Vegan Roasted Sweet Basil Squash With Wild Rice and Mustard Greens Salad

Eat the Rainbow

5 Sushi rice

As you may have guessed, sushi rice—a type of short-grain rice seasoned with a mixture of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt–is the key component of Japanese sushi. It’s sweet, tangy, and a little bit sticky, which is why it’s the perfect ingredient for holding sushi rolls together. 

Serve it with: Healthy Vegan Pink Rice Sushi Roll With Creamy Ginger-Tamari Sauce and Vegan Maple-Glazed Tofu Musubi, and Vegan Sushi Sandwich With Crispy Tofu and Pickled Beets

Richa Hingle

6 Basmati rice

Known for its distinct nutty and floral aroma, basmati rice is a type of long-grain rice predominantly used in South Asian cuisine. It often serves as a side dish for curries and pilafs, but it can also be the star of the show in dishes like biryani—which is rice mixed with spices, vegetables, and protein—for example.

Serve it with: Easy 30-Minute Vegan Butter Chickpea Curry and Vegan South Indian Instant Pot Avial

Erin Scott

7 Bomba rice

Grown primarily in Valencia, bomba rice—a type of short-grain rice—is the key ingredient in paella, the national dish of Spain. This is because it can absorb liquid and flavor without losing its shape or texture. Paella is usually made with meat or seafood, but it’s easy to make a vegan version by using just vegetables or by adding vegan meat. 

Serve it with: Vegan Mixed Grain Vegetable Paella With Sausage and Castelvetrano Olives

Little Pine

8 Arborio rice

Arborio rice is very similar to bomba rice—it’s short-grain and holds its shape and texture well when combined with lots of sauce. For that reason, it’s the key ingredient in risotto, one of Italy’s most popular dishes.  

Serve it with: Vegan Creamy Pumpkin Risotto With Sweet and Spicy Roasted Pepitas and Vegan Cashew Cream Autumn Risotto With Crispy Maitakes

Upgrade your vegan cooking: 5 ways to improve your rice

Rice is one of the easiest ingredients to cook—especially if you have a rice cooker! All you need is rice and water. But if you want rice with a little bit extra, say, pizazz, there are things you can do to take this simple side to the next level. Here are some of our top tips for improving your rice cooking skills. 

1 Cook with wine

In dishes like risotto and pilaf, rice is often cooked with wine, which helps to bring acidity to the dish, enhancing the overall flavor. The type of wine depends on the context of the dish—if you’re going for a creamy white rice dish, opt for white wines, like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. If you’re going for a heartier tomato-based dish, choose a red wine, like a merlot or pinot noir. 

2 Stir in fresh herbs and spices

Stirring some herbs and spices into your rice can help to add more depth of flavor to your dish, and create an appetizing aroma, too. Another benefit is the added nutritional value: herbs and spices, like rosemary and turmeric, are often rich in antioxidants, for example, and may also be anti-inflammatory.

3 Add olive oil

Next time you’re cooking rice, add a drizzle of olive oil to the water to help loosen up the grains and stop them from sticking together. It also prevents foaming, and adds a pleasant mild, slightly nutty flavor, too. 

4 Cook with vegan butter

Similar to olive oil, adding some vegan butter to your rice while it cooks can help to improve the overall texture, resulting in a smoother, fluffier-looking rice. But it can also add a delicious element of creamy, nutty flavor to the dish, too. 

5 Add crumbled vegan meat 

If you’re cooking fried rice, or you simply want to add some protein to your side dish, consider adding some vegan chicken strips, tofu, or even bacon crumbles into the mix. It transforms a simple side dish into a protein-packed, delicious meal that can stand on its own, with or without a main.