How to use leftover rice

Simple Herb Garden Rice

Wondering how to use the leftover rice from last night’s dinner? Try something simple and new that will wake up your taste buds. This simple herb garden rice is buttery, herby and so flavorful with a hint of lemon. This recipe is a great lunch for those who need to meal prep or it can be eaten as a flavorful side at dinner time later in the week when you don’t have a meal already planned.

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Wondering how to use leftover rice?

Let’s face it, rice can be boring. Leftover rice is not always that appealing either. How about that carton that’s in the back of your fridge from Chinese takeout over the weekend. Does anyone ever look forward to eating that? If you have a house full of teenage boys it might get eaten. Hungry boys eat everything in sight. But why not dress up that leftover rice and turn it into something that just might become your go to that one night a week when there is nothing to eat for dinner.

Turn it into a quick lunch for work tomorrow. In a matter of a few minutes you can have flavorful rice that might have otherwise been wasted.

I purchase rice in bulk from BJ’s or Azure Standard and store it in an airtight container. For this recipe I used jasmine but I also buy basmati, short grain brown rice and wild rice. I use the instant pot for the most part.

We also use left over rice in soups!

How to make Simple Herb Garden Rice

First choose your herbs. For this recipe I added basil, parsley, cilantro and chives. You can choose any combination that your family likes such as thyme, oregano, mint. The possibilities are endless.

I like to use room temp rice so I take it out of the fridge about 20 or 30 minutes before I want to cook.

Next, mince a large clove of garlic.

A bit about miso in how to use leftover rice

Fermented products can be very beneficial to the gut microbiome. I try to incorporate fermented foods as often as possible. Miso paste is one of my favorite ways. This next step is optional, but I think it gives the rice so much flavor. I mix one teaspoon of miso paste with 2 teaspoons of warm water to dissolve the paste. (Feel free to add even more that the 1 tsp that I added.) Sometimes I add much more than a teaspoon depending on which recipe I am making.

Miso is said to not only improve gut health but also fight against cancer, improve immune system, better brain health, fight cholesterol and help with menopausal symptoms. That’s a lot. Maybe we should add it to everything!

Heat your pan on medium high heat to start. I like using a cast iron skillet. You can use any pan you have on hand.

Next

Next, place one tablespoon of butter into the pan and allow it to melt. Add the miso paste/ water mixture and stir for a few seconds. Now add the roughly chopped snow peas and cook them for a few minutes stirring often. Now add the minced garlic and allow it to cook for just about a minute, you don’t want the garlic to brown.

Add another tablespoon of butter to the pan then add the rice. Stir continuously until just heated through. This should only take a few minutes.

Finally

Finally, add the herbs, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a few turns of fresh black peppercorns. Turn off the heat then add some lemon zest. I add the zest of about 1/4 of a lemon. You can add more if you like. At this point you can choose to add more butter to the rice. I’ve been told that butter makes everything better! Sprinkle with chopped chives and enjoy!

This simple herb garden rice goes great with my https://simplyeatathome.com/sourdough-discard-biscuits/

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