Healthy Rice Side Dish Recipes to Make with Tonight’s Dinner
It seems that those who are looking to lose weight tend to shy away from items such as rice as they feel it will slow down their weight loss progress. That’s not necessarily the case. Then on the other side of the equation, you have those looking to bulk up and add muscle who love rice but truly only think about eating white or brown rice with meals. After a while, that can get quite boring. Why not kick things up a notch regardless of your goal with the help of some healthy rice side dish recipes?
Related Article: Bodybuilding Recipes to Help Build Massive Amounts of Muscle
These healthy rice side dish recipes will keep your taste buds pleased and have you on the right path to reaching your health and fitness goals.
1. Thai Rice Pilaf
If you are in the mood for something different and want to add some spice to your meal with a healthy rice side dish, this Thai Rice Pilaf will do the trick. Add it to a healthy protein source such as grilled chicken, and you have an amazing dish.
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup instant brown rice
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp canola oil
- 1 1/2 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 cup chopped pineapple
- 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 sliced scallions
- 2 tbsp chopped unsalted peanuts
Directions:
- Pour water into a medium-sized pot and bring it to a boil.
- Add brown rice, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and allow to cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove the pot from heat and allow the water to become absorbed by the rice for around another 5 minutes.
- Drain any remaining water in the pot.
- Using a medium-sized bowl, stir together your fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, red pepper, and canola oil. Make sure you continue to stir and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Slowly stir the brown rice, pineapple, carrots, and cilantro into the dressing you prepared in step 5.
- Sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 175
Fat: 6g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Protein: 4g
2. Cauliflower Rice
If you are truly watching your carbs and want an alternative to rice but want the same consistency and texture, this cauliflower rice makes for the ideal healthy rice side dish, even if it’s not truly “rice.” The good news is that you won’t be able to tell the difference from a taste perspective.
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 24 oz (or 5 cups) cauliflower florets
- 2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 6 oz broccoli florets, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and grated
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
Directions:
- Dump cauliflower into a food processor and use the pulse mode until cauliflower resembles grains of rice. Once complete, set to the side.
- Take a small bowl, and using a whisk, combine the sesame oil, ginger, soy sauce, and white pepper. Then, set that to the side.
- Take 1 tbsp of vegetable oil and heat it in a medium-sized skillet using low heat. Put your eggs in the skillet and cook for around 2-3 minutes on each side until they are completely cooked through. Allow the eggs to cool. Once cool, dice them into small pieces and set them to the side.
- Take another 1tbsp of your vegetable oil, and this time heat it in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add in your onion and garlic and cook for around 3-4 minutes or until the onions have become translucent.
- Stir in your carrots, broccoli, peas, and corn with your contents from step 4. Stir consistently until your vegetables are tender. This should take around 3-4 minutes.
- Plate your cauliflower rice, top it with sesame seeds and your protein source, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 253
Fat: 13.8g
Carbohydrates: 26.8g
Protein: 10.6g
3. Cashew Raisin Rice Pilaf
This cashew raisin rice pilaf removes the boring from your rice dishes. This healthy rice side dish will have you craving more. It’s a flavor explosion in your mouth! Take your rice game to the next level.
Servings: 12
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1/4 cup margarine
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 2 cups frozen green peas
- 4 oz diced pimento peppers, drained
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup cashews
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Using a large saucepan, melt your margarine using medium-high heat. Dump in your onion, raisings, long-grain rice, carrots, and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
- Pour your chicken broth into the saucepan and bring everything to a boil. Once a boil is achieved, reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan, and allow to simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Using another saucepan, bring the 1 1/2 cups of salted water to a boil. Once a boil is achieved, dump in your wild rice, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and allow to simmer for 45 minutes. Then, drain out the liquid and put it to the side.
- When the rice and raisin saucepan is done simmering, and the rice is cooked completely, stir in your wild rice after it is done simmering and is cooked. Add your peas, cashews, and pimento peppers and heat.
- Plate your healthy rice side dish and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 270
Fat: 9.5g
Carbohydrates: 41.3g
Protein: 6.5g
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