What to Do with Leftover Jasmine Rice: Three Shades of Recipes

Don’t you just love the smell of steaming rice? 

This one is especially aromatic, it’s even dubbed the “fragrant rice.” 

Contrary to popular belief, Jasmine rice actually gets its name not from its fragrance but from its color.  

Because yes, the color of the rice resembles the color of the flower, jasmine. 

And speaking of colors, jasmine rice has three of them.  

There’s the polished white version. 

The brown one that is hulled but still has the bran. 

Then the rare rice, black jasmine. 

Whatever variety you might have right now won’t be an issue.

You know what will be? Figuring out just what to do with leftover jasmine rice.

The Three Musketeers

There’s more to rice than just the typical white or brown. Altering between the two can eventually become boring. 

So really, having that leftover jasmine rice in your fridge is a blessing in disguise. 

But before anything else, let me tell you about the beauty of jasmine rice. 

Beside being the fragrant one, it is also commonly known as Asian rice. 

It is endemic to several countries including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. 

Yup, this is exactly where it got its other name from.

As already mentioned before, there are three colors that make it distinct.

They share the same characteristics of having a pronounced aroma and nutty flavor. 

Their difference, though?

Brown jasmine rice is the healthier option having more antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins because of the bran. 

White jasmine rice, on the other hand, is the polished version where the hull and bran are removed.

As for the rarest of them all, black Jasmine rice gets its striking color from anthocyanin. This is the same pigment responsible for giving blueberries, blackberries, and eggplants their vibrant colors. 

But what’s really intriguing about black jasmine rice is its nickname. 

It’s called the forbidden rice, and somehow, that just sounds so ominous and foreboding (insert chills)…

Fear not, though, I’m not about to tell you some dark tale that’s as old as time. 

It just so happened that black jasmine rice used to be exclusively reserved for the nobility and upper classes. As in, it was forbidden to everyone else. 

What if this was the case because of its significantly higher fiber, iron, and protein than both its brown and white sibling? 

The rich keeping a health hack all to themselves…

Enough with the conspiracy theories! 

What to do with leftover Jasmine rice? Tell us!

The Rice Stuff

I digress. I’m sorry! 

I just want you to know more about the leftovers you almost forgot and threw away. 

It’s not a guilt trip or anything. 

It’s a (history) lesson 😉

But here’s a better lesson, and it’s on what to do with leftover jasmine rice:

Brown-ing Down the Kitchen

Ready for your brown jasmine rice Buddha bowl?

Ingredients

• 2 cups of leftover brown jasmine rice
• 1 cup of roasted veggies (go wild with your favorites)
• ½ cup of protein of your choosing
• ¼ cup of crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup of chopped cilantro
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice
• ½ tsp of honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Utensils

• Large bowl
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Put the leftover rice in a bowl along with the veggies and protein.
2. Sprinkle everything with feta (fine, you can add as much as you want).
3. Add the cilantro to top it all off. 
4. In another bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper together to create the dressing. 
5. Pour the mixture over the Buddha bowl and mix everything thoroughly. 

Brown jasmine rice is already healthy on its own. But hey, what’s another healthy twist to it?

White Knight in Shining Armor

Summer is here! It’s only fitting to make a refreshing recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of leftover white jasmine rice
• 1 pack of rice paper wraps
• 1 cup of shredded veggies of your choosing
• ½ cup of chopped basil
• ¼ cup of cooked and shredded chicken (or tofu, but that’s just me)
• ¼ cup of chopped peanuts
• ¼ cups of peanut butter
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 tbsp of rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp of lime juice
• 1 minced clove of garlic
• 1 tsp of sriracha

Utensils

• Large bowls (one with warm water)
• Plate

Instructions

1. Mix the leftover rice, veggies, basil, chicken, and peanuts in a large bowl. 
2. Dip a rice paper wrapper in warm water for a few seconds (make sure it’s not soggy, just merely pliable). Lay it on a plate.
3. Place a small amount of the mixture in the center. Fold the bottom, then the sides over the filling. 
4. Tightly roll up the entire thing creating a compact summer roll. Repeat this for the remaining wraps.
5. In another bowl, whisk the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, garlic, and sriracha. Add a little water to create a thin consistency. 
6. Arrange the summer rolls on a platter and serve with the dipping sauce. 

White jasmine rice is about to rescue you from this summer heat!

Black Tie Affair

You have to admit, black jasmine rice looks so fancy. 

It’s not just me, right? Right!?

Create this rice pudding recipe and prove to me otherwise (if you can). 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of leftover black jasmine rice
• 2 cups of milk (it’s whole milk for me ‘cause thicker and richer is the way to go)
• ½ cup of sugar (feel free to adjust)
• ¼ tsp of ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp of ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp of chopped nuts
• 1 tbsp of butter

Utensils

• Saucepan
• Whisk 
• Spatula

Instructions

1. Combine the leftover rice, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in the saucepan. Whisk everything together. 
2. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 20-25 minutes.
3. Stir occasionally until the rice is soft and the entire mixture is thick enough. 
4. Once thickened, remove from heat and add the butter until it melts.
5. Sprinkle with nuts before serving. 

So, is it? Does this black jasmine rice pudding look fancy enough for your taste buds?

Colorful Farewell

Hope you’re staring down at those leftover jasmine rice with more fondness now. 

(Despite you shoving it in the fridge unceremoniously)

It can be intimidating to know that they are just there, out of sight, but mocking you behind the closed door of your fridge. 

But with a little creativity and a recipe (or two or three!), you’ll know what to do with leftover jasmine rice, no matter the variety you have. 

Catch you on the next one! 

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