Frugal Food: Ideas for Leftover Rice

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

14 Jan 2007 01:22 PM

Rice is one of those very frugal foods that, when used, can really help your budget. I often buy huge containers of rice in bulk at the warehouse stores. Whenever I make rice, I always double the amount and use it in other dishes. You can cook it and freeze it, too, of course. This way, I incorporate this inexpensive and nutritious food into our diets on a regular basis. You can choose to use enriched white rice, brown rice, basamati rice, etc. While exotic brands will cost more, they are not that expensive and are nice for a change.

Here are some fun and easy ways to use up leftover rice to create new meals.

Make the leftover rice into rice pudding. Although my husband loves rice pudding, I couldn't ever make it from scratch. While pregnant with my first child, I developed an aversion to the stuff that sticks around to this day. Still, rice pudding is a great use for leftover rice.

Top your rice with leftover gravy. This uses up two leftovers at once, an extra frugal bonus.

Top your rice with cream of chicken, cream of mushroom or other canned cream soup. This was one of my husband's staple bachelor meals. If he were to spend a weekend cooking dinner, you can guarantee that this one will come up at least once.

Add salsa and salt to your rice for a latin flavor that can be used as a side dish. Add chicken for a main dish, or even roll the chicken-rice mixture into a flour tortilla.

Add the leftover rice and some cooked carrots to chicken broth for chicken-rice soup (or boil the carrots in the broth first and then add the rice to warm).

Make up some fried rice. This is one of my favorite things to do. I usually use a wok, but a skillet works just as well. First scramble up some eggs and remove from the wok. Then cook up small pieces of meat (chicken, pork sausage, whatever you have). Add your choice of veggies and soy sauce. You can also add sesame oil for a nice flavor.

What do you do with your leftover rice?

Related Articles:

Frugal Food: Lentil And Rice Casserole for the Crockpot

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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