Collection of leftover rice recipes. We all have some leftover rice in our kitchen and wonder how to use it or what recipe to make with it. As a general habit, I don’t throw away leftovers and that includes rice. Sometimes I have leftover rice from the night before that I use the next day. I keep it in the fridge and use the rice the next day. Do not keep leftover rice for long. Use it within a day or a few hours.
There are actually many delicious recipes that you can make with leftover cooked rice. They can range from snacks to desserts or even a main course. In this post, I am sharing recipes that can be easily made with leftover rice.
Usually 1 cup of raw rice yields 3 to 3.5 cups of cooked rice. It varies with the variety of rice and can be higher. Depending on the amount of rice you have you can increase or decrease the other ingredients accordingly. If the rice is lumpy, break the lump with your hands and add the rice to the dish.
3 recipes made with leftover cooked rice
1. Idli recipe from cooked rice – Steamed rice makes them Idlis are super soft, fluffy and very light. These idlis are much softer than usual Idli recipe I follow the idli rava (cream of rice). To make this idli, use leftover rice of the same day.
2. Rice pakoras – Crispy and soft pakoras made from leftover cooked rice. These rice pakoras have a crispy texture on the outside and soft on the inside. They are so good, you won’t know these pakoras are made of rice.
3. Rice Cutlet Recipe – Crispy and delicious rice cutlets. Rice cutlet recipe is very easy to make. All you need is cooked rice with boiled potatoes. Add your spices. Mix everything and then shallow fry or pan fry the cutlets. Serve with rice cutlets Coriander Chutney or Tamarind Chutney or Mint Coriander Chutney or Mint Chutney.
20 Rice Recipes Made with Leftover Rice or Cooked Rice
1. Lemon Rice – Crunchy, aromatic and tangy rice recipes from South Indian cuisine. This is one of the most popular and frequently made rice recipes from South India. You can also make lemon rice with freshly cooked rice or leftover rice.
2. Tamarind rice – A popular South Indian recipe for sour and spicy rice made with tamarind pulp and spices. This dish is also called Pulyodharai in Tamil.
3. Fried rice recipe – Fragrant, aromatic and delicious vegetable fried rice recipe. One of the most popular street foods in India. You can serve Veg Fried Rice with any Indo Chinese gravy dish.
4. curd rice – A popular South Indian rice variety served with South Indian dishes or South Indian Thali.
5. Tawa Pulao – A popular street food in Mumbai consisting of rice and vegetables stir-fried together with pav bhaji masala and other spices. Street vendors make a huge use of it Tawa And they make pav bhaji, masala pav and tawa pulao in this huge tawa. For home cooking, this recipe can be made in a frying pan or even in a kadai (oak).
6. Shezwan Fried Rice – Spicy and delicious Indo Chinese recipe of stir-fried vegetables and rice in Shezwan sauce. This Shezwan Fried Rice recipe is completely vegetarian and vegan-friendly, and contains lots of vegetables.
7. Bhangi bath – Homemade Delicious Recipe of Eggplant Rice from Karnataka Cuisine. The Karnataka style bhangi snan recipe uses bhangi snan masala powder and tamarind pulp as two main ingredients. Whereas Maharashtrian bhangi bhaat recipe uses Goda masala and curd or tomato.
8. Masala Rice – This masala rice recipe is quick and easy, especially when you have leftover rice. It makes for a filling brunch or lunch or dinner. You can eat them plain or with raita or a bowl of yogurt or a side salad. Bundi Raita or Cucumber Raita goes very well with this spicy rice.
9. Coconut rice recipe – Light, light South Indian coconut rice recipe made with fresh coconut. Also known as Thengai Sadam. You can serve coconut rice or gravy or curries like kara kuzhambu, veg stew.
10. mango rice – Spicy, tempered and tong rice made from raw mangoes. The tartness of ripe mangoes, the subtle sweetness of fresh coconut and the heat of red chillies balance this dish very well.
11. Bhindi rice recipe – Easy Homemade Spicy Okra Rice Recipe, where boiled okra or bhindi is mixed with cooked rice.
12. Singapore Fried Rice – One of the fusion rice varieties of Indo-Chinese cuisine is Singapore Fried Rice. This veggie fried rice recipe has nothing to do with Singapore. It is a spicy rice variety that is a part of the menu of many Indo Chinese restaurants and even street food stalls in India.
13. Carrot Rice – Mildly spiced and delicious carrot rice recipe. This is one of those rice recipes that can be made quickly. It goes well as tiffin box lunch.
14. Mushroom Fried Rice – Delicious Indo Chinese Recipe of Fried Rice with Mushrooms. Easy to cook and tastes very good too.
15. Paneer fried rice – Indian inspired delicious recipe A mildly spicy paneer fried rice with mixed vegetables.
16. Roasted garlic – Indo Chinese Recipe of Charred Garlic Fried Rice. Veg fried rice is a popular variation found in Chinese restaurants and stalls in India.
17. Sweet Corn Fried Rice – A delicious fried rice made with sweet corn, spring onions and herbs + spices. It is a comforting and easy preparation, yet high in flavor.
18. Cabbage Fried Rice – This is a mildly spicy and delicious Indian style cabbage fried rice made with shredded cabbage, basmati rice, onion spices and herbs. Pair it with an Indian pickle or raita for a comforting meal.
19. Pineapple Fried Rice – Easy and delicious mildly spiced fried rice made with fresh pineapple.
20. Mushroom rice – An easy and quick recipe for European-style mushroom rice. This is not an elaborate or complicated recipe. Easy for bachelors, students and single people.
This leftover rice recipe post from the archives, originally published in November 2017, was updated and republished in February 2023.