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Rice Recipes from Around the World

Rice is cooked differently in almost every kitchen in the world. This collection starts with three of the most-loved rice dishes — South Asian biryani, East Asian fried rice and West African jollof — plus the sides that go with them.

Every recipe lists exact quantities in US and metric units, a servings scaler, step-by-step instructions and answers to the questions people most often ask about that dish.

29 recipes

Photo: Cesarina Luna on Unsplash

Biryani

Layered, slow-steamed rice with spiced meat, seafood, paneer or vegetables.

Non-vegIndian

Chicken Biryani

2 hr 45 min Medium Serves 5

VegetarianIndian

Vegetable Biryani

2 hr 15 min Medium Serves 5

Plate of chicken biryani with long-grain rice, mint and lime slices, with small bowls of raita and gravy

Non-vegIndian

Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

6 hr Hard Serves 5

White plate of spiced rice with pieces of meat and potato on a dark cloth

Non-vegIndian

Lamb Biryani

4 hr 20 min Medium Serves 6

Stainless steel pan filled with layered yellow and white biryani rice and herbs

Non-vegIndian

Instant Pot Chicken Biryani

1 hr 30 min Easy Serves 5

Platter of meat biryani with boiled eggs, potatoes and cucumber slices on a red cloth

Non-vegIndian

Mutton Biryani

5 hr 40 min Medium Serves 6

Bowl of yellow spiced rice with peas, carrots and soft cubes of paneer

VegetarianIndian

Paneer Biryani

1 hr 50 min Medium Serves 5

Contains eggIndian

Egg Biryani

2 hr Medium Serves 4

Clay pot of biryani garnished with mint beside a bowl of raita, whole spices and green chillies on a red cloth

Non-vegIndian

Lucknowi Dum Biryani

2 hr 55 min Medium Serves 5

Copper bowl of meat biryani with herbs and fried onions on a linen napkin

Non-vegIndian

Goat Biryani (Pressure Cooker)

2 hr 55 min Medium Serves 6

Wide white plate of spiced rice topped with prawns in a thick masala and fresh coriander

Non-vegIndian

Shrimp Biryani

1 hr 45 min Medium Serves 5

Fried Rice

Fast, high-heat stir-fried rice — the best use for leftover cooked rice.

Contains eggChinese-American

Fried Rice

22 min Easy Serves 4

Non-vegChinese-American

Chicken Fried Rice

30 min Easy Serves 4

Non-vegKorean

Kimchi Fried Rice

28 min Easy Serves 3

Dark bowl of fried rice topped with shrimp, with chopsticks and a spoon on a woven mat

Non-vegChinese

Shrimp Fried Rice

27 min Easy Serves 4

Overhead view of a dark plate of fried rice with minced ham, egg and greens on a wooden table

Non-vegChinese-American

Pork Fried Rice

24 min Easy Serves 4

Contains eggChinese

Egg Fried Rice

15 min Easy Serves 3

Plate of fried rice mixed with browned meat and shredded cabbage

Non-vegChinese-American

Beef Fried Rice

45 min Easy Serves 4

Fried rice served in a hollowed pineapple half with a dipping sauce and fresh vegetables

Non-vegThai

Pineapple Fried Rice

35 min Easy Serves 4

Plate of Thai-style fried rice with shrimp, lime wedge, cucumber and herbs

Non-vegThai

Thai Fried Rice (Khao Pad)

30 min Easy Serves 4

VeganChinese-American

Vegetable Fried Rice

40 min Easy Serves 4

Dome of Japanese-style fried rice topped with roe on a white plate with a black spoon

Contains eggJapanese-American

Hibachi Fried Rice

30 min Easy Serves 4

Jollof Rice

West Africa's one-pot rice cooked in a rich tomato and pepper base.

Non-vegWest African

Jollof Rice

1 hr 45 min Medium Serves 6

Non-vegNigerian

Nigerian Jollof Rice

1 hr 40 min Medium Serves 6

Plated jollof rice with grilled chicken breast and red onion on a patterned mat

Non-vegWest African

Chicken Jollof Rice

2 hr 15 min Medium Serves 6

Plate of jollof rice with salad beside a bowl of fried plantain on a blue surface

Non-vegGhanaian

Ghana Jollof Rice

1 hr 40 min Medium Serves 6

Three plates of jollof rice with grilled chicken and salad on a patterned tablecloth

Non-vegNigerian

Party Jollof Rice

2 hr 55 min Medium Serves 20

Sides

Classic accompaniments for biryani.

Bowl of thick yogurt garnished with fresh herbs, with a wooden spoon

VegetarianIndian

Cucumber Raita

27 min Easy Serves 6

Fresh green and red chillies on a white table

VeganIndian

Mirchi ka Salan

55 min Medium Serves 6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best rice for biryani, fried rice and jollof?

Aged long-grain basmati is the standard for biryani. Fried rice works best with cold, day-old long-grain or jasmine rice (short-grain for Korean kimchi fried rice). Nigerian jollof traditionally uses long-grain parboiled rice, while Ghanaian jollof is often made with fragrant jasmine or basmati.

Can I use leftover rice in these recipes?

Leftover cooked rice is ideal for fried rice, as long as it was cooled quickly and refrigerated. Biryani and jollof start from uncooked rice, because the rice has to absorb flavor while it cooks.

How long does cooked rice keep in the fridge?

Refrigerate cooked rice within 1–2 hours of cooking and use it within 3–4 days. Reheat it until it is steaming hot all the way through.