20 Cheap and Easy Ways to Use Rice

Technically the seed of a grass, rice has been a nutritious and cost-effective staple grain for cultures around the world since it was domesticated more than 13,000 years ago in China. Prices vary according to region, variety, and processing, but nearly all varieties cost less than $1 per dry cup -- and many cost much less. Here are 10 dishes from around the globe that feature this age-old and budget-friendly ingredient.

With its own subtle flavor, rice serves as a great backdrop for creative flavor combinations that evoke a sense of place. With a mix of herbs such as oregano, thyme, and parsley, any variety of rice can be infused with a Mediterranean sensibility. Add chickpeas for protein, lemon juice for brightness, and a simple dressing of high-quality olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. This light yet flavorful dish can be served warm or at room temperature and contributes a nutritiously balanced and inexpensive component to any meal.

Short-grain sushi rice gets its stickiness from a high starch content and its characteristic tang from being gently seasoned with rice vinegar. Once the rice is prepared and cool enough to handle, it can be made into easy-to-eat snacks. These include traditional sushi rolls, in which rice and other ingredients such as fish and vegetables are rolled and sliced, and nigiri, a log of rice with a single piece of fish or vegetable topping. Two other common applications are chirashi, which uses rice as a bed for a bowl of typical sushi fillings, and onigiri, which envelopes the ingredients inside a ball of rice that is then wrapped in seaweed. To keep prices extra low, skip the fish and use seasonal vegetables to roll, top, and stuff sushi rice snacks.

This dish is a great go-to for leftover rice -- the texture actually comes out better when the rice has been sitting in the fridge for a day or two. Fried rice also works exceptionally well with frozen vegetables, another money- and time-saving perk. A few cups of leftover rice of any variety added to quickly sauteed, chopped veggies such as carrots, peas, broccoli, and onions and a few dashes of soy sauce becomes a crowd-pleasing side dish in less than 10 minutes. Transform fried rice into the main event by topping it with grilled chicken or tofu for an easy and cheap family meal.

Italy's answer for leftover rice is to fill it with a little sauce -- anything from meat ragu to plain marinara -- bread it, and fry it into a golden ball of crispy goodness. Modern takes on this indulgent snack food include fillings such as cheese, roasted vegetables, and even sausages. Arancini can be made big or small; the traditional ones are baseball-sized and make a hearty midday snack or appetizer. These can easily be reworked into hockey-puck-shaped cakes and pan-fried for a less fattening and cheaper version that uses less oil. Omitting the filling and topping it with sauce makes a sophisticated and tasty dish for just a few cents a piece.

With flavors such as mango and coconut from Hawaii, cinnamon and raisins from Mexico, or sweet cardamom from India, this classic comfort food varies in flavor depending on what culture is at the helm. The basic recipe stays the same: Combine polished white rice with milk, sugar, and seasonings and fruit, and cook it down into a soft custardy pudding. A bowl of rice pudding is satisfying served fresh and warm or chilled. Easy to make in large batches from humble and low-cost ingredients, it's a good way to feature rice for large gatherings and potlucks.

Born from a culture where food scarcity is a reality for the majority, this Indian preparation is a way of turning the inexpensive and accessible rice grain into a richly layered main dish -- something of a rice casserole. Spices, nuts, and fruit are layered into semi-cooked rice, along with scraps of meat and/or vegetables. When these are steam cooked together, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, and nutmeg infuse each grain, transforming plain rice into a satisfying meal. The result is a flavorful blend of seasoned rice with morsels of meat or vegetables.

This dish can cost less than a dollar per serving but passes for haute cuisine. Like sushi, risotto requires a starchy, short-grain rice (usually arborio, but any short-grain white rice will work well, and even longer-grain rice can be coerced). At its core, this dish is true peasant food, made from incorporating broth slowly into rice until blended into a smooth, stew-like consistency. Additions of butter, cheese, vegetables, and seasonings such as black pepper and lemon vary depending what's on hand. Risotto is a blank canvas that will accept everything from leftover roasted vegetables to a handful of frozen peas and a sprinkle of parmesan.

This staple of Caribbean culture combines rice, red beans, a blend of warm spices such as thyme and black pepper, and coconut milk for a hearty side dish present at nearly every meal. Chilies can make the food of the Caribbean extra spicy, so the coconut milk adds a much-needed palate-cooling effect to the rice. Switch out regular steamed rice for Jamaican-style "rice and peas" (although it's often made with red or kidney beans, pigeon peas or yellow peas are traditional) to add layers of flavor to any meal for just pennies per serving.

One of the best-loved fusion dishes of Creole cuisine is dirty rice, so-called for its brown color. Cheap ingredients come together to create something special in this flavorful stew of rice, chicken liver, and giblets, along with vegetables such as bell pepper, celery, and onion. The pungency of the chicken livers and giblets give dirty rice its distinct depth of flavor. Instead of being tossed to the trash, these leftover bits of chicken can be combined with a few dollars of rice and converted into an iconic Southern dish.

This Latin American drink is a concoction of milky rice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Something of a drinkable rice pudding, horchata is made by grinding dry rice and cinnamon into a powder and soaking it in water. Once the rice powder has fully infused, the liquid is strained off and combined with sugar and vanilla. This lightly sweet beverage is typically served over ice any time of day and can be flavored further with fruit or used as the base of a decadent cocktail.

A thick rice porridge traditional in Chinese cuisine, congee is very much a comfort food. Rice is cooked until it disintegrates into tiny bits to form a soupy consistency, and then flavored with vegetables, meat or fish, and a dash of vinegar and chili oil. Congee is a hearty dish and full of nutrition. It's a specialty at many Chinese restaurants, although it can also be made at home with a recipe from The Kitchn.

An elegant combination of rich spice and protein, this rice dish is a one-pan party. Paella can be made with mixed seafood, chicken, sausage, (even rabbit, as in a Food.com recipe), or a combination of all of them, embedded in spice-infused rice. Some paella gets toasted on the bottom, creating a layer of crisp crust, allowing diners to enjoy the soft, fluffy, and crunchy textures that rice has to offer.

An Old World dish, this stuffed cabbage recipe from Allrecipes is mainly made up of two very inexpensive-yet-filling ingredients: cabbage and rice. Any kind of rice can be used in this recipe, including leftover rice. Adjust the seasonings to suit your palate to create a comfort food staple.

The origins of this Italian soup are most certainly from peasant families that had little to work with to make hearty and nutritious meals. This recipe from Academia Barilla is as authentic as it gets. Pro tip: Save the rind from Parmesan cheese to use in soup bases like this one to impart an even richer flavor.

Mexican rice is full of flavor and color, as in this recipe from Yellow Bliss Road. Using tomato bouillon is a way to pack even more flavor into each bite with an inexpensive ingredient. Add in veggies or a protein of your choice to create a one-pot meal.

This traditional rice dish is comfort food in a one-pot recipe from Food.com. The layers of spices like bay leaf, cayenne pepper, ginger, and paprika give it a distinct, pungent flavor. You can make this dish vegetarian by omitting the chicken and adding more mushrooms.

This Norwegian-inspired recipe from North Wild Kitchen combines rice pudding and ice cream to create one delectable dessert. The ingredients are inexpensive, using mostly rice and eggs, along with some cream and sugar. There's no need for an ice cream maker, and, in fact, the recipe is easier to make without one.

Mango is one of the best flavors to pair with dessert style rice. This elaborate dessert from Rotin Rice is impressive to look at and to eat. Other tropical fruits can be substituted for mango for a variety of colors and flavors.

This recipe from Food.com is an ideal way to turn leftover rice into a craveable snack. Any style or flavor of rice can be used, and they can be served with salsa or tzatziki sauce.

Baking rice with cheese and other hearty ingredients is traditional in the South, and the recipes can be tailored to whatever ingredients you have on hand. This recipe from Southern Living features cheesey broccoli for an indulgent dish that gets bonus points for including veggies.