Rice is the easy ingredient, the all-purpose cereal, the one you pull out when you’re out of inspiration or when your fridge is looking sad. You can garnish it with vegetables as you wish — roasted, marinated, sautéed —, animal or vegetable proteins in a single piece like chicken cutlet or cut into strips. Whether cooked according to the Creole method, pilaf, in the oven or steamed, rice, with its mild flavor, is a solid base for an autumn dish or a dessert. Indeed, if rice works wonders in a savory version, we should not forget desserts, including the famous rice pudding, which delights young and old alike.
Rice + spices = a happy marriage in autumn
Since it has a mild flavor — or more pronounced depending on the variety, rice can easily be enhanced with spices. Ginger, turmeric, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, all tastes suit it! Same idea with the different broths — poultry, beef, vegetables, fish, seafood —, perfect when preparing rice in risotto. For spices, do not hesitate to roast them for a few moments with a little oil so that they reveal all their flavors.
Flavors of Autumn
To stay on an autumnal note, in addition to spices, we think of oilseeds like hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, which bring a maximum of crunch to the dish or dessert. We also think of rice balls like arancini, these famous Sicilian balls, perfect for using up leftover risotto. We repeat the operation in dessert version with rice pudding balls with cinnamon.
In short, whether savory or sweet, rice has it all. Proof by four.
Chicken Pilaf
© Valery Guedes
An easy and fragrant dish, in which all the ingredients cook in unison. For the sweetness, we rely on cinnamon and the deliciousness of coconut milk.
Discover the recipe for Chicken Pilaf
Chazuke with salmon
© Emanuela Cino
A Japanese dish consisting of rice, salmon, and small vegetables, all washed down with hot tea when served. Here, green tea such as Sakimidori from Kobayashi.
Discover the recipe for Chazuke with salmon
Rice flavored with spices and dried fruits
© Valery Guedes
A vegetarian dish, seasoned with spices. The good idea? Add crunchy elements to the rice, such as roasted cashew nuts and almonds.
Discover the recipe for Rice flavored with spices and dried fruits
Rice pudding, vanilla custard
© Marjolaine Daguerre
To change from simple rice pudding, we take inspiration from chef Claire Heitzler who adds custard to her cooked rice. A delight!
Discover the recipe for Rice pudding with vanilla custard
