Did you know that India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world, after China? No wonder that rice is a staple grain in so many parts of the country, particularly South India. Oftentimes, rice, just like wheat flour chapatis, is treated as a side dish that is paired with curries and sabzis. However, the same rice can also be used to make delicious dishes.
For breakfast, when you’re confused about making something, you can always rely on rice. How so, you ask? Well, be it a pancake or a paratha, there is hardly a dish that cannot be spruced up with rice. Moreover, it is also a great way to make use of leftover rice from yesterday’s dinner and make something yummy from it.
Here are a few rice-based breakfast dishes that you can’t have enough of:
1. Rice Paratha
Also known as chawal ka paratha, this one is often eaten in Sindhi households for breakfast. The idea is to boil and cook the rice properly before it is stuffed in the paratha dough. Flavoured with salt, red chilli powder, coriander leaves and other spices, the paratha is rolled and flattened and then tossed on a tawa to make it crispy hot.
2. Rice Pancakes
These are crispy and crunchy pancakes made with cooked rice, besan and loads of freshly-chopped vegetables like carrots, spring onion and cabbage. The pancake mix is combined together and this desi-style pancake is tossed on a pan with oil. Once the exteriors turn golden brown, they can be eaten with either tomato ketchup or green chutney.
3. Rice Tikki
Quick and easy-to-make, the rice tikki is a crispy cutlet made with chawal. It can double up as an evening snack too. The tikki is made by combining steamed rice with wheat flour and stuffing it with coriander leaves and green chillies. Flavour with turmeric and red chilli powder and shallow fry on a pan until it attains a crispy outer layer.
4. Rice Cheela
A light and healthy breakfast dish made with just a few ingredients, mainly rice and gram flour, the rice cheela is ready in a jiffy. Mix some spices like red chilli powder, turmeric and coriander leaves and add some ajwain and chopped onions to it. Mix it well in water and pour the batter on a pan. Let it cook from both sides and serve hot.
5. Rice Porridge
As simple as it can get, this rice porridge can be your go-to dish on days when you’re running late for work. The rice is cooked in buttermilk, with grated coconut, jeera, chana dal, urad dal, and asafoetida. This heavenly rice bowl is ideal for a healthy breakfast and can be made in a few minutes. You can flavour it with whatever seasonings you like.