7 Ways With Brown Rice

Brown rice is the healthier version of rice that has a light nutty flavor and chewy texture. The bran is left on these rice grains, which gives them a brown color and added nutrients that can help lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease. And when brown rice shows up in everything from stuffed peppers to stir-fries to soup, it's a healthy, tasty change you can stick with.

Combine cooked rice with chicken, cooked egg white, and chopped fresh veggies for this version of fried rice. Before the chicken is stirred in, it's rubbed with a miso-ginger mixture and steamed.

Recipe: Miso Chicken with Brown Rice

A timbale (TIHM-buhl) is rice or custard that has been baked in a metal mold, turned out, and served in the shape of the mold. It's a great way to add a little pizzazz to the dinner plate, especially if you're entertaining. If you don't have timbale molds, you can use custard cups or ramekins.

Recipe: Wild Mushroom and Rice Timbales

A stir-fry just isn't complete unless it's served over a bed of rice. The nutty flavor of the brown rice is a nice match for the broccoli and tofu tossed with a spicy peanut sauce.

Recipe: Peanut-Broccoli Stir-fry

A version of Greek dolmades, this appetizer features grape leaves filled with a mixture of herbed brown rice, leek, parsley, currants, and pine nuts. The stuffed leaves are then nestled in tomato sauce and simmered until thoroughly heated.

Recipe: Brown Rice-Stuffed Grape Leaves in Tomato Sauce

Reminiscent of a gumbo, but not thickened with a roux or filé powder, this hearty soup takes about 15 minutes to cook and uses convenient boil-in-bag brown rice.

Recipe: Chicken, Sausage, and Rice Soup

Three B's are the stars of this hearty grain side dish: a brown rice blend, barley and bulgur. Its crunchy, nutty goodness makes it a good partner for pork tenderloin or roasted chicken.

Recipe: Multigrain Pilaf with Sunflower Seeds

Savor the intense flavors of these small roasted peppers stuffed with a mixture of saffron brown rice and tomatoes and topped with Manchego cheese. The appetizer-size portions are perfect for a tapas dinner.

Recipe: Stuffed Piquillo Peppers