How to Jazz Up Your Breakfast With Healthy and Delicious Rice Recipes

Breakfast is typically considered the most important meal of the day, and not without a good reason. Namely, it kickstarts the metabolism and sets your mood for the day.

However, if you’re in a rush, breakfast can easily turn into a routine. Don’t allow this to happen! Enjoying your meal first thing in the morning is extremely important.

Here’s a catch: how to make your breakfasts versatile?

Here’s an idea. How about turning to Japanese cuisine for inspiration? If you haven’t heard of the term Ichiju Sansai, it’s high time you learned it. It roughly translates into “one soup, three side dishes.”

Japanese meals traditionally consist of rice, which is the cuisine’s staple dish, miso soup, one protein-rich main dish, and three side dishes (vegetables, seaweed, pickles, etc.). The side dishes contain nutrients that staple foods and soups lack.

You don’t necessarily need to turn to Japanese ingredients, however; simply use the concept for inspiration.

Health Benefits of Incorporating Rice Into Your Breakfast Routine

Rice is a rich source of carbohydrates, which are the main fuel our body uses. It also contains B vitamins, iron, and magnesium, which are some of the main nutrients that sustain the body and mind.

Unlike Japanese cuisine, western cuisines have added brown rice to the mix, as it is higher in fiber and nutrients compared to white rice.

Using brown rice for breakfast may be a good idea if you need some extra energy levels, but the choice is up to you.

That being said, let’s dive into some yummy recipes.

Rice Breakfast Bowls

One of the simplest yet tastiest ways to prepare rice is to turn it into breakfast bowls.

Preparations are not difficult, either. You simply need to start with a base of cooked rice of your choice (fluffy white rice, nutty brown rice, or fragrant jasmine rice for starters) and add your favorite ingredients.

As for the latter, here are some ideas:

•         Mexican-inspired bowl: Top cooked rice with black beans, scrambled eggs, avocado slices, salsa, and a sprinkle of cheese.
•         Mediterranean-inspired bowl: Add sautéed spinach, cherry tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil.
•         Asian-inspired bowl: Add stir-fried vegetables, tofu, sliced green onions, and a splash of soy sauce.
•         If you’re up to some experimenting, you may try making oyakodon, which is basically a broth made of chicken, onions, and eggs cooked in a soup stock of your choice poured over a rice bowl.

Rice Porridge Ideas

Rice porridge, a.k.a. congee, is a dish popular in many Asian cultures. It’s made by simmering rice in water or broth until it gets a creamy texture.

The mixture is easy to combine with other ingredients due to its higher water content. Here are some ideas for additional ingredients:

•         Add fresh fruits like berries, bananas, or sliced apples and nuts like almonds or walnuts for a perfect combination of vitamins and minerals
•         Cook rice in coconut milk. Once cooked, add mango and shredded coconut and sweeten with honey or maple syrup
•         Heat cooked rice with milk and add berries. Sweeten with honey or agave syrup and top with chia seeds
•          Combine cooked rice with apple cider or juice in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add diced apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook until the apples are tender. Sweeten with brown sugar or maple syrup.
•         Mix cooked rice with pumpkin puree, milk, and pumpkin pie spice. Sweeten with maple syrup or brown sugar. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Rice Pancakes

Pancakes are one of the most common breakfast choices in the USA, but did you know that they don’t need to be made with flour?

Rice pancakes are a healthier alternative and no less tasty at that.

To make rice pancakes, blend cooked rice with eggs, milk, and a pinch of baking. Cook the batter on a frying pan until golden brown and bubbles form on the surface.

You may add additional ingredients to the mix, too. E.g., adding chopped spinach, feta cheese, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste will render a perfect salty breakfast.

On the other hand, you may add sweet ingredients for an additional boost. Add blueberries or other berries, or chocolate chips, or cacao powder, or vanilla extract… the list goes on. Use your imagination.

Rise Frittatas

Frittatas are another good breakfast choice. If you have some leftover rice, you can add it to the eggs and enrich it with sautéed vegetables and cheese, for example.

Another popular choice with just these two ingredients is omurice, which is, basically, an omelet filled with rice, rolled up and topped with ketchup. You may add any additional ingredients of your choice to the rice. Note that day-old rice is the best choice for fried rice.

Unlike omurice, frittatas are typically sliced into wedges and served with a side dish. You may experiment a bit with ingredients, and here are some ideas to help you get started.

Broccoli and Cheddar Rice Frittata

Ingredients:

•         Cooked rice
•         eggs
•         milk
•         Chopped broccoli florets
•         Diced onions
•         Shredded cheddar cheese
•         Salt
•         Pepper
•         Olive oil

Instructions:

•         Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
•         Sauté chopped broccoli florets and diced onions in olive oil until tender.
•         Combine the eggs, milk, cooked rice, shredded cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables.
•         Cook over medium heat until the edges begin to set.
•         Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Slice and serve warm.

Mushroom and Spinach Rice Frittata

Ingredients:

•         Cooked rice
•         Eggs
•         Milk
•         Sliced mushrooms
•         Chopped spinach
•         Diced onions
•         Minced garlic
•         Shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
•         Salt
•         Pepper
•         Olive oil

Instructions:

•         Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
•         Sauté sliced mushrooms, chopped spinach, diced onions, and minced garlic in olive oil until tender.
•         Combine eggs, milk, cooked rice, shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Cook over medium heat until the edges begin to set.
•         Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the frittata is golden brown. Slice and serve warm.

These ideas should serve as a starting point for an innovative breakfast. If you’re short on time, you may simply make a rice and yogurt parfait topped with your favorite fruits or rice burritos with black beans, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, and a sprinkle of cheese. Smoothie bowls are also a fast solution, as you may add berries, bananas, or pineapple (or any other fruit you have handy), and a handful of greens.

Regardless of your choice, one thing is certain: you'll never have to settle for a boring breakfast again!