Rice dish

Mexican rice is great as a vegetarian option, or served alongside grilled chicken.

This paella is a great way to use up fridge leftovers and pantry staples such as tinned tomatoes.

Instead of mango, use another soft fruit of choice. Toast the sesame seeds by stirring them in a frying pan over a medium heat 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Note

You can replace the couscous with cooked quinoa or soaked cracked wheat, if preferred. Note

Use chopped pork rashers in place of wings, if desired. Note

If cooking for children, use orange juice instead of rum. Note

Arborio rice is simmered in fish stock, creating a delicious complement to the white wine-steamed mussels, creating a scrumptious creamy mussel risotto that has a slight bite.

Baked until flavours have fused and sprinkled with parsley - Sour cream and eggs are mixed together with tuna, rice, onion and spinach to create this scrumptious tuna and rice dish.

This tuna risotto makes a fabulous starter or a hearty main. Risotto is a guaranteed winner. Served with a salad it's a complete meal.

Basmati rice is the best choice for this Indian-style pilaf. Not only does it add a wonderful fragrance to the dish, but it’s better for you as it has a lower GI than other types of long-grain rice. Note

Try replacing the parsley with coriander for a different flavour. Note

Boneless diced lamb shoulder or leg are usually the preferred cuts for a curry, but shoulder can be fatty and leg expensive. Using leg or chump chops, as we did here, cuts the cost – the lamb for this recipe is about $10 – and time, as the chops are quick to cut up. Note

This recipe is also gluten-free. Note

For a variation to the olives, fill the arancini with anchovies, tiny pieces of mozzarella or some finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Note

Roast cumin seeds by tossing in a dry frying pan until aromatic, then grind in a mortar and pestle. Use 250g frozen corn kernels, thawed, in place of fresh. Note

It may seem like a lot of dressing, but the rice will soak it all up. Note

It’s preferable to cook the rice a day before and refrigerate until required. This helps to dry out the rice and keep the grains separate. If you don’t have time, simply cook the rice, drain well, spread onto a baking tray and allow to cool. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes before using. Note

Smoky and spicy Spanish paella with chunky vegetables.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice; it has a slightly firm texture and nutty taste. You can use chicken or pork sausages instead of lamb. Note

Create authentic-tasting nasi goreng where the rice is stir fried with a seasoning paste, yielding a richly flavoured dish that is incredibility satisfying and delicious.

Risotto is best made just before serving. Note

Use chicken thigh fillets. You’ll need to cook 1 1/3 cups basmati rice. Use a 250g packet microwave rice; heat as packet directs, then cool slightly. Note

Quick and very easy sausage fried rice that's on the table in less than 15 minutes. Make the most of leftover cooked rice in this delicious fried rice recipe by Recipes+.

Buy semi-dried tomatoes from the deli counter rather than in jars. Pilaf is at its best served straightaway. Note

Use a combination of ground cumin, ground coriander and ground turmeric instead of Moroccan seasoning, if desired. Note

You can buy quinoa in the health food aisle. Note

Use canned pink salmon instead of tuna. You’ll need to cook 3/4 cup long-grain white rice. Try cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of asparagus. Note

BUy loose-leaf baby spinach instead of packaged leaves. Chinese-flavoured tofu is marinated in honey and soy sauce; available in the chilled dairy aisle. Use any flavoured tofu, or marinate your own. You can cook barley 2 days ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Make salad a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate; toss occasionally. Note

Add some chopped bacon or prosciutto to the mix for extra flavour. Note

For nasi goreng, rice is stir-fried with a seasoning paste made from sambal oelek and shrimp paste, yielding a richly flavoured dish that's ridiculously delicious and satisfying.

If you have any leftover cooked rice, use it for this delicious and quick pork fried rice. It's an economical, tasty supper that's faster than takeout.

If liked, add some mixed seafood to the rice after it has been cooking for 5 minutes in Step 4. Note

If you can’t find lamb fillets, use lamb back straps, chicken tenderloins or thigh fillets. Note

To make raita, combine 1 cup of natural yoghurt, 1 seeded and finely chopped Lebanese cucumber and 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander in a bowl. Note

This pilaf is a delicious accompaniment to char-grilled chicken or lamb. Note

Tuna, rice, spinach and onion are mixed together with sour cream and eggs to create this tasty tuna and rice dish. Bake and wait for the dish to get golden and for the flavours to fuse.

Sliced chorizo can be added to this dish. Note

For hard-boiled eggs, place cold eggs in a saucepan of cold water. Bring to the boil on medium, then simmer 4-5 minutes. Cool under cold, running water. Peel and quarter. These are delicious in burgers. Note

Give new life to the traditional lamb roast with Indian spices and rice

The secret to this simple dish is the ratio of water to rice. Follow the instructions carefully and you'll be rewarded with soft, fluffy and flavoursome ginger rice.

Suppli al telefono is a delicious snack from Italy originally named for the melted mozzarella "strings" that resemble telephone wires when one of these croquettes is split open and slowly pulled apart.

Smoked chicken has a lovely robust flavour and a soft texture. It marries beautifully with the white wine risotto cakes. This dish makes a lovely light lunch and is perfect for dining alfresco style.

Fried rice is a traditional dish of pre-cooked rice stir-fried in a wok, often mixed with other ingredients, such as eggs, vegetables, and meat. We think our best ever pork fried rice is as good as any you'll find at a Chinese banquet.

Middle Eastern cuisine often incorporates fruit like apricots and raisins into meat dishes. Currants are little sweet, raisin-like dried fruits that give this already fragrant dish an extra flavour boost.

This tandoori salmon pilaf is a healthy and delicious Indian inspired family meal. The fragrant spices of the tandoori are perfectly balanced alongside the fresh and creamy raita.

This coconut rice with capsicum and coriander is a great quick and easy vegetarian meal. Calrose rice is a medium-grain rice that is extremely versatile; you can substitute short or long-grain rice, if necessary.

The vanilla bean can be reused, wash and dry well, store in an airtight container or add to a container of sugar for vanilla-scented sugar. Note

One of the classic dishes of Louisiana, famous for creole and cajun cooking, gumbo takes its name from an African word for okra, without which this hearty vegetable stew would not be the same.

Dried cranberries are sometimes labelled `craisins’ and can be found in the baking aisle of supermarkets. Chicken breast fillets can be substituted for turkey, if you like. Coriander is one of the few fresh herbs to be sold with its root attached. It should be readily available from greengrocers. Asian greengrocers will certainly stock it. […]

Fresh mint adds lightness to this delicious vegetable risotto, a great meat-free dinner option.

Use kitchen scissors to cut nori into fine strips. Recipe not suitable to freeze. Note

Kitchari, an ancient Indian dish, is often eaten to detoxify the body, and is believed to aid digestion. This delicious recipe is packed full of nutrients and flavour you'll love.

A Valencian rice dish of chicken and chorizo with olives and roasted red peppers.

You can replace the two individual rices in this recipe with one of the commercial blends of basmati and wild rice available in some supermarkets. Cook a 500g package of the combined rices according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the packet. Note

A colourful and fragrant couscous dish with grilled zucchini and spiced pumpkin.

Hearty, zesty and creamy, this delicious Milanese style risotto is the ulimate comfort food for a hungry family.

You need half a large barbecued chicken (approximately 500g) to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

An antipasto rice salad with char-grilled eggplant, sun-dried tomato and basil pesto.

This is gloriously buttery and nutty but the tang of apricots and clean bite of yoghurt give it a lift. Try it with rich lamb dishes, or stuff it into pepper halves or hollowed-out zucchini halves and bake until vegetables are tender.

This recipe is quick, simple and healthy. A great combination for a light meal on the go.

The traditional paella pan is shallow and wide. If you don’t have one, use one large or two smaller frying pans ­ the mixture should only be about 4cm (1½ inches) deep. This recipe is best made just before serving. Note

As well as adding a delightful red hue to a dish, paprika is full of the flavour of the peppers it was ground from. It comes in several varieties - sweet, smoky or spicy. We've used a combination of spicy and sweet here, with great results.

Pearl barley adds a lovely texture and nutty flavour to this chicken and tarragon risotto.

You need to start this recipe a day ahead. Cook 1 cup (200g) white long-grain rice to make the required amount of cooked rice. You can add a couple of coarsely chopped bacon rashers to the recipe, if you like. Note

Instead of packaged pre-cooked rice, cook 2½ cups long-grain rice, spread on tray, cover with absorbent paper and refrigerate overnight. Note

Celebrate spring with this zesty, flavour-packed risotto.

You could swap the green beans with peas, if you like. Cook the rice a day ahead: spread in a thin layer on a tray to cool, then cover and place in the refrigerator. Note