Rice is known as a primary staple food throughout many countries all over the world. It’s also the most important grain consumed by humans with regards to nutrition. There are 40,000 varieties of rice and they vary in shape, color, and size, so as you can imagine, the lengthy list of rice recipe options is endless. The hearty grain originated in Asia thousands of years ago, and eventually came to the US in the 1600s.

You’re probably familiar already, but the three classifications of rice are: short, medium and long-grained. Rice should be rinsed until the water is clear, before cooking to get rid of excess starch. It can also be soaked before cooking to reduce cooking time and stickiness.

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Some of the most popular rice varieties include jasmine, basmati, japonica, wholegrain, parboiled, and generic long-grain. Jasmine, also known as Thai rice, has a slightly sticky texture when cooked and is very fragrant. Carolina Jasmine is a nice brand to go with if you’re looking for a great quality Jasmine. Basmati, also known as the Prince of Rice, is very long, slender, and fragrant. Varieties if basmati include white and brown, and nowadays there’s even smoked basmati. A popular brand for basmati is Amira. Japonica is mainly grown in California and is used in a lot of Japanese and Caribbean cuisine. A popular brand being Lundberg. Wholegrain, or brown rice, has a nutty flavor and chewy texture when cooked. Lundberg won the taste test according to Cook’s Illustrated. Parboiled rice, also known as “ready-rice”, is ready in only a few minutes. Uncle Ben’s is the most popular throughout the US. Last, but not least is everyday long-grain. Once again, according to Cook’s Illustrated, Lundberg beat the competition by a long shot.

Rice also plays a significant culture role in many places throughout the world. For example, throughout many of the world’s cultures, rice is thrown towards the bride and groom at the end of a wedding. Some cultures even have a rice deity. Pretty interesting, huh?

With that said, I’ve put together a great list of the 24 best rice dishes from all over the world. After all, rice is an international staple food.

Next, try 10 Classic and Exotic One-Pot Chicken and Rice Recipes

Whitney is the recipe developer and photographer behind WhitBit’s Indian Kitchen. She’s always been interested in different cultures and foods, but ever since she spent three months traveling through India, she hasn’t looked back. Whitney shows that you don’t have to be afraid of trying new cuisine or getting a little messy in the kitchen.