Rice Dishes Around the World

Sophie Chen
Feb 6, 2024
2 min read

Evidence shows that rice was first domesticated by the people living in Yangtze River basin in China. Since then, rice has “travelled” all over the world, being used in different forms by over half of the world's human population. Each country has now its own variation of rice dishes whether sweet or salty, crispy or soft.

Risotto

This creamy delicacy is believed to be from the Lombardy region in Italy. Risotto is different from normal rice since it is first toasted in a pan, gradually adding liquid as it is absorbed. Risotto is usually made with chicken stock giving it the richness and creaminess that it deserves. Traditionally, you add freshly grated parmesan cheese, chives, shallots, portobello and white button mushrooms.

Fàn tuán

Fàn tuán is a breakfast dish traditionally eaten around eastern China. It consists of a filling wrapped tightly in glutinous rice, and the filling can be anything you want! Traditionally it is filled with 油條 you-tiao (A Chinese fried doughnut stick), 肉松 rou song (Pork floss), and pickled vegetables.

Arroz doce

Arroz doce is a desert traditionally made in Portugal (Although there are many different variations around the world). This delicacy is usually prepared with Carolino rice, egg yolks, milk, water, butter, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon, but people add all sorts of stuff to make the arroz doce their own.

Cơm tấm

Cơm tấm is a Vietnamese savory rice dish served with fried rice, a piece of grilled pork ribs and vegetables like carrots or cucumbers. The special thing about the rice in cơm tấm is that it is made from broken rice grains. People can also garnish with chopped scallions and use fish sauce for dipping.

Champorado

Champorado is enjoyed for breakfast and as a snack in the Philippines. It involves glutenous rice and tablea. Tablea consists of pure roasted and ground cocoa beans and often has no other additive in it. When serving champorado, sweetened condensed milk is poured on top. This adds to the creaminess and partially cuts down the richness of the chocolate.

Special thanks to An Khanh from year 7.2 who gave me local Vietnamese info about Cơm tấm*

Resources:

“40 Rice Dishes from around the World.” How To Cook.Recipes, 5 Apr. 2023, www.howtocook.recipes/40-rice-dishes-from-around-the-world/.

Veiga, Ana. “Arroz Doce - Portuguese Rice Pudding Recipe.” We Travel Portugal, We Travel Portugal, 13 Nov. 2023, wetravelportugal.com/arroz-doce/.

Guo, Wei. “Fan Tuan (Stuffed Sticky Rice Roll, 饭团).” Red House Spice, 7 June 2022, redhousespice.com/fan-tuan/.

Ashton. “Classic Mushroom Risotto Recipe (Steps + Video!).” How To Cook.Recipes, 17 Aug. 2021, www.howtocook.recipes/classic-risotto-recipe/.

“Cơm Tấm.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Jan. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C6%A1m_t%E1%BA%A5m.

Caroline’s Cooking. “Champorado - Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge.” Caroline’s Cooking, 3 Sept. 2023, www.carolinescooking.com/champorado-filipino-chocolate-porridge/#recipe.

“History of Rice Cultivation.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Jan. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rice_cultivation#:~:text=al.%2C%202017)-,The%20current%20scientific%20consensus%2C%20based%20on%20archaeological%20and%20linguistic%20evidence,Yangtze%20River%20basin%20in%20China.