4 Most popular rice dishes around the world

vegetable biryani

Biryani 

Having originated from the Indian subcontinent, this dish has many varieties & sub varieties within the country itself. While its roots go back to the mughal era, it is associated traditionally with the Awadhi cuisine of Luknow, Mughlai cuisine of Delhi and the Hyderabadi cuisine from Andhra. Its popularity reaches its epitome during the month of Ramadan. The most popular variations include Chicken & mutton biryani. Apart from the spices and the basmati rice, saffron is one of the main ingredient used in its preparation. 

The next time you are in any of the above cities you know what to eat. Do not miss the old Delhi region of the capital city!

Fried Rice

While its origins remain unclear, it is one of the most popular dishes from the Chinese cuisine. Made with leftover rice and other leftover ingredients, it is also a staple dish of the American-Chinese cuisine. Whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, this particular rice dish has numerous varieties all across the Asian region. Most people have developed their own variations according to preferences and hence the dish often includes ingredients ranging from seafood to eggs to veggies and sometimes a mixture of all. Yangzhou & Fujjan are two of the famous Asian varieties. 

mushroom risotto

Risotto 

Served often as the first course dish, Risotto is a famous rice dish of Italy (and my personal favorite). An easily detectable short or round-medium rice grain with high starch & low amylose is used for preparing this dish. Though there are numerous varieties of rice grains which are used for its cooking but Arborio, Carnaroli, Padano, Roma, Baldo and Maratelli are some of the best varieties. Cooked in a creamy broth from fish, meat or vegetables along with butter/olive oil, onions & wine depending upon the taste, this dish is one of the most common ways of cooking rice in Italy. 

Paella

Originating from Valencia on the eastern coast of Spain, Paella is regarded as Spain's national dish and as the regional dish of Valencia. More than anything else the dish has been given its name because of the specific shallow pan used for its cooking. Cooked with white rice, the main varieties of Paella include the traditional Valencian Paella, seafood Paella & mixed Paella. Much of the Valencians have their own specific ways of cooking this dish. The mixed Paella is quite popular in the non-valencian Spain with Seafood Paella being the most popular globally.