This crispy rice recipe is a scrumptious manner so as to add crunch to salads, bowls, and facet dishes! It is simple to make on a sheet pan with 4 easy components.
This crispy rice recipe is one among my favourite methods so as to add crunch to salads and bowls. Straightforward to make on a sheet pan with simply 4 components, it transforms dry, uninteresting day-old rice into one thing fully scrumptious. It’s crackly, toasty, and infused with nutty, savory taste from tamari and sesame oil. I find it irresistible as the bottom of a bowl or salad or as a crunchy topping for roasted veggies, candy potatoes, and extra.
I developed this crispy rice recipe after consuming essentially the most scrumptious crispy rice salad at a restaurant (shoutout to Hai Hai in Minneapolis!). I’d made crispy rice on the range many occasions earlier than, the place one facet of the rice will get crispy and the remainder stays tender, however after consuming that salad, I began craving a model that was totally crisp and flavorful.
Relatively than frying batches of rice in a skillet, I discovered toasting it within the oven to be the best method. Quick ahead via a number of burned, bland, and not-quite-crispy exams, and I’ve nailed my recipe. I hope you like this crispy rice as a lot as I do!
Crispy Rice Components
This crispy rice recipe begins with 4 easy components:
- Rice, in fact! Identical to if you’re making fried rice, leftover rice is finest right here. Freshly cooked rice is simply too moist and fluffy to crisp up properly within the oven. The drier, firmer texture of leftover rice is definitely preferable! Any sort of white rice works nicely, from quick grain rice like sushi rice to lengthy grain rice like jasmine. Basmati and jasmine rice are my go-tos.
- Toasted sesame oil – It helps the rice brown within the oven and provides scrumptious nutty taste.
- Tamari or soy sauce – For salty, savory taste. Make sure to use licensed gluten-free tamari if you happen to want this recipe to be gluten-free.
- And sea salt – I toss it with the crispy rice as quickly because it comes out of the oven. I feel it’s the key ingredient on this recipe, making the rice’s toasty taste pop.
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
How one can Make Crispy Rice
This crispy rice recipe has 4 straightforward steps:
1. Season the rice. Place it on a baking sheet and toss it with the tamari and sesame oil. Unfold it in a single layer.
2. Roast for 10 minutes, then toss. Pop the rice in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes, then give it a superb stir to assist it cook dinner evenly. Unfold it in a single layer once more.
3. Return to the oven and bake till evenly crisp and golden brown, one other 12 to 16 minutes.
- Be aware: The rice needs to be crisp across the edges at this level, nevertheless it’s okay if it’s nonetheless barely tender within the center. It would proceed to crisp up because it cools. If you happen to depart it within the oven for too lengthy, it is going to rapidly go from just-right to burnt.
4. Toss with the salt and let cool barely earlier than utilizing in salads, bowls, and extra!
Suggestions for the Greatest Crispy Rice
- Use leftover rice. It must be dried out with a view to get golden and crunchy, so attempt to cook dinner it 1 to three days earlier than you make this recipe. In a pinch, you may cook dinner recent rice, unfold it on a plate, and let it sit at room temperature for an hour to chill and dry out earlier than baking (it might want a number of additional minutes within the oven to get crispy).
- Unfold it in a single layer. If you happen to’ve made any of my roasted vegetable recipes, you understand this rule nicely: meals want house with a view to get crisp and browned within the oven. If the rice is clumped collectively, it is going to steam and soften. Unfold it in a skinny layer and toss midway via to offer all of the grains an opportunity to make direct contact with the new pan.
- It crisps up because it cools. It’s straightforward to over-bake the rice on this recipe. Take it out of the oven when it’s crisp across the edges however nonetheless has the slightest tender chunk within the middle. If you happen to let it cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes earlier than serving, it is going to find yourself with an ideal crispy texture.
How one can Serve
This crispy rice is an ideal base for salads and grain bowls. It’s particularly scrumptious in recipes with Asian flavors, like this sushi bowl and this mango ginger rice bowl. And maintain your eye out for a brand new crispy rice salad coming later this week!
I additionally find it irresistible as a crispy topping. Sprinkle it over any roasted veggie topped with a flavorful sauce, like roasted candy potatoes drizzled with sesame ginger dressing or roasted broccoli with gochujang sauce. It’s the right crunchy garnish!
How one can Retailer and Reheat
Retailer leftover crispy rice in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 days. It would turn out to be much less crispy within the fridge.
I don’t thoughts the marginally softer texture at room temperature in grain bowls and salads, however if you happen to’d prefer to crisp it up once more, you may reheat it in a 325°F oven or air fryer.
Extra Rice Recipes to Attempt
If you happen to love this crispy rice, attempt one among these scrumptious rice recipes subsequent:
Crispy Rice Recipe
Serves 6
This crispy rice is crunchy, golden brown, and straightforward to make within the oven utilizing leftover rice and some easy seasonings. I find it irresistible in salads and grain bowls and as a crispy topping for facet dishes like roasted greens.
- 3 cups cooked and cooled rice, leftover rice is finest
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Stop your display from going darkish
-
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Place the rice on the baking sheet. Drizzle with the sesame oil and tamari, toss to coat, and unfold evenly on the baking sheet.
-
Roast for 10 minutes, then toss. Roast for an additional 12 to 16 minutes, or till the rice is evenly crisp and browned. It would proceed to crisp up because it cools.
-
Toss with the salt. Let cool for five to 10 minutes to crisp up earlier than serving.
