12 Plant-Based Spicy Rice Recipes

Rice is often associated with spicy foods as it adds a smooth buttery flavor to the dish and soaks up the heat with its high starch content. From curries to rice bowls to burgers, rice and spicy ingredients are a perfect match. Enjoy!

1. Vegetable Tteokbokki: Korean Spicy Rice Cakes

Source: Vegetable Tteokbokki: Korean Spicy Rice Cakes

If you are looking for something with a little heat, this Vegetable Tteokbokki by Adam Merrin and Ryan Alvarez is the perfect recipe. Tteokbokki is a Korean dish traditionally made with rice cakes, fish cakes, and a sweet, spicy, thick sauce. However, this version cuts out the fish cakes and covers the rice cakes in a rich, sweet, spicy, red miso sauce. These chewy rice cakes and bold, fiery sauce make this dish a perfect meal for cold weather.

2. Roasted Eggplant With Spicy Rice and Spring Greens

Source: Roasted Eggplant With Spicy Rice and Spring Greens

This Roasted Eggplant With Spicy Rice and Spring Greens by Lorna is the perfect meal for the weeknights because it is elegantly simple and takes very little time to cook. The eggplants are roasted in the oven and then served with some wilted spring green, spicy Mexican rice, and a squeeze of lime to make all of the flavors pop.

3. Bisi Bele Bath: Indian One-Pot Spicy Rice and Lentils

Source: Bisi Bele Bath: Indian One-Pot Spicy Rice and Lentils

This Indian dish, traditionally called Bisi Bele Bath, literally translates to hot lentil rice dish, which is perfect because that’s exactly what it is. This Indian Spicy Rice and Lentils by Kushi is a healthy, nutritious, and flavorful one-pot meal prepared using aromatic spices and vegetables of your choice.

4. Spicy Chipotle Rice and Beans

Source: Spicy Chipotle Rice and Beans

If your diet consists of beans and rice (like ours does), then you need to have this in your recipe book on hand at all times! It’s not just your typical beans and rice, but it adds LOADS of flavor for not that much more work. This Spicy Chipotle Rice and Beans by Kristen Genton will definitely jazz up your weekly beans and rice kick. It’s great on its own, but in tacos or burritos, it would shine!

5. Spicy Cabbage Rice

Source: Spicy Cabbage Rice

This Spicy Cabbage Rice by Lenia & Dimitra is a very simple but flavorful dish! Garlic, onions, fennel, and wine come together to make this rice dish.

6. Forbidden Rice Salad with Spicy Edamame

Source: Forbidden Rice Salad with Spicy Edamame

In this Forbidden Rice Salad with Spicy Edamame by Cameron Keller you’ll find fresh bell peppers, oranges, and wilted spinach folded into a nutty bed of forbidden rice, and adorned atop it with a mound of spicy sautéed edamame finished off with a creamy drizzle of a simple lemon-tahini sauce – you gotta’ try it!

7. Wild Rice and Tofu Dumplings With Spicy Glass Noodle Salad

Source: Wild Rice and Tofu Dumplings With Spicy Glass Noodle Salad

Making your own veggie and tofu dumplings from scratch is much easier than you think! This Wild Rice and Tofu Dumplings With Spicy Glass Noodle Salad by Travis Piper can be whipped up with minimal ingredients. The vegetables used in the filling can be swapped out for whatever you like and the spice level of the sauce is customizable! Serve your dumplings alongside this glass noodle salad that can be made in only a few minutes. Use the sauce from the dumplings along with a couple of other veggies and seasonings to make a salad that is complementary to the dumplings but also can be enjoyed on its own.

8. Spicy Plantains With Rice and Peas

Source: Spicy Plantains With Rice and Peas

The flavors in Caribbean food pack a real punch and always taste so fresh. Scotch bonnets are key to these Spicy Plantains With Rice and Peas by Harriet Porterfield, but if you can’t find them, just use the hottest chili you can get your hands on. Scotch bonnet peppers are an excellent source of phytochemicals and vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), iron, vitamin B, carotenoids, niacin, riboflavin, dietary fiber, flavonoids, and magnesium. They also contain capsaicin, which is not only a powerful pain killer but is also said to reduce the build-up of excess fat.

9. Spicy Lentil Rice Burgers

Source: Spicy Lentil Rice Burgers

This recipe is simple and quick. Made primarily with lentils, brown rice, and sunflower seeds, these Spicy Lentil Rice Burgers by Maya Sozer are protein and fiber dense, so you can nosh knowing that you’re eating a wholesome and filling dish. A little vegan mayo goes great with this particular recipe: it has that cool-down creaminess without overshadowing the taste of the burger.

10. Spicy Sriracha Tofu With Coconut Rice

Source: Spicy Sriracha Tofu With Coconut Rice

In this simple dish, tofu is cooked in a spicy mix and served with fragrant jasmine coconut rice. If you’re making this for a family, be sure to double up! What’s amazing about this Spicy Sriracha Tofu With Coconut Rice by Gabrielle St. Claire is not only how wonderful the flavors combine, but that you can make large portions for just a few dollars and even throw in more vegetables.

11. Spicy Tofu Rice Bowl

Source: Spicy Tofu Rice Bowl

This Spicy Tofu Rice Bowl by Gretchen Caldwell is full of marinated vegetables and fresh herbs, on a bed of grains – what more could you ask for? This is super simple to make and is sure to satisfy your cravings for something spicy. Of course, if it’s not hot enough already, just drizzle it with plenty of Sriracha!

12. Schezwan Fried Rice

Source: Schezwan Fried Rice

Schezwan Fried Rice is a popular Indo-Chinese dish that is spicy and lip-smackingly delicious. Serve this Schezwan Fried Rice by Pavani Nandula with vegetable manchurian for a yummy meal.

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