Easy & Delicious Honey Rice Recipe
The sweet aroma of honey reminds me of warm summer days in the South where golden sunshine blankets everything in sight – from sprawling pine forests to sprawling acres of sweet corn. As a chef specializing in Southern-style cuisine, honey is one of my favorite ingredients to use. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to my Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe – a dish that takes comfort food to the next level.
This recipe is perfect for those who want to experience the vibrant flavors of Southern cuisine but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. With just a few ingredients and simple instructions, you can make this dish in no time – leaving you with more time to enjoy your meal with loved ones.
Whether you’re a fan of fried chicken or country-style pork ribs with a honey mustard glaze, this recipe will be the perfect pairing for any Southern-themed feast. And if you’re feeling adventurous, try pairing it with some crispy Korean rice cakes or hot and greasy shrimp.
So, let’s get cooking and discover one of the best honey rice recipes that the South has to offer!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Southern-style cuisine is famous for its mouth-watering and savory dishes that always leave you craving for more. And within this gastronomic delight, the Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe stands out as a true gem.
With its unique blend of ginger, cinnamon, roasted peanuts, honey, and butter in cooked white rice, this recipe perfectly embodies southern style with complimentary notes of sweetness and spiciness. It’s a dish that truly nourishes your soul and satisfies your cravings in every bite.
But that’s not all – this recipe is also incredibly versatile. The subtle flavors of this dish make it an ideal partner for a wide range of entrees. Whether you pair it with hot honey fried chicken or beef ribs with hoisin glaze, this rice recipe will perfectly complement the flavors in a way that other rice recipes simply can’t.
In addition to being delicious and versatile, Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe is also incredibly easy to cook. You only need a few ingredients to get started, and all you have to do is combine them in a saucepan and let them cook low and slow until everything blends in perfectly.
Overall, If you’re looking for a comforting yet flavorful food experience that not only satisfies your cravings but also adds an elegant twist to the classic southern-style cuisine-infused meals, then this recipe is for you! Give it a try today and experience the taste of authentic Southern-style cooking right in your own kitchen.
Ingredient List
Here is what you’ll need to make this Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe:
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- Chopped parsley to garnish
These simple ingredients are all you need to create a delicious dish that’s perfect for any occasion. While honey, cinnamon, and ginger add some natural sweetness and warmth, butter helps to tone it down while making the dish richer. Chopped peanuts add a contrast of texture while adding protein and even more flavor to the mix. Finally, the parsley provides color to the rice while enhancing its overall look and taste.
The Recipe How-To
Now that you have gathered all the necessary ingredients, it is time to get started on making this delicious Southern-style Honey Rice recipe. With just a few simple steps, you will have a sweet and savory dish that is perfect for family gatherings, potlucks or just a quick weekday dinner.
Step 1: Prepare The Rice
Begin by taking 4 cups of cooked white rice and set it aside in a separate bowl.
Step 2: Melt The Butter
On low heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan until completely melted.
Step 3: Combine The Rice And Peanuts
Add 2 cups of roasted peanuts (chopped) to the saucepan with the melted butter and mix together until the peanuts are coated with the melted butter. Then, add the precooked white rice to the mixture and stir gently until all ingredients are well combined.
Step 4: Add The Honey Sauce
In a separate saucepan, combine 1 cup honey, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 4 teaspoons ginger. Heat it up over low heat while stirring constantly until all ingredients are well combined into a smooth sauce.
Step 5: Mix In Honey Sauce To The Rice
Remove saucepan from heat and pour it over the rice mixture in the separate bowl. Gently stir the ingredients together until they are evenly coated with honey sauce.
Step 6: Add Some Chopped Parsley
For an extra touch of flavor and color, add some finely chopped parsley to your liking.
There you have it! You’ve successfully made your own Southern-style Honey Rice dish. Serve it up as a side dish to your favorite southern fried chicken recipe or pork ribs with hoisin glaze. It would also be perfect as a main dish alongside some crispy Korean rice cakes or honey garlic shrimp. Enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe is a versatile dish that can be customized to fit several preferences. Although the recipe is perfect as it is, you can change some ingredients to make it more appetizing to your taste buds. Here are some possible substitutions and variations to transform your rice from ordinary to extraordinary.
1. Nuts: Feel free to use your preferred nuts if roasted peanuts aren’t your go-to. Almonds, walnuts, or cashews will work well too. If someone in the family has nut allergies, you may try using sunflower seeds as a substitute.
2. Butter: Although butter adds creaminess and richness to the recipe, you can replace it with olive oil or ghee if you prefer. You can also substitute margarine, but beware that it may alter the recipe’s flavor slightly.
3. Cinnamon: For those who enjoy cinnamon’s sweet aroma, this recipe’s 4 teaspoons cinnamon might seem lacking. Feel free to add more cinnamon or remove it altogether if you’re not a fan.
4. Ginger: Ginger has a zesty taste that brightens up almost any dish with its acidity. If you don’t have ginger at home or don’t like the flavor, you can omit it without compromising the overall quality of the dish.
5. Honey: Honey is an essential ingredient in this recipe that lends its sweetness and stickiness to the dish. Suppose honey doesn’t appeal to your taste buds due to allergies or dietary restrictions; you can swap it for maple syrup or agave syrup.
6. Fried Rice: For an additional depth of flavor, you may transform this recipe into fried rice by adding soy sauce and scrambled eggs to the cooked rice along with additional veggies like diced carrots and frozen peas.
7. Country-Style Rice: If you want a heartier meal, try making this recipe into country-style rice by throwing in diced ham, sausage crumbles or bacon after sautéing the onions and minced garlic.
These are only some possible substitutions and variations to take your Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe to the next level. Feel free to experiment and come up with your unique spin on this classic rice recipe.
Serving and Pairing
Southern-style Honey Rice is a versatile dish that can be served as a side or main dish. It pairs well with any protein, such as grilled chicken, pork chops or shrimp. The sweetness from the honey and the crunch from the roasted peanuts create a perfect balance of flavors that complements any savory dish.
For a complete southern meal, serve this delicious honey rice with some hot honey fried chicken, country-style pork ribs with a honey mustard glaze or crispy chicken with korean rice cakes. These dishes will enhance the experience and leave you wanting more.
For a lighter meal, try pairing this honey rice with stir-fry vegetables or on top of a bed of mixed greens for an added texture boost. You can also add some chopped parsley to the dish to give it a fresh flavor.
If you’re feeling adventurous, take this Southern-style Honey Rice recipe to the next level by serving it as dirty rice. Stir in some cooked ground beef and diced sausage to create a classic Southern-style dirty rice dish that’s sure to impress your dinner guests.
No matter how you choose to serve it, Southern-style Honey Rice is a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to impress!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
Southern-style honey rice is an ideal dish to prepare in advance for busy weeknights or entertaining with friends and family. This recipe can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for reheating later. The dish stays fresh for several days when stored correctly.
To make-ahead, allow the rice to cool completely after cooking. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you want to freeze it for longer storage, transfer the cooled rice into an airtight container or a zip-top bag, removing as much air as you can, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheating the Southern-style honey rice is quick and easy. You can reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave. To reheat on the stovetop, simply add a splash of water, cover with foil or a lid, and cook over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until heated through. For microwaving, transfer the rice into a microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle some water on top of the rice, cover it with plastic wrap leaving one edge open for steam to escape and microwave for about 2-3 minutes until heated through.
It is essential to keep this rice hydrated while storing and reheating; rice tends to lose moisture quickly and become dry when left uncovered or exposed. Be sure to cover it tightly with aluminum foil or an airtight lid while storing and reheating.
This recipe also works well as leftovers as the flavors intensify after spending a night in the refrigerator! Divide any leftover portions into meal prep containers or storage bags for reheating during work lunches or quick dinners at home.
In conclusion, planning ahead by preparing Southern-style honey rice makes your life easier and saves time without sacrificing flavor. Remember, this dish just gets better as leftovers or when served as fried rice or mixed with other ingredients!
Tips for Perfect Results
To ensure the best outcome for your southern-style honey rice recipe, follow these helpful tips.
Firstly, make sure to use butter with a high smoke point. This is important because the butter will be heated over low heat and it needs to resist burning. I recommend using clarified butter or ghee as an alternative.
Another tip is to roast your own peanuts instead of using pre-packaged roasted peanuts. This will give your rice an added level of freshness and crunch. Simply roast raw peanuts in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes. Once they are done, let them cool before chopping them up.
When cooking the rice, make sure to use cooked white rice that has been cooled beforehand. Warm rice could turn out gummy or clumpy if mixed with the honey-butter sauce while still hot.
Lastly, to achieve the perfect balance between sweetness and spice, do not skip the cinnamon and ginger in this recipe. They add a depth of flavor that complements the honey and buttery goodness of this dish.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making a delicious southern-style honey rice that will leave your taste buds wanting more.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the southern-style honey rice recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves experimenting with food. The unique blend of cinnamon, ginger, honey and butter creates a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. The combined taste and aroma of the roasted peanuts and cooked white rice bring out the best in this dish, giving it a crunchy texture that will surely make your taste buds dance with joy.
Whether you prefer it with shrimp or crispy chicken or just on its own, this recipe is perfect for any meal – breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Moreover, it’s versatile enough to accommodate variations, substitutions and different styles to suit your preferences.
Finally, do not think twice about making this dish because it’s easy to follow the recipe detailed here. You’ll get perfect results if you follow the tips we’ve provided such as using fresh ingredients and cooking over low heat. Make this honey rice recipe and feel proud to serve up authentic southern-style cuisine that everyone will crave for more!
Southern-style Honey Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ginger
Instructions
- Gently stir together rice and peanuts; set aside and keep warm.
- Put butter and honey in a heavy saucepan, cook over low heat just until butter has melted.
- Stir in the cinnamon and ginger, beating out any lumps.
- Pour over rice, and mix together thoroughly.
- Serve hot.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
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