Arborio Rice is mostly used for making Risotto. If you are also making risotto or any other recipe that calls for Arborio Rice but you run out of it or you didn’t purchase it, you can use its substitutes. Using a substitute in the recipe won’t ruin your recipe/dish, but gives the same texture and flavor to the food. Before going ahead to know about the Arborio Rice substitute, you have to know what is Arborio Rice, actually?
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What is Arborio Rice?
Arborio Rice is short-grain rice used primarily in the classical preparation of risotto. It was originally cultivated in Italy. When it comes to its looks, it is short, fat, and oval-shaped with a pearly white exterior. It contains high starch content. Arborio Rice has some interesting health benefits that we have listed below.
Health Benefits of Arborio Rice:
- Arborio Rice is a good source of carbohydrates.
- This rice is high in protein content.
- Arborio Rice is easy to digest.
- It helps you to stay fit.
- This rice is packed with vitamins & minerals.
What Can I Substitute for Arborio Rice?
We know how it feels when you don’t have the right ingredient for your recipe at the moment. What can you do at that moment? There are two options, you can either go to the nearest grocery store or you can choose according to what you have already in your kitchen/pantry. Using the existing item in your pantry can save time. Here, we have details about those replacements that you can use in your recipe as an Arborio Rice Substitute.
1. Basmati Rice:
Basmati Rice is whole-grain rice from India. The light nutty flavor and floral aroma of Basmati Rice make it a different variety of rice. It’s not sticky so you might want to add some egg or pumpkin broth to make it sticky. This variety of rice is gluten-free which means it’s not a perfect choice for risotto. When it comes to making other recipes rather than risotto, it works perfectly well as an alternative.
2. Pearled Barley:
Pearled Barley has a neutral cereal taste with a slightly nutty flavor. The sticky and creamy texture of Pearled Barley makes it a good option to replace Arborio Rice in a recipe. You can use it in soups, stews, porridge, puddings, and casseroles. Pearled Barley doesn’t take a long time to cook. It absorbs the flavors from the liquid and gives a nice creamy texture and rich taste.
3. Brown Rice:
Brown Rice is more healthy than white rice. Some people think that Brown Rice is not as tasty as other types of Rice. You may see varieties of brown rice, but short-grain varieties stick together when cooked. Yes, you can make risotto with brown rice, but it takes a longer time to cook than Arborio Rice. It may affect the color of your risotto, but it blends well with veggies such as carrots, peas, zucchini, broccoli, etc.
4. Carnaroli Rice:
The nickname of Carnaroli Rice is “Caviar of Rice”. Carnaroli Rice is another great replacement for Arborio Rice. This is also Italian rice that adds even more creaminess and softness to a recipe. Carnaroli Rice releases more starches when cooked. This is the reason it’s a great addition to stews and baked dishes.
5. Sushi Rice:
Sushi Rice originated in Japan, but can easily replace Arborio Rice in many recipes/dishes. This rice is a short-grain variety from Japan and has sticky consistency to use as an Arborio Rice alternative. Sushi Rice has a mild sour and sweet flavor with a starchy consistency.
When it comes to cooking risotto, Sushi works pretty well with this recipe. Cooking Sushi Rice for a long period, may lose its flavor.
6. Quinoa:
Quinoa has a fluffy structure as well as a sweet & nutty flavor. It adds richness and creaminess to a recipe when cooked right. You can increase the creaminess by adding some milk, sour cream & full cream to your recipe/dish. If it’s not as starchy as Arborio Rice, it’ll work with other recipes that call for rice.
Quinoa works well with chicken, seafood, meat & turkey and is a staple in vegetarian & vegan dishes/recipes. Making a recipe using Quinoa will you to intake lots of nutrients because Quinoa contains 8 Amino Acids.
7. Farro Wheat:
Farro Wheat is a non-rice substitute that you can use in lots of recipes. It looks like light brown rice and gives a nutty taste that is close to barley & oats. Farro Wheat is very common in Italian dishes/recipes such as Tuscan Soup and can be added to salad. This substitute is high in fiber & protein and has more carbs & calcium than Quinoa.
If you are cooking risotto, then you don’t need to soak it. Farro Wheat cooks faster than any other rice. The taste of this substitute is enhanced when it is cooked with chicken, seafood, and mushrooms.
8. Bulgur Wheat:
Bulgar Wheat is mostly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. It contains a high level of protein & minerals. It adds a sweet and nutty aroma to a recipe. If you are not looking for a similar taste to Arborio Rice, this substitute is good for you. The final dish will be tasty with this grain even after not matching the taste with Arborio Rice. You can also use it to make soups, porridge, stews, pilafs, pudding, etc.
9. Couscous (Cus-Cus):
Couscous is an interesting Arborio Rice substitute. This substitute can be cooked in less than 10 mins. Couscous (cus-cus) can work pretty well with recipes that call for rice. You can also use Couscous (cus-cus) in salads and even more complex recipes.
10. Israeli Couscous:
Israeli Couscous is also known as “pearl couscous”. It is small and round in shape and made with wheat flour and semolina. Israeli Couscous gives a nutty flavor along with a chewy texture. It absorbs all the flavors and takes about 10 mins. to cook in boiling water. This is also a good replacement for Arborio Rice that can be used in various types of recipes both hot and cold.
11. Sticky Rice:
Sticky Rice is similar to Arborio Rice. It is mostly grown in Southeast, East Asia, Northeastern India, and Bhutan. The taste of sticky rice is far more similar to Arborio Rice when cooked perfectly. You wouldn’t say a difference between Arborio Rice and Sticky Rice except for its stickiness of it.
12. Jasmine Rice:
Jasmine Rice is a long-grain rice that is used in Asian recipes. The taste of this rice is like buttered popcorn and fragrant flower. The grains of this rice are delicate, fluffy, and lightweight. This rice is a bit stickier than basmati rice. The aromatic and nutty taste makes your recipe tastier. It works well with various vegetables and can be served with peanuts and cashews. You can also use Jasmine Rice to make pudding, porridge, and stews.
13. Red Cargo Rice:
Red Cargo Rice is a different type of rice that is a bit difficult to find. It can be red, purple, or maroon which makes your dish look unique. This kind of rice is mostly used in many African and Asian cuisines. It takes more time to cook to reach the sticky consistency you are expecting from it on the behalf of Arborio Rice. The creamy texture and nutty flavor make it perfect for Risotto.
14. Vialone Nano Rice:
Vialone Nano Rice is another well-liked Italian variety because of its unique texture. This variety of rice is more resistant to heat which means it won’t be overcooked. It adds lots of richness and creaminess when cooked. The creaminess can be more than Arborio Rice. The herbaceous aroma pairs well with some veggies such as mushrooms and pumpkins. You have to add more broth and cheese rind to enhance the flavor of Vialone Nano Rice when making risotto.
15. Baldo Rice:
Baldo Rice is versatile Italian rice that can be used to replace Arborio Rice in different recipes. There are two types of Baldo Rice. The Classic Baldo Rice has medium-sized grains, but is not thin and cooks to a fleshy consistency. Another one is Piedmont Baldo which is honey-colored rice and harder than Classic Baldo Rice which causes more cooking time. You can use Baldo Rice to make risotto, rice pilaf, rice pudding, and rice souffle.
The Turkish variety of Baldo Rice is different from the above two’s. It can absorb lots of moisture. This is the reason this variety of rice is mostly cooked with rich broth and served as a side dish next to chicken, beef, and sauteed vegetables. Turkish Baldo Rice is a good choice for Paella.
16. Calrose Rice:
Calrose Rice is medium-grain size rice. It goes pretty well with soups and stews because it becomes sticky and creamy when cooked. This rice is a good option for risotto. It holds flavors well so you can serve it with rice sauce.
17. Glutinous Rice:
Glutinous Rice is also known as sticky rice or sweet rice. It’s a different variety of rice that turns gluey when cooked. This rice comes in brown color too and gives a nutty flavor. You can use this rice to make risotto. It goes well with sweeter ingredients such as coconut milk and coconut shavings. Usually, this Glutinous Rice is used to make fried rice cakes and can be served with fruits like mango.
18. Orzo Pasta:
Orzo Pasta looks like a rice grain. It has a chewy texture naturally. When using this substitute in a recipe, you have to add the right amount of liquid to get the same rich and creamy texture you expect to make risotto. It’s a highly versatile ingredient, so you can serve it as a side dish or add it to your stews and soups. You can also serve it with herbs & vinaigrette dressing in a summer salad.
FAQ:
What makes Arborio Rice different?
Arborio Rice is high in starch. This rice releases its natural starch when cooking. The resulting rice you get after cooking is creamier in texture as well as more delicious. It becomes chewier when compared to regular rice such as long-grain basmati or jasmine rice.
Is Arborio Rice healthier than White Rice?
Arborio Rice contains antioxidants that help to boost your metabolism and help in weight loss. When it comes to calories, Arborio Rice contains fewer calories as compared to White Rice. One cup of Arborio Rice contains only 170 calories. These are the reason Arborio Rice is healthier than White Rice.
Now, you know the best Arborio Rice Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also purchase from Amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
