14 Best Sauces For Rice Bowls - Easy Recipes To Try - Foodiosity (2024)

Embark on a culinary journey with our vibrant list of 14 sauces for rice bowls, ensuring every bite explores a universe of flavors from creamy Alfredo to zesty Pesto.

This guide is crafted not just as a flavorful expedition through diverse cuisines but also a source of inspiration for chefs and home cooks, offering a rich palette of tastes to elevate every dish.

5. Soy Ginger Sauce

A Zingy and Umami-Driven Experience

Soy ginger sauce brings a splendid balance of salty, sweet, and zingy flavors to your rice bowl. The umami depth of soy sauce combined with the piquant, aromatic notes of fresh ginger creates a harmonious taste that’s both enticing and complex.

Enhances Every Bite

This sauce can uplift the flavors of both plant-based and animal protein, ensuring that every bite is a memorable flavor journey. The adaptable nature of soy ginger sauce allows it to blend seamlessly with various ingredients, enhancing their natural goodness.

Universally Appealing

With its broad flavor appeal and adaptable nature, soy ginger sauce has been embraced by cooks around the world. Check this recipe.

6. Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Creamy and Garlicky Bliss

Garlic yogurt sauce introduces a creamy, tangy, and garlicky dimension to your rice bowls. The combination of smooth yogurt with the robust flavor of garlic delivers a deliciously balanced sauce that’s both refreshing and flavorful.

Cooling and Robust

The cool and creamy yogurt juxtaposes any spicy or warm ingredients in your bowl, offering a satisfying contrast, while garlic provides a robust, aromatic undertone that permeates through the dish.

Globally Recognized

Celebrated in various cuisines, from Middle Eastern to Indian, garlic yogurt sauce has a secure place in the hearts of many. Check this recipe.

7. Pesto Sauce

14 Best Sauces For Rice Bowls - Easy Recipes To Try - Foodiosity (1)

Herbaceous and Nutty Flavors

Pesto sauce offers a burst of fresh, herbaceous flavor that can refresh and invigorate your rice bowl. The rich, oily, and nutty profile of pesto provides a sumptuous texture and a deeply satisfying flavor that enhances every ingredient it touches.

Transforms Simple Ingredients

With pesto, simple vegetables and grains are transformed into gourmet experiences. This sauce has the ability to elevate humble ingredients, presenting them in a new, exciting light.

A Classic Choice

Pesto has been a beloved sauce in Italian cuisine and has found its way into numerous dishes globally due to its deliciously vibrant flavor. Check this recipe.

8. Szechuan Sauce

Bold and Spicy Elegance

Szechuan sauce, known for its bold, spicy, and slightly sweet profile, introduces an exciting kick to your rice bowl. The combination of chili, garlic, and various spices offers a dynamic flavor that is both exhilarating and deeply satisfying.

Adaptable Heat

You can modify the spiciness according to your palate, ensuring that it’s just the right amount of heat for you. Szechuan sauce can make your rice bowl adventurous and delightfully spicy, promising a lively meal.

Internationally Enjoyed

Originating from Sichuan cuisine in China, this sauce has garnered international fame, becoming a favorite among those who enjoy a spicy kick. Check this recipe.

9. Mango Salsa

Fruity and Refreshing Vibe

Mango salsa introduces a fruity, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor to your rice bowl. The succulent sweetness of mango paired with the zing from lime and a hint of chili provides a refreshing palate cleanser and a delightful taste variation.

Versatile and Zesty

This salsa works brilliantly with various proteins, offering a refreshing and fruity counterbalance to savory ingredients, and enhancing the overall flavor dynamics of your rice bowl.

Tropically Inspired

Inspired by tropical flavors, mango salsa is a popular choice in various culinary traditions, providing a burst of exotic flavor and freshness. Check this recipe.

10. Alfredo Sauce

Creamy and Luxurious

Alfredo sauce offers a creamy, rich, and luxurious flavor profile to your rice bowl, adding a lavish touch to your meal. The combination of butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese creates a luscious sauce that’s indulgent and delicious.

Elevates Simplicity

The richness of Alfredo sauce has the power to transform simple ingredients into a decadent meal. It can provide a satisfying, comforting element to your rice bowl, elevating it to an indulgent treat.

Widely Adored

With its origins in Italian cuisine, Alfredo sauce has become a favorite globally, adorning various dishes with its rich and creamy goodness. Check this recipe.

Through a rich palette of 14 sauces, from the umami-packed Teriyaki to the luxuriously creamy Alfredo, our guide invites you to enhance and diversify your culinary experiences. Every sauce introduces a unique layer of complexity and flair to your rice bowls, ensuring each meal is a flavorful exploration and a celebration of global cuisines, enjoyed in every bite.

14 Best Sauces For Rice Bowls - Easy Recipes To Try - Foodiosity (2024)

FAQs

What is a good sauce to put on rice? ›

Pesto is great on rice. Grated cheese is great on rice, as is sweet chilli sauce or mango chutney. Also, oyster sauce, teriyaki sauce or hoisin sauce. Try egg fried rice (good with bacon in it too), rice with satay chicken, rice in a burrito with refried beans and salsa.

How do you add flavor to rice bowls? ›

Another great way of adding in some additional flavor to your rice bowls is to marinate your meats. For example, try marinating the beef in this Cabbage Roll Bowl in onion, paprika, garlic powder along with salt and pepper and cooking with canola oil along with shredded cabbage for some added flavor.

What can I add to rice besides soy sauce? ›

7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing
  1. Tamari.
  2. Coconut Aminos.
  3. Fish Sauce.
  4. Miso Paste.
  5. Balsamic Vinegar.
  6. Worcestershire Sauce.
  7. Oyster Sauce.
Jun 6, 2023

What liquid can I add to rice for flavor? ›

Broth is a simple way to make a big impact. Without changing the texture, broth gives your dish a pop of flavor. Chicken broth goes well with so many flavors; in fact, it's the most common liquid used, particularly for rice pilaf.

What is yum yum sauce made of? ›

Yum Yum Sauce is made of mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, sugar, paprika and water to thin the sauce out. That's it! It's really just a matter of the right ratios of ingredients to get the flavor you want!

What type of rice is best for rice bowls? ›

Because rice bowls rely on components—white rice or brown rice, a protein, a veggie, a sauce—you can almost always improvise them without a trip to the store. Start with a base of cooked rice, and then, get creative!

What can I add to a plain bowl of rice? ›

Stir in Tasty Sauces

Either jarred or canned options can go a long way for your meal. First, cook or heat your favorite rice variety, and then stir in your sauce. Examples to try: Tomato sauce, pesto, tzatziki, sriracha, cheese sauce and any other favorites.

How do I make rice taste like a restaurant? ›

Put a little fat in before cooking - 1 tablespoon of butter or oil per 1 cup of rice. Add some flavor. Put a bay leaf in with the rice while it's cooking or use some bouillon. Everyone on here is saying chicken, but I like to use a little Vegetable Better than Bouillon.

What two sauces go well together? ›

Mayonnaise+ketchup=A great sauce for burgers and hot dogs. Mayonnaise+relish=Lazy man's tartar sauce. Perfect for fish and chips. Mayonnaise+mustard=Dijonaise.

What sauces taste good together? ›

Experimenting at home is part of the fun if you love condiments so here's a few classic combinations that we love.
  • Mayo & hot sauce.
  • Ketchup & curry powder.
  • Marmite & cream cheese.
  • Honey & mustard.
Nov 12, 2020

What sauce can I use instead of soy? ›

What is the best substitute for soy sauce?
  • Tamari. If you're looking for an easy swap, tamari is the one because it is in fact a type of soy sauce! ...
  • Coconut aminos. If you're actually looking for a soy-free alternative, this is a great option. ...
  • Worcestershire sauce. ...
  • Miso. ...
  • Liquid aminos. ...
  • Fish sauce.

What is similar to soy sauce but better? ›

Tamari. The easiest swap by far is tamari, which is basically soy sauce's gluten-free twin. Tamari has a richer, less salty vibe, but it can stunt-double for soy sauce in equal measure in practically any recipe. Low-sodium tamari is also a better option for those monitoring sodium.

What goes well on rice? ›

1. Italian Flavors are Always a Good Idea
  • Pesto sauce.
  • Alfredo sauce.
  • Shredded Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese.
  • Tomatoes.
  • Basil or Italian seasoning mix.
  • Mushrooms.
  • Pepperoncini.
  • Green olives.

How do you make rice taste good without sauce? ›

Other: chicken stock on its own is great, or cook plain and mix in lime juice and chopped cilantro. Paprika, onion powder, butter, chili powder, cumin and cayenne - gives you a texmex flavour rice which is nice. Curry spice mix is always good mixed over rice.

Is BBQ sauce good on rice? ›

Chicken and rice is probably one of my favorite meals, so add some barbecue sauce and vegetables and you've got me hooked.

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