3 Substitutes for Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice may traditionally belong to Thai cuisine but is now used all over the world. It is long-grained rice and is usually used as the central part of a meal rather than as a side dish. That is why it is used in a range of vegetable and meat dishes and is such a versatile ingredient.

However, jasmine rice is only produced in eastern countries and so can be pretty pricey in western supermarkets. It is usually cheaper at Asian markets, but what are some affordable jasmine rice substitutes if you don’t live near an Asian market?

Our 3 Substitutes for Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice has a hint of floral notes, which is evident in its flavour and aroma. It tends to be a little sweeter than other varieties but comes in both white and brown options.

Here are our top 4 substitutes for jasmine rice:

1) Basmati Rice

Though jasmine rice does have a longish grain, basmati rice is longer, which means that it will take longer to cook.

The difference in grain will result in giving your dish a different texture. Basmati grains will not be as sticky as jasmine rice because of their long cooking time.  

It will depend entirely on your dish as to whether or not you should use basmati rice as a jasmine rice substitute.

Generally, it is a more popular choice in Indian cuisine, pairing particularly well with curries as it takes to spices better than jasmine rice. If you use lots of spice with jasmine rice, you mask the subtle flavour of jasmine.

Basmati rice is also the most popular dessert rice used for making rice pudding.

Watch the Price Tag
While more wildly available, basmati rice is usually just as expensive as jasmine rice. So only use it as a substitute if you plan to use it in other dishes too.

2) Brown Rice

Even when compared to brown jasmine rice, brown rice is the healthier option. It is often called whole grain rice and is jam-packed full of fibre.

You can buy brown rice in a whole range of grain lengths, but for the best substitution, use long-grain brown rice. It will take roughly the same amount of time to cook and will have a similar flavour.

Brown rice is known for its slightly nutty flavour as it is less processed than white rice. This will be the same level of nuttiness as is evident in brown jasmine rice but will taste slightly different to white jasmine rice.

Expect a Textural Difference
Because brown rice is so full of fibre, it will be a lot chewier than jasmine rice. Keep this in mind when cooking a dish that needs fluffy rice.

3) White Rice

White rice is arguably the unhealthiest rice as it is far more processed than whole grain rice. However, it is far more affordable and available in any grocery store.

Many people overplay the health issues of white rice, but it is very much like white bread – It’s fine If eaten in moderation.

How white rice differs from jasmine rice is that the outer bran layer and the hull of the rice get removed, along with it, the nutritional value of rice. This results in much softer and fluffier rice once cooked.

White jasmine rice goes through a similar process to white rice but is still able to hold onto some of its nutrition.

Add Extra Flavour
The process of making white rice means that a lot of the already minimal rice flavour gets removed. You will have to work harder to make white rice taste of anything. Try throwing in a bay leaf or star anise to impart some flavour.

Other Substitutes for Jasmine Rice

If you do not have any of the above rice or don’t have time to wait for the rice to cook, here are a few more substitutes you could swap in for jasmine rice:

  • Popcorn Rice – Also known as American basmati, it will have the same effect as regular basmati rice when substituting jasmine rice.
  • Instant Rice – Very easy to incorporate into your dish, instant rice can be packed full of flavour if you buy the right kind. But it does tend to be a lot more processed and unhealthier.

Ultimately, any grain that can carry flavour will work just fine including pearl barley, quinoa and bulgar wheat.

Summary

Jasmine rice’s floral aroma and flavour are very hard to replicate. But unless you are cooking a specific dish, then pretty much any type of longer grain rice can be substituted for jasmine rice, with basmati rice being the best.