Make White Rice The Appalachian Way For Comfort In A Bowl

White rice is one of the most versatile foods there is, whether you're using it in a soup, as a side, or in a burrito, fresh or as one of many ways to use leftover rice — the options are endless. While white rice is commonly used in savory recipes, rice recipes that are on the sweeter side exist too. In the Appalachian region, they mix white rice, butter, and sugar for a sweet rice that has been a staple comfort food for many years. 

Of all the Appalachian foods you need to try at least once, this sweet rice is too easy not to be at the top of the list. It only requires a few ingredients: literally just sprinkling sugar and a bit of butter into your cooked white rice, though there are a few variations of the dish. For example, you can add flavors like vanilla extract or a bit of milk for a creamier texture. You can even garnish it with a sprinkle of cinnamon with some raisins on top to emulate rice pudding. However you garnish it, its flavor is light with just the right amount of sweetness, which is why many people eat this sweet rice as a hot cereal for breakfast or as a dessert.

This simple recipe is a popular dish in the Appalachian region, but according to a couple of posts on Reddit, including one in r/AskFoodHistorians, you can also find it in the Southern and Midwestern states of the U.S. While the exact origin of sweet rice is unknown, many people claim this dish was a staple cost-efficient meal passed down to them to make use of leftover rice. You might notice this recipe has similarities to rice pudding, but rice pudding uses more milk as well as eggs to create a custard consistency, whereas a sweet rice traditionally only uses milk as an optional additive. Rice pudding is also cooked in milk, while sweet rice is commonly made from plain rice cooked with butter and sugar.

There are plenty of ways to add flavor to plain rice, but this simple Appalachian favorite is perfect if you're looking for a sweeter taste. Those who grew up on Appalachian sweet rice know there are a number of ways to enjoy it, but all are just as comforting.