Our blog
School Meals Made Exciting: A New Collaboration from Essential Cuisine and Tilda Foodservice
6th July 2026
School caterers are continually balancing a complex set of priorities.
Every dish needs to deliver on nutrition, cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency and pupil appeal, while meeting the requirements of school food standards. At the same time, today's students are more adventurous than ever, with global flavours and street-food-inspired dishes influencing food choices both in and out of school.
That's exactly what this new recipe concept from Essential Cuisine and Tilda Foodservice has been designed to support.
Bringing together Tilda's trusted range of premium rice products with Essential Cuisine's chef-developed ingredients, this collection of recipes has been created specifically for the education sector. Every dish is suitable for education catering, combining balanced nutrition with flavours pupils recognise and enjoy.
From comforting classics and globally inspired favourites to vibrant vegetarian options and modern grab-and-go formats, the collection demonstrates how rice can become the foundation for exciting school meals that deliver both value and variety.
This isn't about making school food more complicated.
It's about helping caterers create meals that are nutritious, practical and genuinely enjoyable for pupils.
Built for Modern School Catering
Today's school menus need to do more than simply satisfy hunger.
Caterers are increasingly looking for dishes that encourage uptake, introduce new flavours in an accessible way and support healthier eating habits. Tilda’s rice offers the perfect platform, providing versatility across multiple cuisines while delivering consistency, value and operational ease. While Essential Cuisine’s range of completely gluten free products offer peace of mind with many products being vegan and containing no declarable allergens^ they’re the perfect solution to meet the needs of a variety of pupils diets within education catering settings.
School-Friendly Dishes Full of Flavour
Inspired by the vibrant flavours of Indian street food, this colourful rice dish combines fresh vegetables, mild spices and layers of texture to create a fun and engaging meal. Packed with flavour while remaining accessible to younger diners, it offers a fresh way to introduce global influences into school menus.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Tikka Seasoning, Essential Cuisine Curry Onion Sauce, Zafron Mint and Yoghurt Dressing and Tilda Brown & white Rice
Katsu Chicken & Fried Jasmine Rice
A school-friendly take on one of the UK's most popular Asian-inspired dishes. Crispy chicken is paired with flavour-packed fried rice to create a balanced meal that delivers familiarity, comfort and broad appeal across all age groups.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Keralan Style Seasoning and Tilda Jasmine Rice
Mixed Fruit Crème Anglaise Rice Pudding
A modern twist on a timeless school dessert favourite. Creamy rice pudding meets smooth crème anglaise and mixed fruit, creating a comforting sweet option that delivers both familiarity and indulgence.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Crème Anglaise Mix and Tilda Easy Cook Basmati Rice
Tikka Inspired Rice Stuffed Peppers
A colourful vegetarian option that combines fragrant rice, vegetables and warming spices, all served within roasted peppers. Nutritious, visually appealing and packed with flavour, it's a fantastic way to increase vegetable consumption while keeping pupils engaged.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Light Vegetable Stock Mix, Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Tikka Seasoning and Tilda Pure Basmati Rice
Indian Inspired Rice Burrito with Curry Drizzle
Bringing together the popularity of handheld formats and globally inspired flavours, this rice-filled burrito offers a fun, modern menu option that works particularly well for secondary school dining environments.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Tikka Seasoning, Essential Cuisine Curry Onion Sauce, Street Food Chef Bombay BBQ Inspired Sauce and Tilda Basmati Brown Rice
Korma Cauliflower Shawarma Bowl
A vibrant plant-forward dish combining aromatic korma-inspired flavours with roasted cauliflower and rice. The result is a satisfying vegetarian meal that introduces pupils to exciting flavours in a familiar bowl format.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Korma Seasoning and Tilda Brown & White Rice
A hearty one-pot dish inspired by the flavours of Jamaican. Combining rice, beans and vegetables with gentle Jamaican Jerk Style Seasoning, this recipe delivers comfort, nutrition and excellent value for school caterers.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Jamaican Jerk Style Seasoning, Essential Cuisine Kitchen Ready Cooked Onions, Essential Cuisine Light Vegetable Stock Mix and Tilda Jasmine Rice
Persian Spiced Rice with Falafel Curry Bowl
A contemporary vegetarian option that brings together spiced rice, falafel and a mild curry sauce. Rich in flavour and texture, it demonstrates how plant-based dishes can sit confidently alongside traditional menu favourites.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Light Vegetable Stock Mix, Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Spicy Persian Style Seasoning, Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Korma Seasoning and Tilda Brown & White Rice
Tandoori Chicken Skewers with Smoked Onion Rice
A colourful and engaging dish that pairs tender tandoori-style chicken skewers with aromatic smoked onion rice. Familiar flavours and an appealing presentation make this a strong addition to school menus.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Light Vegetable Stock Mix, Essential Cuisine Indian Inspired Rogan Josh Seasoning, Zafron Yoghurt and Mint Dressing and Tilda Easy Basmati Rice
Thai Chicken with Jasmine Rice
Mild Thai-inspired flavours combine with fragrant jasmine rice to create a balanced dish that introduces international cuisine in a way that remains approachable for younger diners.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Fragrant Thai Style Seasoning and Tilda Jasmine Rice
Inspired by popular street-food trends but adapted for school catering, this loaded rice dish combines seasoned chicken, colourful vegetables and bold flavours to create a meal that feels contemporary while remaining suitable for education settings.
Products used: Essential Cuisine Light Vegetable Stock Mix, Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef American BBQ Style Seasoning, Essential Cuisine Kitchen Ready Cooked Onion and Tilda Easy Cook Long Grain Rice
Supporting School Caterers Every Day
This collaboration between Essential Cuisine and Tilda Foodservice is about more than recipes.
It's about providing practical solutions for school caterers who want to offer greater menu variety, increase meal uptake and create positive dining experiences for pupils.
By combining the versatility and quality of Tilda Rice with the trusted flavour expertise of Essential Cuisine, this collection helps caterers deliver dishes that are nutritious, cost-effective and full of flavour.
From primary schools to secondary academies and multi-site education catering operations, these recipes demonstrate how simple ingredients can be transformed into meals pupils genuinely look forward to eating.
To explore the full concept, click here.
To explore Tilda Foodservice's full product range, click here.
To explore Essential Cuisine's full product range, click here.
