puffed rice More than just a breakfast cereal, puffed rice is a widely used version of rice, especially in India. To make it, polished rice is heated in a metal cylinder under pressure and eventually, like corn, it puffs out to a roundish shape. Puffed rice keeps well in a tightly sealed container or plastic bag. It is available from South Asian groceries. See Spicy Puffed Rice Snack.