Rice Cooker Recipes!?!?

Akilae729

So i'm gradually learning how to feed myself. I bought a rice cooker a while back, and i've been using it to make rice which in itself is pretty plain. I've been using the rice as a side dish, or pouring Cambles chunky soup over it (we call this little concoction "under the freeway dinner" in my apartment)

Seeing how easy it is to make rice in this thing, I was curious if there is anything else I can do to spice up this rice. Perhaps even turn this rice into a meal by adding things, maybe some veggies, some spices, etc.

What are some good recipes involving a rice cooker and the bland white rice that it produces?

starmanbrand

I've never used a ricecooker to cook veggies, but it seems due to how long most rice takes to cook, you should cook the veggies and whatever else you want SEPARATE and then add it in at the end.

Ok, so basically. Make sure you add salt into the water and rice before you start cooking. At this point, you can do like I do and add in seasoning. I have bunch of assorted spices, but I usually put in some crushed red chili flakes and Italian seasoning. Then at the end, before I eat it, I toss in a couple small cubes of butter and stir it around.

Also you should really look into Jasmine or Basmati rice.

And if you cook the veggies and protein on it's own, you can pretty much add -anything- you want to it, if it suits your tastes.

DeathPrawn

A simple way to add spice to your rice is to use soup broth instead of water; just throw in some canned chicken broth and it'll give the rice some flavor. If there are spices you like that you think would taste good, put 'em in.

starmanbrand wrote: »

I've never used a ricecooker to cook veggies, but it seems due to how long most rice takes to cook, you should cook the veggies and whatever else you want SEPARATE and then add it in at the end.

Some (but not all) rice cookers have separate built-in steamer trays for vegetables.

starmanbrand wrote: »

Also you should really look into Jasmine or Basmati rice

It really depends on what you like to use. I personally use Calrose, which is a medium-grain rice, because it allows for super-sticky Chinese restaurant-esque rice.

corcorigan

You could try putting stock and spices in the water I guess.

I'd like to hear more of the magic, as I've given up with rice cookers because cooking things on a hob just seems to work better.

DeI2anGeD

Oh god, a rice cooker thread! I love my rice cooker.

You are adding your soup after the rice is cooked? Don't bother. Add it instead of water. The broth will cook -into- the rice.

Add chicken broth instead of water, then grill a chicken breast for a main course. (or beef broth and a steak!)

Add tomato sauce + a bit of water + green pepper for spanish rice.

Cream of Mushroom soup is also good.

steam veggies with the rice

steam fish, clams or anything else with the rice.

I'm all excited about rice now

Arikado

You can stew beans in a rice cooker.

My roommate used to put 2 Chunky soup cans into his rice cooker after his steamed rice was ready.

Nibble

http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=80457

Quid

Take a bell pepper, onion, and a pound of asparagus. Sautee it adding salt, pepper, chile powder, rosemary, basil, oregano, or really any variety of spices. Toss it on top of the rice.

Meat's an extra option too, it just doesn't work for me with this dish.

vonPoonBurGer

Chinese steamed buns! It's a lot of work, but so worth it. You can do a big batch, freeze them, and then resteam them when you want to eat. If there's a Chinese or Korean grocery store anywhere near you, you may be able to find dough or fillings premade as well.

Synthetic Orange

My rice cooker is easily the most used tool in my kitchen.

Easy meat and veg rice, when I'm in a rush or cant be bothered, I just scrounge around in my kitchen and make this:
1 cup rice
2 cups water
1 stock cube
1 tblspoon olive oil
1/2 bag of frozen veg
about 250g meat (tuna / bacon / chicken, depending on what I have on hand)
1/2 can of minced tomatos
spices to taste. (usually I dump worcestershire sauce and mixed herbs in)
garlic and onion to taste.

Shove everything but the veg in the cooker. Halfway through, dump the veg and mix. Wait til' it's done, enjoy. Serves 2-3.

Chicken and mushroom soy rice:
1 minced knob fresh ginger
250g cubed chicken meat.
1 cup rice + 2 cups water
handful or two of dried, sliced shitake mushrooms
6 tblspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon veg oil

Dump everything in cooker and cook. Season with sesame oil before serving. Makes 2.

Ely

Generally, anything you can steam, boil, or broil, you can cook in a rice cooker.

When you cook rice, add some soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, chicken, and chopped hearty vegetables like carrots, onions, and bell peppers in there. It will all come out delicious. Best part is that the hardest thing to do is chop up chicken and vegetables. Alternately, any shellfish like clams work wonders in this method too.

supabeast

If you have a vegetable steaming tray, a rice cooker is a great way to cook salmon steaks. And don’t forget about artichokes.