A rice cooker is one of the most useful pieces of kitchen equipment you can own. It’s a big hit among young adults living on their own for the very first time, but in family homes, they’re a little underutilised. They can do so much more than just cook a round of rice. I’ve found easy and delicious rice cooker recipes that are quick and hearty to share with you.
But first, let me tell you why owing a rice cooker pays off. First of all, rice is a staple ingredient across the globe, not just in Asia. Fun fact: Antarctica is the only continent that doesn’t grow rice!
As food in Australia is a mixture of different worldly cuisines, there are bound to be a few — or a lot — of rice meals that your guests would like to be served. A rice cooker is therefore one of the best investments for home cooks who want to travel around the world through food.
More than that, rice cookers today are becoming sleek in design and in function. The best Aroma rice cookers don’t just look good on your counter top— they also have unique functions that make cooking a breeze. On top of cooking rice and grains to perfection, this handy little tool also sautés, simmers, and steams different dishes for greater versatility.
Now that I’ve talked up the value of a good rice cooker, hopefully these recipes will help you get the most use out of this nifty kitchen tool.
5 rice cooker recipes to try
Porridge
Porridge is a breakfast staple in Australia because of how quick and simple it is to make. Not to mention, that it’s very nutritious and delicious too! To make porridge in a rice cooker, you can use our ‘How to Make Yummy Porridge’ guide and simply adapt it to a rice cooker as most have a specific setting for cooking the dish. A savoury version sounds really good, too. Try making Asian rice porridge, also known as congee, by using long grain rice, chicken broth, ginger, and salt. It only takes about 30 minutes to make this warm morning favourite.
Chilli
Everyone has a favourite chilli recipe, whether it’s a classic beef chilli or vegetarian version. If you want a great-tasting chilli in about 40 minutes, you can opt to use a rice cooker instead. The steps are the same, but it takes less than an hour to prepare this crowd-pleaser.
Frittata
Frittatas are often baked but you can simplify the process with a rice cooker. Just sauté chopped veggies in butter or oil for a few minutes before adding it into the rice cooker. When the bottom of your rice cooker has heated up, grease it with olive oil or butter before pouring in the eggs and the rest of your ingredients. They can be your sautéd veggies and maybe some melty cheese. Fifteen minutes later and your frittata is ready and fluffy!
Risotto
Risotto is an intimidating dish even to professional chefs because of how easily things go wrong. But judging from The Spruce Eats’ guide to making risotto with a rice cooker, it doesn’t have to be so hard. In fact, using a rice cooker to cook your favourite risotto recipe means less stirring which makes it a hands-off process. Mushroom risotto cooked in lovely aromatics and a great-tasting broth sounds really good after a long, hard day.
Chicken curry
And if you want something a little heavier, try this Mild Chicken Curry recipe. The steps are easy and follow the traditional way of making chicken curry. You will need a slightly larger rice cooker, which is perfect if you have a big family to feed!
What’s your fave rice cooker recipe? Care to share the recipe?
All images from Unsplash