Let Your Rice Cooker Cook the Entire Meal!
A rice cooker is a worthy investment even if only to cook plain, white rice. The convenience of making perfect, fluffy rice each time without fail cannot be understated. However, most of today’s rice cookers are designed to be able to do much more.
This handy appliance is capable of prepping complete meals in a single pot while simultaneously producing perfectly cooked rice. Not to say these types of rice dishes couldn’t be made on the stovetop, but the rice cooker’s convenience is a true game-changer.
Rice cooker meals are perfect for busy days or that lazy Sunday afternoon. Here are a few tips to follow when making a rice cooker full-meal-deal:
In a rice cooker, meals can safely cook themselves: in fact, even kids can throw pre-measured ingredients into the pot and press the button. The rice cooker will turn itself off when the meal is ready, then keep dinner warm. Plus, the non-stick cleanup is a breeze. With this countertop appliance, a delicious, one-pot dinner is never far from reach. So why not let the rice cooker cook your entire meal?
If you have a rice cooker, and you like this idea, here’s a terrific recipe you’ll want to try. If you have pesto on hand, this meal will come together incredibly fast!
Ingredients:
2 scoops short grain white rice (about 12 ounces)
1/2 cup peas fresh or frozen
1/2 cup frozen spinach
8 to 12 ounces salmon skin removed
1/3 cup basil pesto plus more for garnish
Optional: pine nuts and grated parmesan cheese to garnish
Directions:
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This handy appliance is capable of prepping complete meals in a single pot while simultaneously producing perfectly cooked rice. Not to say these types of rice dishes couldn’t be made on the stovetop, but the rice cooker’s convenience is a true game-changer.
Rice cooker meals are perfect for busy days or that lazy Sunday afternoon. Here are a few tips to follow when making a rice cooker full-meal-deal:
- Be sure to use liberal amounts of salt. These dishes are mostly rice, and what might seem like a normal amount of salt at first will likely be under-seasoned. Don’t be afraid to adjust with more salt after everything is done cooking.
- Avoid the “Quick” setting on the rice cooker. You’ll want to use the “Plain” (or similar) settings on the rice cooker. Doing so might take an extra 3-5 minutes of cooking time, but this will help ensure everything in the pot cooks evenly.
- And be sure to measure the liquid BEFORE adding other ingredients. If you add other ingredients first, the lines on the side of your rice pot are now inaccurate due to the added volume. Alternatively, you can measure the liquid separately, though your rice pot lines are designed specifically for the best ratio in the rice cooker.
- Plan to use white rice rather than brown or black rice. Brown and black rice usually take longer (sometimes double the time) to cook compared to white rice. The vegetables and protein you mix-in will cook for much longer, so these can overcook or turn mushy.
In a rice cooker, meals can safely cook themselves: in fact, even kids can throw pre-measured ingredients into the pot and press the button. The rice cooker will turn itself off when the meal is ready, then keep dinner warm. Plus, the non-stick cleanup is a breeze. With this countertop appliance, a delicious, one-pot dinner is never far from reach. So why not let the rice cooker cook your entire meal?
If you have a rice cooker, and you like this idea, here’s a terrific recipe you’ll want to try. If you have pesto on hand, this meal will come together incredibly fast!
Pesto Salmon and Rice with Spinach and Peas
2 scoops short grain white rice (about 12 ounces)
1/2 cup peas fresh or frozen
1/2 cup frozen spinach
8 to 12 ounces salmon skin removed
1/3 cup basil pesto plus more for garnish
Optional: pine nuts and grated parmesan cheese to garnish
Directions:
1. Wash rice until water runs clear. Drain the rice and place it into the pot of a rice cooker.
2. Slice salmon into 1-inch cubes and season with salt.
3. Add water to the rice pot until the liquid reaches the appropriate line.
4. Add peas to the rice pot along with several pinches of salt. Stir to combine.
5. Spread frozen spinach over the rice and peas in the rice pot. Place pieces of salmon in a single layer atop the spinach. Place the rice pot into the rice cooker and press start.
6. Once finished cooking, open the lid and spoon the pesto into the rice pot. Stir everything to combine until the pesto evenly coats the rice. Take care to leave some salmon in larger chunks, if possible. Taste and adjust for seasoning and add more pesto if desired.
7. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and pine nuts for texture.
2. Slice salmon into 1-inch cubes and season with salt.
3. Add water to the rice pot until the liquid reaches the appropriate line.
4. Add peas to the rice pot along with several pinches of salt. Stir to combine.
5. Spread frozen spinach over the rice and peas in the rice pot. Place pieces of salmon in a single layer atop the spinach. Place the rice pot into the rice cooker and press start.
6. Once finished cooking, open the lid and spoon the pesto into the rice pot. Stir everything to combine until the pesto evenly coats the rice. Take care to leave some salmon in larger chunks, if possible. Taste and adjust for seasoning and add more pesto if desired.
7. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and pine nuts for texture.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
