Ever since the rise in popularity of rice cookers, we can get perfectly cooked rice every time with minimal effort required. They are slowly becoming the staple piece of every kitchen, and more and more people are getting one. Since then, rice cookers have come from various brands, at different sizes and price points. However, Japanese cookers are world-famous for their high quality and endurance.
A rice cooker, even if primarily intended for rice, doesn’t only have one use. You can prepare many other things in it, or even entire meals!
That’s why we made a list of the best five meal recipes made entirely in the rice cooker.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the most frequent breakfast choices for several reasons. It’s quick and easy to make, tasty, and filled with the energy required for you to start your day. But, you can take your oatmeal to the next level if you happen to grow bored of the usual taste.
Instead of cooking your oats in the microwave or on the stovetop, use a rice cooker. Mix it with water or your favorite kind of milk for the perfect texture and consistency. By using a rice cooker, you can even make your oatmeal the evening before and keep it fresh until the morning.
The rice cooker will give your oatmeal a special flavor you can’t get with other cooking methods. Finally, add some nuts, fruit, and a bit of maple syrup for your new favorite breakfast meal.
Risotto
Who says rice has to be a boring and bland side dish? There are many ways you can make rice more interesting, especially if you have guests coming over for dinner. So, break the rules from time to time and put rice in the main focus by preparing a risotto.
Risotto is a perfect way to have a healthy and nutritional meal that is still lightweight and easy to prepare. Simply mix rice with parmesan cheese, parsley, and garlic to make a traditional, creamy risotto. Also, there are numerous varieties of the classic risotto recipe, so you can put almost anything you already have in your kitchen.
For example, people love adding mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, or even some meat to the mix.
Frittata
Similar to the risotto, a frittata can also be made by mixing stuff from the fridge you already have. Although it requires a couple of steps, it’s still done in under 30 minutes. First, to make a frittata in a rice cooker, you need to pre-cook the potatoes and the meat you’re using.
Then, whisk the eggs, add all pre-cooked ingredients and other ingredients into the bowl. For example, you can make a frittata with potatoes, chicken, mushrooms, broccoli, and cheese. Next, add favorite spices to the mixture to bring out the flavor.
Finally, pour the entire mixture into the rice cooker and cook until it’s done. Once finished, you’ll get a delicious omelet with some extra ingredients to make your meal more filling and tasty.
Chicken with Rice
It’s never been easier to make dinner for the entire family. The ingredients are so simple, yet they blend well and perfectly complement each other.
Simply add the rice and chicken into the rice cooker and cook them together. By using the rice cooker, you can cook the entire meal at once, without the need for multiple pans. Also, the rice will soak up the chicken juices and soften but remain fluffy.
You can add some ginger and coconut milk to make this meal more exotic, honey to make it sweet, or curry to make it spicy. Don’t be afraid to experiment, so you could also try adding different vegetables and fruits and see how they taste.
Who knows, maybe you’ll discover your favorite way to prepare chicken.
Mac and Cheese
You need neither a stovetop nor an oven to make some delicious mac and cheese! If you’re craving the well-known mix of al dente macaroni and melted cheese, grab your rice cooker and get to work! The entire process will take you no more than 15 minutes.
First, cook your macaroni for around 10 minutes. Then, drain the excess water, and add grated cheese and some milk. Then, you can also add the desired seasonings, as well as some parsley to make your meal more colorful.
Finally, enjoy your perfect meal, as the cheese will melt incredibly well in the hot rice cooker.
Conclusion
Although rice cookers were invented only for rice cooking, people found them quite useful for other meals as well. Small and portable, this cooking device will serve a flawless dish every time.
No matter if you’re preparing rice, fruit, vegetables, meat, or a blend of everything, a rice cooker won’t dry out or overcook your ingredients. So, even if you’re a beginner in the kitchen, try it!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind