If you do not own a rice cooker, jump in your car and run to the store to purchase one. They are fabulous! I love my rice cooker! Easy smeezy and quick. Now, up until recently, I have only used it to cook plain old rice (what a novel idea), but I am here to share some new recipes I have found that you can cook in your rice cooker (I’m here for you). These are more than just plain old rice – spice up your life and live a little.
Unfried Chinese Rice
2 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice
1/2 cup finely diced ham or 1/2 cup bacon
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
2 eggs, scrambled and chopped up
3-4 diced spring onions
1/4-1/3 cup soy sauce
1/8 tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp garlic granules
1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper
Steam rice according to your steamer's direction. Place all other ingredients in a large bowl. Put hot rice directly on top and let sit for 2-3 minutes, stir well and serve immediately.
Oatmeal Surprise
1 1/4 cups large flake rolled oats
2 tbsp wheat bran
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup raisins or 1/3 cup other dried fruit or 1/3 cup fresh fruit (optional)
2 1/2 cups water
Put all the ingredients in a rice cooker. Turn it on. Go away, and come back in 25 to 30 minutes. Stir once, as there may be a little moisture on top, and serve up. Be sure to use a wooden spoon. Yum!
Lemon Rice
This recipe comes from The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook.
1 cup long grain rice
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 pinch salt
1 large garlic cloves
2 tsp lemon zest, freshly grated
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp fresh Italian parsley
Place rinsed rice in the rice cooker bowl of your rice cooker. Add the chicken stock and salt; stir to combine, then place the garlic in the center on top of the rice. Close the cover and set for the regular cycle. When the machine switches to the Keep Warm cycle, add the lemon zest, butter, and parsley; stir to combine. Close the cover and let the rice steam for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a wooden or plastic rice paddle or wooden spoon. This rice will hold on Keep Warm for 1-2 hours. Before serving, remove garlic and discard. Serve hot.
Polynesian Rice
1 cup long grain rice
1 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp water
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp curry powder
1 green onions, minced
1/2 cup pineapple, chopped (or canned crushed pineapple)
1 cup seedless grapes (or maraschino cherries)
1/4 cup green bell peppers, seeded and minced
1 cup cucumbers, diced (garnish)
1 limes, cut into wedges (garnish)
Spray the rice cooker bowl with Pam or coat with vegetable oil. Put first 6 ingredients (rice - curry powder) in rice bowl, stirring with paddle (that comes with rice cooker) a few times. Close cover and set for regular cycle. When rice cooker switches to "keep warm", sprinkle the green onion, pineapple, grapes (or cherries), and green pepper on top of the rice. Close cover and let steam for 15 minutes. Stir rice with plastic rice paddle to combine. Garnish with cucumber and lime wedges.
You will never eat plain rice again!
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