Rice cookers are the method to quick, easy, and delicious meals. Other than cooking rice, rice cookers are handy kitchen gadgets that hold so much more potential. Utilizing a rice cooker’s full abilities opens the door for quicker and simpler ways of enhancing your meals, while also simplifying the cooking process. Here are a few delicious recipes that can be made using this wonderful kitchen appliance.

Teriyaki Shrimp and Rice

Being a simple yet flavorful dish, this meal can be made using just a few basic ingredients. 

1. First, add finely diced onions and frozen peas at the bottom of the rice cooker, followed by uncooked jasmine rice, grated ginger, and minced garlic.
2. Stir all ingredients together. 
3. Then, add thawed shrimp at the top of the rice cooker.
4. Following that, pour a suitable amount of water (1 part rice to 1.13 parts water). 
5. Close the lid of the rice cooker, adjusting it to the “white rice” setting. 
6. Wait for the cooker to finish cooking. 
7. Once the rice cooker finishes cooking, allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes while on the “keep warm” setting before opening the lid. 
8. While waiting, stir together brown sugar and soy sauce. 
9. Then, open the lid and add the soy sauce mixture to the rice cooker. 
10. Use a rice paddle to fold the sauce into the rice. Serve! 

Sophomore Ellie Wu has quite a liking for this dish, stating “The teriyaki shrimp and rice recipe is one of my favorites to make whenever I want a quick and simple meal. The combo of sweet and savory flavors from the teriyaki sauce, shrimp, and rice are delicious.”

This recipe can be customized based on your preferences, whether that is changing the amount of sauce or even adding additional ingredients to enhance the taste. 

Chicken Curry

A delicious chicken curry dish can also be made using a rice cooker in just under 30 minutes. 

1. Turn on the rice cooker and heat the cooking oil in the rice cooker. 
2. Saute chopped onions until they’re soft. 
3. Add chicken and saute. 
4. Add potatoes and saute for a few minutes. 
5. Add rice and water, and combine all ingredients. Cook for 25-30 minutes, until rice, potatoes, and chicken are tender. 
6. Add Japanese curry mix and combine all ingredients. Enjoy!

“Curry is one of my favorite foods… Since discovering that I could make it in a rice cooker, my life changed forever. Now I make it at least once a week just because of how delicious it is,” said freshman Sai Sruthi Banala, “I really like the flavourful taste of curry, chicken, and rice together. The curry gives a hint of spiciness, which is balanced out by the rice and chicken. Overall, the flavors mix very well.”

This recipe can be easily adjusted to suit your liking. You can choose to add a spicy, or perhaps more mild and aromatic curry to go with the chicken and rice. Adding additional spices and ingredients that you enjoy can also greatly improve the meal. 

Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is another delicious entree that can be made using a rice cooker.

1. To make this dish, add pasta, chicken stock, and salt to the rice cooker. 
2. Cook for 15 minutes. 
3. Then, open the lid and add cheese and milk. 
4. Stir to combine then cook for 20 more minutes. 
5. Serve!

“I love the rice cooker recipe for making mac and cheese. I saw it online and decided to make it one day– best decision ever,” said freshman Margaret Law, “The taste is creamy and comforting, perfect for a chilly day. I also like to add some bacon bits and a crunchy cheese topper just to finish it off.”

You can spice up this dish by adding various spices that you enjoy. Adding toppers such as breadcrumbs, bacon, herbs, or more cheese can also enhance the dish according to your preferences. The cheesiness and creaminess can also be manipulated to your liking. 

Scallops and Rice

A simple yet delicious combination of scallops and hot rice.

1. First, salt the tops and bottoms of the scallops.
2.  Let them rest in the fridge for 15 minutes. 
3. In another bowl, combine rice, water, sake, and soy sauce. 
4. Let it sit for 15 minutes as well. 
5. After 15 minutes, put the salted scallops on top of the rice, making sure not to stir it. 
6. Start the cooking cycle. 
7. After cooking, let the rice and scallops rest for 5 minutes. 
8. Then, add butter and mix the rice. 
9. Fold in chopped chives. 
10. Serve!

“The scallops and rice cooker recipe turned out a lot better than I thought it would be,” said sophomore Sonoma Lu, “There’s this subtle sweetness to the tender scallops that makes it yummy. The rice [was] savory and flavourful because of the sauces.”

Scallops are versatile and can pair well with many other ingredients such as garlic, lemon, or sauces that you may like. Modifying or adding ingredients to your liking can also help to enhance the dish. 

Just Leftovers

Simple combination of unused vegetables, protein, and produce.

1. To make this, add rice, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, vegetable oyster sauce, and water to your rice cooker. 
2. Mix well. 
3. Add vegetables and proteins (meat, chicken, tofu, eggs, …) over the rice. 
4. Start the cooking cycle. 
5. After it cooks, combine everything. 
6. Season to taste. 
7. Enjoy!

“I make this once in a while and it always turns out great. Super delicious if you add the right kinds and amount of sauces,” said sophomore Jolin Tan. “Personally, I like to eat the rice with roasted seaweed since it provides the perfect amount of crunchiness and makes the whole meal so much better. Overall, it’s a flavorful and simple dish.”

This meal too, can be modified to your liking. The nature of this meal is pretty simple, as it focuses on leftover ingredients that may need to be used up. Adding these ingredients together and combining them with flavourful sauces can be a great way to clear up your fridge while also being able to enjoy a unique and fulfilling dish. 

Rice Pudding

Making rice pudding using just a rice cooker is something that you should try.

1. Add milk, rice, sugar, and cinnamon to a rice cooker, stirring all ingredients together.
2. Cook for one cycle until creamy and tender. 
3. Stir in the remaining milk. 
4. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. 
5. Refrigerator for at least an hour. 
6. Serve!

The taste of rice pudding is creamy and comforting. The addition of sugar contributes to a nice sweetness of the pudding. The cinnamon also adds flavor to the rice pudding in a way that greatly enhances the overall dish. 

This treat can be customized to your liking by adding toppings such as fruits, whipped cream, or nutmeg. For a hint of nuttiness, you may also add almonds, coconut, or raisins in order to add flavor to the pudding. 

Coconut Rice

Rich and creamy coconut rice using a rice cooker.

1. To make this, add rinsed rice to the rice cooker. 
2. Add an entire can of full-fat coconut milk. 
3. Fill water to the water line until 4 cups. 
4. Cook using the white rice setting. 
5. Done!

“Coconut rice is something that I never thought could be made so easily…This recipe is great,” said freshman Jiae Park, “The sweetness from the coconut milk is very good, and the creamy texture too. The flavor is also balanced between the rice and nutty coconut.”

Coconut rice is a sweet and creamy dessert that can be complemented with a variety of dishes, including both sweet and savory options. Additional toppings such as lime zest or toasted coconut can also greatly enhance the flavor. Overall, this makes a delicious side snack that can elevate various meals. 

Preparing a meal isn’t always easy. However, with the help of a rice cooker, the quality and simplicity of your meals may just be brought to a new level. Rice cookers are versatile tools that can greatly enhance your meals, while also keeping the prepping process simple. The recipes mentioned above are just a glimpse of the dishes a rice cooker can make. With experimentation, research, and creativity, you can make numerous delicious meals all in one pot. Thus, the next time you feel hungry and in need of a quick, scrumptious dinner, look no further than your dandy rice cooker. 

Photo Courtesy of FREEPIK.COM