As Malaysians and Asians, rice is a constant commodity. Whether it’s morning breakfast before the rush hour or supper at ungodly hours, rice fills us up in ways that no other ingredients can. Traditionally, rice is cooked on a stovetop, but the invention of rice cookers has made the process easier. However, the kitchen appliance can do more than just that, as proven in the following rice cooker recipes.
From decadent desserts to practical one-pot meals, there’s more to the understated rice cooker than meets the eye.
Rice Cooker Recipes: Mains
“Claypot” Chicken Rice
Cooking “claypot” chicken rice in a rice cooker might not create the authentic charred aroma that we’re familiar with, but it’s a practical option during lockdown where dining out isn’t encouraged. That said, don’t skimp on crucial ingredients that make the dish such as lap cheong (Chinese sausage) and salted fish.
Easy to make and substantial enough to feed the entire family, this is a one-pot recipe you can’t go wrong with.
Recipe Ingredients:
- 200g of rice
- 225ml of water
- 200g of boneless chicken thigh
- 1 Chinese sausage
- 4 mushrooms
- 2 shallots, minced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 slices salted fish brined in oil
- ¼ tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp of oil
- 2 tbsp of Shaoxing wine
- Spring onions, chopped
- Vegetables, blanched
Chicken Marinade:
- 1 tbsp of light soy sauce
- 2 tsp of oyster sauce
- ¼ tsp of dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp of ginger juice
- 2 tsp of sesame oil
- 1 tbsp of Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp of cornflour
- ½ tsp of sugar
- ¼ tsp of white pepper
Sauce:
- 2 tsp of light soy sauce
- ½ tsp of dark soy sauce
- ½ tsp of sugar
- ¼ tsp of pepper
- 1 tsp of shallot oil
- 1 tsp of sesame oil
Chicken Biryani
Similar to the rice cooker claypot chicken rice recipe above, this method steams chicken and basmati rice together with herbs and spices in a heated airtight space. The result? A succulent chicken biryani meal fit for the kings. Each grain of rice is imbued with a distinct flavour that makes every bite so blissful.
Tip: Marinate the chicken for about 30 minutes beforehand. This gives the protein enough time to soak in seasoning.
Recipe Ingredients:
Chicken Marinate:
- 500g chicken thigh
- 1 tsp of chilli powder
- ½ tsp of turmeric powder
- 1 tsp of salt
Other Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp of cooking oil
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 bay leaves
- 6 – 7 cloves
- 10 cardamoms
- 1 star anise
- 2 red onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp of garam masala
- 3 tbsp of water, mixed with garam masala into a paste
- 30g of butter
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- A handful of coriander leaves, chopped
- A handful of mint leaves, chopped
- 300ml of water
- 4 tbsp of coconut milk
- 2 tsp of salt
- 280g of basmati rice
KFC Chicken Rice
This recipe, which took the Internet by storm a few years ago, proves that rice makes anything taste better, including fried chicken. All you have to do is put rice, soy sauce, and chicken stock into the rice cooker and top it off with two pieces of fried chicken. Once cooked, remove the bones and shred up the chicken before mixing with the rice.
To recreate a KFC-like experience, prepare a side of mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Certified finger-lickin’ good!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 cups of rice
- 1 tbsp of chicken stock
- 1 tbsp of soy sauce
- 2 pieces of KFC fried chicken
Tomato Rice
Give plain rice a lift in flavour by infusing it with tomatoes for a tangy aftertaste! You can have it on its own for a quick lunch, or serve it with rendang for a scrumptious meal. At its core, tomato rice is simple. In fact, you can make it with just tomatoes and rice. But the rice cooker recipe we’re sharing here tops the dish with cashew nuts and raisins for a sweet yet savoury crunch.
Recipe Ingredients:
- 250g of long grain rice
- 2 tbsp ghee or butter
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 4 cardamoms
- 1 star anise
- 3 cloves of garlic, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chunks (about 80g each)
- 1 medium-sized onion, sliced
- 20g ginger, coarsely chopped
- 2 pieces of pandan leaf
- 2 tbsp of tomato puree
- ¾ tsp of salt
- 250ml of water
Macaroni And Cheese
Mac and cheese is comfort food at its finest. Just imagine a bowl of warm pasta drenched with gooey cheese… pure gastronomic bliss! Luckily, it’s incredibly easy and fast to make using a rice cooker. The recipe below is a “base model”, meaning it’s nothing more than basic mac and cheese. If you want to play around with add-ins, try including diced chicken, garlic powder, bacon strips, or chopped broccoli florets. This rice cooker recipe doesn’t get any easier and it literally takes minutes to prep!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 cups of macaroni noodles
- 1 cup of whipping cream
- 1 cup of chicken stock
- 70g of shredded cheese
- 11g of butter
Rice Cooker Recipes: Desserts
Japanese Cheesecake
Stressful times call for cakes to soothe our weary souls. And if you don’t have access to an oven, turn to this rice cooker recipe for help. With a soufflé-like density, Japanese cheesecake is lighter in texture compared to the American version. The cake batter is simply poured into the rice cooker and begins to cook with the push of a button. No more waiting for the cake to set and the results are guaranteed to be perfect!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 60g of milk
- 40g of unsalted butter
- 140g of cream cheese
- 50g of all-purpose flour
- 15g of corn starch
- 6 eggs, yolk and white separated
- ½ tbsp of sugar
Japanese Pancake
Quite possibly the best thing about making pancakes with a rice cooker is that it eliminates any possibility of undercooking or overcooking. Like the aforementioned cheesecake recipe, the pancake batter is left to cook and turned out onto a platter, revealing an Insta-ready golden brown surface. Serve with maple syrup, bananas, and strawberries for a hearty breakfast.
Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups of baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups of milk
- 2 tbsp of sugar
Banana Cake
The unofficial snack of the coronavirus pandemic, the banana cake is now even easier to make with the following rice cooker recipe. Using naturally sweetened bananas, banana cake is a healthier alternative to other sinful delights. For a richer taste, the recipe recommends using ripe bananas. Pair the fluffy cake with a cup of coffee and tea for the perfect midday pick-me-up.
Recipe Ingredients:
- ½ cup of white sugar
- ½ tbsp of baking powder
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- ½ tbsp of baking soda
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- ¼ cup of vegetable oil
- ½ cup of milk
- 2 ripe bananas
Bookmark These Rice Cooker Recipes For Days When You Need A Quick Meal
If there’s one essential household appliance that everyone has in the kitchen, it’s got to be a rice cooker. Although we often use it to make steaming warm rice, the recipes above show endless possibilities. From rice cooker “claypot” chicken rice to fluffy pancakes, you can practically prepare a three-course meal with the ubiquitous machine.
Looking for more recipes that require minimal effort but yield maximum results? Here are more straightforward and simple recipes on pasta, French fries, and cakes.
