One-use kitchen appliance? Who likes that!? If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to waste precious kitchen storage space on tools and appliances that only make one thing. A couple of days ago, my friend gifted me a rice cooker. At first, I was mesmerized by how gently it cooked my rice. But then I wondered if I could do more with it. As I explored the cooking options, I was pleasantly surprised by its versatility! It may come as a surprise to you, but you can cook several delightful dishes in it! Curious to know more? Well, you should be! Read on to learn 5 surprising things you can cook in your rice cooker and make it a versatile kitchen appliance!
Also Read: Masalas Going Tasteless? Here Are 5 Ways To Store Spices Properly
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Here Are 5 Surprising Things You Can Cook In Your Rice Cooker:
1. Vegetable Pulao
Did you know that apart from rice, you can also make delicious vegetable pulao in your rice cooker? Simply saute your favourite vegetables in some ghee, cumin seeds, and whole spices directly in the rice cooker. Then add rice, water, salt, and a dash of turmeric for that beautiful colour and let this appliance work its magic! The result? Piping hot, flavorful rice cooked with minimal effort. Plus, since the rice cooker cooks the pulao gently, the vegetables retain their crunch and nutrition while the rice is infused with the aroma of the whole spices! It’s perfect for a one-pot meal on busy evenings!
2. Momo
Who doesn’t love a plate of hot, steamed momos? And guess what? You can easily make them with your rice cooker. Just prepare the momo filling with minced vegetables or meat, and wrap them in thin dough sheets. Fill the rice cooker pot with one inch of water, making sure it doesn’t touch the steamer tray. Next, gently place the wrapped momos on the steamer tray. Turn on the steam function. In around 20 minutes, you’ll have perfectly steamed momos ready to be devoured!
3. Masala Omelette
Yes, you can make a masala omelette in your rice cooker! Whisk together eggs with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, and coriander leaves. Pour this mixture into the rice cooker bowl, add a dash of oil or butter, and close the lid. The gentle heat of the rice cooker will cook the omelette evenly, giving it a soft and fluffy texture. This is a perfect breakfast option, especially when you want to avoid the hassle of stovetop cooking.
Photo Credit: iStock
4. Dal Tadka
If you live alone and can’t find (or didn’t wash!) your pressure cooker, your electric rice cooker can come to your rescue for making dal. It’s super convenient and easy. In your rice cooker pot, add soaked pulses, water, turmeric, and salt, and mix. Let it cook until the dal is soft and mushy. Prepare a tempering using ghee, cumin seeds, garlic, and red chillies. Once the dal is cooked, pour the tadka over it and mix well. And it’s done!
Bonus Tip: Make it a one-pot meal by adding soaked rice with the dal during cooking. In no time, you’ll have a piping-hot bowl of dal rice to dig into!
5. Chocolate Cake
Craving something sweet? Your electric rice cooker can help you make a delicious chocolate cake in no time! Prepare a simple cake batter using flour, cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, and butter. Pour the batter into a greased baking pan (add some chocolate chips too for a burst of flavour!) Add a little water to the pot and steam for about 15-20 minutes. The result is a rich, gooey cake with loads of molten chocolate. It’s an easy dessert you can surprisingly make with your rice cooker!
Also Read: How To Use These 5 Herbs In Your Kitchen For Weight Loss
Can you suggest some other dishes you can cook in your rice cooker? Let us know in the comments below!
