Rice Cooker Stars in Pantry Meals

By David Hu

Last week was Pantry Week on Special Fork and I shared some of my favorite tips and tricks for what to stock in your pantry. One thing I didn’t mention is my trusty rice cooker. A rice cooker is key to effectively using rice, a go-to pantry staple, since it cooks your rice for you while you make the rest of the meal.

So with that in mind, we’ve been running a Zojirushi rice cooker sweepstakes that ends this week (Sunday Oct 21, 2012). It’s not too late to get in on the action. Click here to enter.

Here are a few of the features of the Zojirushi MICOM Rice Cooker & Warmer that I’m really excited about:

• Fuzzy logic: This rice cooker is intelligent – it adjusts rice cook times based on what type of rice is being cooked, making perfect rice every time. Genius!
• A variety of settings: There are special settings for white rice, sushi rice, quick, mixed rice, porridge, sweet rice and brown rice.
• Does everything but the dishes: The cooker can double as a steamer, make oatmeal or porridge, and even bake cakes.
• 13 hour timer: The timer means that you can have hot rice ready when you come home from work or hot oatmeal when you wake up in the morning.
• Reheat function: Better than microwaving – the rice cooker will bring the rice back to the best temperature for eating.

So now that you’re pumped up to make rice, here’s an easy recipe to dress up your rice.

To get the recipe and shopping list on your smartphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android device) or PC, click here.

Easy Herbed Rice

2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh dill
2/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
2 cups raw rice, cooked and kept warm

1. In a small skillet, melt butter. Add onion and salt and sauté until onion is tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Turn off heat, stir in dill, almonds and salt into the butter mixture. Toss butter mixture with hot cooked rice. Makes 6 servings.

Variations:

• Substitute another fresh herb, such as parsley or basil.
• Instead of almonds, try toasted pine nuts.
• Add currants or raisins to the rice mixture for a sweet, tangy flavor.
• Cook rice with reduced sodium chicken broth instead of water; use less salt in the butter mixture.

Note: To toast sliced almonds: Spread in an ungreased baking pan. Place in 350ºF oven and bake 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant; stir once or twice to assure even browning. Note that almonds will continue to roast slightly after removing from oven.

Special Fork is a recipe website for your smartphone and PC that solves the daily dinnertime dilemma: what to cook now! Our bloggers blog Monday through Friday to give you cooking inspiration. Check out our recipe database for quick ideas that take no more than 30 minutes of prep time. Join the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Related posts:

1. What’s in your Pantry?
2. What to Cook? Pantry to the Rescue!
3. Make an Easy, One-Skillet Meal
4. Some Quick Meals to Survive the Holiday Frenzy
5. Resolution: Clean Pantry

Comments

[rice cooker]

Thanks for exploring the great use of rice cooker. I am also using rice cooker and i can understand how significant is it for our kitchen.