How to flavor rice in a rice cooker? (15 ways how)
In this article, we will answer the question “How to flavor rice in a rice cooker?”
How to flavor rice in a rice cooker?
5 classic Japanese ways to flavor Japanese rice in a rice cooker
Furikake
Furikake is a seasoning. It contains dry ingredients such as egg, salmon, seaweed, sesame, salt, and wasabi. There are several variations available. The plus point is that It is very kid-friendly. It comes in packets and all you have to do is sprinkle the seasoning on the rice after cooking the rice in a rice cooker.
Bonito Flakes (Katsuobushi)
Bonito flakes are simply shaved skipjack tuna. These thin shavings are added to soups and toppings in various Japanese dishes. These shavings can be added to rice along with soy sauce. Alternatively, you can stuff them in rice balls(onigiri).
Ochazuke
Ocha means tea in Japanese. It is a great way to repurpose leftover rice. It is served as a dessert or before dessert. It is basically made by pouring tea over steamed rice with grilled fish and umeboshi(pickled plum).
Raw egg
To make Tamago Kake Gohan, raw egg is whipped into warm Japanese rice, and soy sauce is drizzled.
Soy suace and mayonnaise
Soy sauce and mayonnaise, when added to Japanese rice, give the taste of tuna rolls except there is no tuna. For variation, you can add tuna and treat yourself with this tasty flavored rice variation.
5 western ways to flavor Japanese rice
Truffle butter
All you need to do is to top off your rice with ⅓ tsp of butter and some salt. Butter adds a lot of flavors and an earthy aroma to the otherwise plain rice.
Cilantro and lime
Top off your rice by squeezing some fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. Serve this flavored rice as a side dish or with chicken or shrimp. It also makes for a nice addition to a Mexican meal.
Tomatoes
After adding rice and water to the rice cooker, place 1-2 tomatoes along with some salt and chopped garlic for extra flavor. Once the rice is cooked, mash the tomatoes and stir them in the rice.
Olive oil and fresh herbs
After cooking the rice in a rice cooker, add 1-2 tbsps of olive oil and fresh herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, tarragon, and/or sage. Sprinkle some salt and pepper for flavor and serve with chicken, beef, or any other protein.
Broth and your favorite vegetables
Add rice and water to the rice cooker. Then add 1-2 cups of chopped vegetables such as broccoli, celery, onions, and carrots, and stir along with the broth. Set the cooker on a mixed setting. Serve warm.
Other FAQs about Rice which you may be interested in.
Can you cook black rice in a rice cooker?
How long can I leave rice in the rice cooker?
Other flavors
The following recipes can be used for Basmati rice only. If you are using other types of rice, you need to adjust the number of liquids. All you have to do is rinse the rice thoroughly and cook in the rice cooker for 15 minutes with all the ingredients. Let the rice rest for at least 15 minutes before fluffing it up with a fork.
Coconut rice
To make coconut rice, add the following ingredients to the rice cooker.
- 1 ½ cups basmati rice
- 13.5 oz coconut milk (400 mL; full fat)
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups water
Saffron rice
Before making this variation, soak the saffron in ¼ cup of boiling water to extract the flavors in its even dispersal into the rice.
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
- 1 cup salsa
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Mexican inspired rice
This recipe is nothing like traditional Mexican rice. Add the following ingredients in the rice cooker.
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
- 1 cup salsa
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Pesto green rice
To make this Italian-flavored rice variation, you need the following ingredients.
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ¼ cup pesto
- 2 cups stock (veggie or chicken)
- To serve
- fresh basil leaves
- sliced almonds for garnishing
Turmeric yellow rice
To make turmeric yellow rice, you need to put the following ingredients in the rice cooker along with water and rice.
- 1 cup basmati rice (rinsed)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or unsalted butter)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups stock (chicken or vegetable)
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “How to flavor rice in a rice cooker?”
