Tillie Doyle
Tilapia is a nutritious and simple dish that can be prepared for lunch or dinner. One of the easiest ways to steam tilapia is in a rice cooker, which can also cook rice at the same time, making it a convenient one-pot meal. This method is simple and only requires a few ingredients and one appliance. The trick to successfully cooking tilapia in a rice cooker is to ensure that the fish is placed in the machine with enough sauce or water to cook the flesh evenly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fish | Tilapia |
| Rice | Long-grain white rice |
| Other ingredients | Chicken broth, garlic powder, olive oil, salt, pepper, ginger, celery, soya sauce, sesame oil, etc. |
| Preparation | Scale and wash the fish, rub with salt and let it sit for 15 minutes. Shred celery leaves, finely strip ginger and chop garlic. Put the fish on a plate that fits in the rice cooker. Cook rice and place the fish plate in the upper level of the rice cooker. Add chopped garlic and ginger strips, and pour sesame oil and soya sauce on top of the fish. Let the fish cook in the steam from the rice pot. After 10 minutes, add celery leaves on top of the fish and serve with hot rice. |
What You'll Learn
Preparing the tilapia
Next, season the tilapia with salt and pepper, or any other spices and herbs you like. You can also marinate the fish with a little ground white pepper and salt. If you want to add a sauce, make sure it has at least one cup of liquid to properly cook the fish. You can use Italian, Chinese, or Cajun-style sauces, or simply rub the fish with olive oil, garlic, ginger, or soy sauce.
After seasoning, place the tilapia on a steam-proof plate that fits inside your rice cooker. If your rice cooker doesn't have a steam rack, you can use foil to create a steaming basket. Place the plate of fish inside the rice cooker, and you're ready to start cooking!
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Preparing the rice cooker
Next, you'll want to prepare your spice mixture. This can include garlic, ginger, hot chilli, or any other flavours you wish to add to your fish. You can cook these spices in a little olive oil for a minute or two to bring out their flavour.
Now, you can begin cooking your rice in the rice cooker. Once the rice is cooking, you can start preparing your fish. Season the fish fillets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you like. You can also rub the fish with your spice mixture.
Cover the rice cooker steam rack with foil and place the fish fillets on it. If your rice cooker doesn't have a steam rack, place foil directly on top of the rice and fold up the sides to prevent oil from spilling onto the rice.
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Cooking the rice
To cook rice in a rice cooker, you will need to follow the manufacturer's instructions that came with your appliance. Typically, you will need to measure out your rice and water according to the instructions of your rice cooker and begin cooking the rice in the usual way.
If you are cooking tilapia and rice together, you can place all the ingredients in the rice cooker with the fish on top and cook on the regular setting.
If you are steaming the fish and cooking the rice simultaneously, you will need to watch your rice cooker and wait until there is little visible water in the rice. Then, place your seasoned fish into the steamer basket, and place the steamer basket on top of your rice cooker.
If your rice cooker does not have a steamer basket, you can place the fish directly on top of the rice. Leave the lid on the rice cooker and allow the rice to finish boiling and then steam. This will usually take 10 to 15 minutes, but it may depend on your rice cooker.
If you are not making rice, you can simply put 3 cups of water in the bottom of your rice cooker and steam the fish on top of that.
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Seasoning the tilapia
Firstly, prepare the tilapia fillets by rinsing them under running water to remove any unwanted residue. If you are using frozen tilapia, ensure that it is thoroughly thawed before proceeding. You can also get rid of any strong fishy odour by pouring hot water over the fillets. This step is optional but can enhance the overall taste and aroma of the dish. Once rinsed, gently pat the fillets dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Now, it's time to add some spices and seasonings. Marinate the tilapia fillets with a blend of ground white pepper and salt. You can also include other spices like garlic powder or fresh garlic, ginger, hot chilli, or any other flavours that pair well with fish. If you want to create a more intense flavour, heat some olive oil in a pan and cook the spice mixture on low heat for a minute or two until they turn slightly brown. This process will help to infuse the flavours into the oil, creating a delicious aroma and taste.
After marinating, prepare a steam-proof plate that fits into your rice cooker. Scatter a small amount of shredded ginger in the centre of the plate and then place the tilapia fillets on top. You can also use other herbs like spring onion or celery leaves to create a bed for the fish, adding extra flavour and aroma.
For an extra punch of flavour, you can top the tilapia with a layer of soybean paste, chilli bean paste, or miso paste. Spread the paste evenly over the fillets using the back of a spoon. If you're using soybean paste, scatter the remaining ginger shreds on top for an added zing.
Finally, if you prefer a crispy texture, you can drizzle some olive oil or sesame oil over the tilapia fillets before placing them in the rice cooker. This step is optional but can add a nice golden colour and a subtle aroma to the dish.
Remember, the key to successful seasoning is to experiment and find the flavours that appeal to your taste buds. You can always adjust the amount of spice or seasoning used according to your preference. Happy cooking!
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Steaming the tilapia
Firstly, rinse the tilapia fillets under running water to clean them. If you are using frozen tilapia, make sure to thaw the fillets thoroughly before rinsing. You can also pour hot water over the fillets to get rid of any fishy smell. Then, pat the fillets dry with a paper towel.
Next, season the tilapia with salt and pepper, or any other spices and herbs of your choice. You can also marinate the fish with a little ground white pepper and salt. If you want to add more flavour, you can rub a spice mixture onto the fillets. This can include garlic, ginger, hot chilli, or any other flavours you wish. You can cook the spices in a little olive oil for a minute or two until they turn slightly brown to bring out their flavour.
Now, prepare your rice cooker by filling it with water or broth and placing the rice inside. You can also add vegetables to the rice cooker at this point, but make sure to add more liquid to compensate. Cover the rice cooker steam rack with foil and place the tilapia fillets on it. If your rice cooker doesn't have a steam rack, you can place the foil directly on top of the rice, being careful to fold up the sides to avoid any oil from the fish spilling out onto the rice.
Once the rice is almost done, place the tilapia fillets in the rice cooker. If you are not cooking rice, you can simply put 3 cups of water in the bottom of the rice cooker and steam the fish on top. Close the lid and allow the fish to steam for 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the fillets. The tilapia is cooked when it easily flakes when poked with a fork.
Finally, carefully remove the tilapia from the rice cooker and serve with the rice and vegetables. Enjoy your delicious and healthy meal!
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Frequently asked questions
To steam tilapia in a rice cooker, first wash and scale the fish, then rub it with salt and leave for 15 minutes. Shred some celery leaves, cut some ginger into fine strips and chop some garlic. Put the fish on a plate that fits in your rice cooker, then transfer the plate into the upper level of the rice cooker. When steam appears, add the garlic and ginger on top of the fish, then add some sesame oil and soy sauce. Once the rice is cooked, let the fish sit for 10 minutes, then add the celery leaves and serve.
It depends on the thickness of the fish. A thin fillet may take around 6 minutes, whereas a thicker fillet may take 10 minutes per inch.
You can serve steamed tilapia with rice and vegetables.
You can use garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili, scallions, black bean, soybean paste, or olive oil.
