Creative Steaming: Delicious Meals Beyond Vegetables And Rice

Food steamers are a great way to cook healthy and tasty meals. They are versatile and easy to use, preserving vitamins and nutrients better than boiling or microwaving. So, what can you cook in a food steamer? Vegetables are a popular choice, with broccoli, spinach, kale, potatoes, carrots, and peas all steaming well. Root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, retain more flavour and vitamins but take longer to cook. You can also steam fish and shellfish, meat, poultry, and eggs. Rice, pasta, and even cakes and desserts, such as cinnamon apples and chocolate pudding, can be cooked in a steamer too.

Vegetables

When steaming root vegetables, it's important to note that they will take longer to cook than other types of vegetables. For example, whole carrots will take around ten minutes to steam, while a potato may take up to 30 minutes. It's also a good idea to cut larger vegetables into smaller pieces before steaming. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale are said to respond extremely well to steaming, with some people believing it gives them a sweeter taste.

You can also steam frozen vegetables, which is a great way to cook them without them becoming too soft. They will only take a couple of minutes if they are in smaller bite-sized pieces. Summer squash and pumpkins can be steamed whole, which saves a lot of prep work, as they are difficult to chop. When they are cooked, you can simply scoop out the insides. However, if the pumpkin is large, it may be better to chop it before steaming as it could take up to an hour to cook whole.

There are many ways to flavour steamed vegetables. You can add herbs and seasoning directly to the vegetables or the steaming water. A lemon pepper-garlic butter sauce is also a great option to add fantastic flavour to your steamed veggies.

Meat and fish

Steaming is a great way to cook meat and fish, retaining moisture and cooking food faster than in an oven. Here are some tips and tricks for steaming meat and fish to perfection.

Fish

Steaming is a great way to cook fish, helping to retain moisture in the flesh. The cooking time will depend on the size of the fish, but as a general rule, fish is ready when its flesh becomes flaky. For a simple steamed fish recipe, try this: take a fillet of cod or another white fish, such as tilapia, sea bass, hake, or snapper, and place it in your steamer. Steam for around 4-8 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily. Remove the fish from the steamer and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

For a more flavourful dish, scatter the fish with ginger, chilli, and green onions for a quick Chinese steamed fish. You can also add a simple sauce of rice wine, light soy sauce, and sesame oil. For an extra touch, heat some peanut oil in a small saucepan until very hot, and then pour it over the fish and aromatics, creating a sizzling, aromatic finish.

Meat

Meat can also be steamed with great results, especially tender cuts of beef and lamb, which will retain volume and moisture. Tougher cuts of meat are less suitable for steaming. Simply season the meat with herbs and spices, and steam until cooked to your desired level. Steaming is also an excellent way to prepare meat for soups and stews, as it helps to tenderise it.

You can also steam poultry, but it will take a little longer due to the toughness of the meat. It is recommended to use a meat thermometer to ensure the inside of the meat reaches at least 160°F.

Eggs

A food steamer is a versatile and easy-to-use kitchen appliance that can be used to cook a variety of foods, including eggs.

Steaming is a great way to make hard-boiled eggs, as it cooks them more gently and evenly than boiling, resulting in tender whites and easy-to-peel shells. Here's a step-by-step guide to steaming eggs:

• Place a steamer insert into a pot and fill the pot with water until it reaches just below the bottom of the steamer.
• Bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
• Gently place the eggs in the steamer basket. If you want to avoid cracking the eggs, bring the water to a boil first, then turn off the heat and let it cool slightly before adding the eggs.
• Cover the pot and steam the eggs for 6 minutes for soft-boiled eggs or 12-15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
• If you want to serve the eggs cold, prepare a bowl of ice water and immediately transfer the eggs to it after steaming. Let them cool for at least 15 minutes before peeling.
• To peel the eggs, gently tap the shell all over to crack it, then remove the shell under a thin stream of running water.

Steamed eggs are not only easy to prepare, but they're also versatile. You can use them in a variety of dishes, such as:

• Egg salad sandwiches
• Macaroni salad or potato salad
• Green salads, like a chef's salad or Cobb salad
• Avocado toast with egg slices
• Hot sauce and egg bowl

Rice and pasta

Rice

Steaming rice is a great way to cook it perfectly every time. It also preserves the nutritional value and natural flavours of this versatile staple.

Firstly, gather your ingredients and equipment: 1 cup of rice (jasmine, basmati, or any variety), 2 cups of water or broth, a steamer pot or rice cooker with a steaming basket, a fine-mesh sieve or colander for rinsing the rice, a measuring cup and spoon, and a kitchen towel or lid to cover the steamer.

Now, follow these simple steps:

• Rinse the rice under cold water to remove excess starch and prevent it from sticking together.
• Measure 1 cup of rice and place it in the steaming basket.
• Add 2 cups of water or broth to the pot. You can adjust this amount depending on the type of rice and your desired consistency.
• Place the steaming basket with the rice inside the pot, ensuring it sits above the water level.
• Cover the pot with a kitchen towel or lid to create a tight seal, trapping the steam inside.
• Turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low and let the rice steam for 15-20 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Once cooked, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for about 5 minutes. This helps the rice grains to firm up and become fluffy.
• Finally, fluff the rice with a fork or a rice paddle to separate the grains, and serve.

You can adjust the water-to-rice ratio for firmer or softer rice, and experiment with different types of rice to find your favourite. You can also add seasonings, such as salt, herbs, or spices, to the water for extra flavour.

Pasta

A food steamer is a convenient way to cook pasta, especially when preparing a meal for a large number of people. It is also suitable for all types of pasta, including dried or fresh, and noodles of all shapes and sizes.

• Fill the pot of the pasta steamer with water to about 2 inches from the top. This will allow you to submerge the steamer basket without water spilling over.
• Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water. This will season the pasta and help it cook evenly.
• Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil.
• Place your pasta into the steamer basket and lower it into the pot of water.
• Return the water to a boil and cook the pasta for the appropriate amount of time. Fresh pasta will take a few minutes, while dried pasta can take anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes.
• Remove the pasta from the heat when it is tender yet still firm.
• Drain the pasta by lifting the steamer basket out of the water. Run the pasta under cool water to stop it from cooking further.

Using a pasta steamer is advantageous as it allows you to easily drain the noodles without having to lift and empty a heavy pot of boiling water.

Fruit

A food steamer is a great way to cook healthy food. It is a versatile and easy-to-use kitchen appliance that can be used to cook a variety of dishes, including fruit-based ones. Here are some ideas for fruit-based dishes that can be prepared using a food steamer:

Steamed Apples and Pears

Apples and pears can be thinly sliced and steamed for about three minutes or until soft enough to be mashed with a fork. This makes a great healthy dessert option.

Steamed Fruit Compote

A variety of fruits such as apples, pears, plums, and berries can be combined and steamed to create a delicious compote. The fruits can be cut into bite-sized pieces and steamed until tender, resulting in a sweet and healthy treat.

Steamed Fruit Pudding

Steamed Fruit Cake

Steamed Fruit Custard

A steamed custard dessert can be enhanced by adding steamed and pureed fruits like mango, peach, or apricot. The natural sweetness and flavor of the fruit complement the creamy custard, making it a delightful treat.

Using a food steamer for preparing fruit-based dishes is a healthy and convenient option. It helps retain the nutrients and natural flavors of the fruits while also reducing the need for added fats or sugars. So, get creative and experiment with different fruits and combinations to develop your unique steamed fruit recipes!

Frequently asked questions