Delicious Add-Ons To Elevate Your Steamed Rice Experience

Steamed rice is a versatile staple food that can be paired with a variety of ingredients to create delicious and nutritious meals. While plain rice can be a bore, there are numerous ways to spice it up and turn it into something extraordinary. Here are some ideas to get you started:

- Cooking rice in a flavorful stock or broth like vegetable, chicken, seafood, or beef broth adds depth of flavor to your dish.

- Vegetables such as diced peppers, carrots, eggplant, spinach, or chard can be added to the rice while cooking, creating a convenient medley of flavors and textures.

- Fresh or dried herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, cilantro, parsley, dill, and tarragon can be incorporated into the rice during cooking, adding aroma and depth of flavor.

- Nuts, seeds, and dried fruits like toasted pine nuts, sesame seeds, walnuts, raisins, or apricots can be mixed into the rice for a Mediterranean or Persian-inspired dish, adding texture and sweet and salty flavors.

- Eggs are a great addition to rice, whether it's a runny yolk fried egg, poached eggs, or scrambled eggs stirred into the rice during cooking for an instant fried rice dish.

- Spices like cinnamon, cloves, anise, garam masala, cumin, and turmeric can be added to the rice to create aromatic Indian or Moroccan-inspired dishes.

- Sauces like pesto, romesco, or gravy can be added to the rice for a savory and decadent touch.

- Vinegar helps keep the rice light and fluffy by removing some of the starch and preventing the grains from sticking together.

- Butter and parmesan cheese, cinnamon and brown sugar, sauteed garlic and mushrooms, or toasted peanuts are simple stir-ins that can easily be added to cooked rice to make it unique and tasty.

Herbs, spices and seasonings

Before cooking

If you are using dried herbs or seasonings, add them to the rice cooker before the rice cycle begins.

During cooking

Add herbs and spices to the water as it boils. This will infuse the water and rice with flavour. You can also add herbs and spices to the cooking oil and fry them before adding the rice and water.

After cooking

It is best to add fresh herbs after cooking, as this will help to maintain their fresh flavour.

• Bay leaves
• Cumin
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Saffron
• Five-spice powder
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Cilantro/coriander
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Dill
• Basil
• Scallions/spring onions
• Star anise
• Sesame
• Lemon grass
• Lemon juice
• Tamarind paste
• Cumin seeds
• Cayenne/chilli powder
• Garam masala
• Curry powder
• Paprika
• Cajun seasoning
• Soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Chinese rice wine
• Furikake
• Bouillon cubes
• Chicken/vegetable/beef stock
• Coconut milk
• Avocado
• Lime juice
• Cheese

Vegetables

There are many vegetables that work well with rice, including broccoli, carrots, celery, zucchini squash, onions, garlic, and dark leafy greens. You can also try bell peppers, leeks, or zucchini for a different flavour.

One simple way to cook rice and vegetables together is to use a saucepan with a steamer insert. You can cook the rice in the saucepan and steam the vegetables in the insert above it. You can also use a rice cooker with a steaming basket, adding water to the rice cooker and placing the vegetables in the basket. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a heat-proof colander instead.

When steaming vegetables, cut them into bite-sized pieces and place them in a single layer in the steamer basket or colander. For firmer vegetables like carrots, steaming will take longer than for softer vegetables like zucchini. You can also add frozen vegetables directly to the steamer without thawing them.

If you're looking for a specific recipe, try this one:

Vegetable-Spiked Rice

Use half water and half salsa, carrot, or tomato juice to cook the rice. This adds flavour, colour, and nutrients. You can also sauté onions and peas in a skillet with a little oil and mix them into steamed rice.

For a simple, healthy, and tasty meal, steamed rice and vegetables are a great option.

Nuts, seeds and dried fruits

Adding nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to your rice is a great way to give it a texture boost and a sweet and salty flavour. Here are some ideas for nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to add to your cooked steamed rice:

Mediterranean Rice

Stir in toasted pine nuts and dried currants or cranberries to your rice for a sophisticated side dish.

Moroccan Rice

Combine rice with a rich medley of nuts, such as cashews, almonds, and pine nuts, along with orange peels and currants to achieve nutty sweetness.

Persian Jeweled Rice

Prepare fragrant basmati rice with "jewels" of fried currants, apricots, and berries, along with nutty almonds and pistachios. This combination results in a beautiful and deliciously complex rice dish.

Brown Rice with Walnuts and Raisins

Pair earthy brown rice with toasted walnuts and dried fruit for a hearty and nutritious meal.

Sesame Seeds

Add a handful of sesame seeds to your rice to enhance its nutty flavour.

Eggs

Adding eggs to cooked steamed rice is a great way to elevate your meal with a boost of protein. Here are some ways to prepare eggs with steamed rice:

Tamago Kake Gohan (Japanese-Style Egg Rice)

Tamago Kake Gohan, or TKG, is a Japanese comfort dish that is simple to make and highly customizable. To prepare, place about a cup of cooked rice in a bowl and make a shallow indentation in the center. Break an egg into the center and season with a drizzle of soy sauce, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of MSG or Hondashi (optional). You can also add mirin for some sweetness. Stir vigorously with chopsticks until the egg becomes pale yellow, frothy, and fluffy. For an extra indulgent touch, sprinkle with furikake and add an additional egg yolk on top.

Fried Rice with Eggs

A classic way to incorporate eggs with steamed rice is to make fried rice. You can scramble an egg in a pan and then mix it with your steamed rice, or cook the egg while the rice is still in the pan. For the latter method, finish cooking the rice, spread it out in the pan, and then break an egg or two on top, keeping the burner off and the lid closed. You can also add some soy sauce for extra flavor. This method may result in a steamed rather than fried egg, and it may be challenging to get the desired level of doneness for the egg.

Other Ideas

• If you're making rice in a pot, try toasting the dry rice grains in butter or olive oil before adding water to bring out their flavor and add a nutty note to the finished dish.
• Cook your rice with chicken or vegetable broth, or a mix of broth and water, for added flavor and richness.
• Season the rice with herbs, spices, and seasonings like bay leaves, cardamom, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon, thyme, oregano, or garlic powder.

Sauces

Rice is a versatile staple food that can be paired with a variety of sauces to create delicious meals. Here are some mouth-watering sauce options to elevate your steamed rice:

BBQ Sauce

Add a burst of flavour to your rice with BBQ sauce, which typically combines sweet, sour, smoky, and spicy notes. It pairs well with grilled dishes, such as BBQ chicken or beef kabobs, and can be drizzled over rice for a flavourful kick. You can easily make your own by whisking together ketchup, light brown sugar, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar.

Gochujang Sauce

Gochujang, a staple in Korean cuisine, is perfect for those who enjoy a spicy kick. It can be used to make homemade kimchi or added to fried rice for a flavourful punch. Try it with soy sauce and eggs for a quick and tasty meal.

Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is a classic that pairs well with a variety of rice dishes. From Mediterranean rice cups to breakfast casseroles, this sauce adds a tangy twist to your meal. Make your own by chopping and grating tomatoes, then heating them with salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, and basil.

Buffalo Sauce

While typically associated with wings, buffalo sauce is a versatile condiment. Try it with breaded chicken tenders or in a rice bowl for a spicy and tangy treat. Making your own is easy—simply mix hot sauce, butter, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.

Sriracha

Add some spice to your rice with sriracha, a popular hot sauce. It pairs well with nutty brown rice and can be the perfect addition to a salmon bowl or BLT bowl. If you're feeling adventurous, add diced avocado to the mix for a creamy twist.

Gravy

For a hearty and savoury option, gravy is a versatile sauce that complements a range of meat dishes. Try it with a Hawaiian loco moco for a flavourful experience.

Stir-Fry Sauce

Stir-fry sauce, typically containing soy sauce, sherry or cooking wine, vinegar, cornstarch, sugar, and garlic, adds a punch of umami to your rice. It's perfect for infusing flavour into meat and vegetable stir-fries, and its thick consistency ensures your rice is well coated in flavour.

Sichuan (Szechuan) Sauce

This sauce, originating from China's Szechuan region, offers a combination of spicy, savoury, and sweet flavours. It typically includes soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, chilli sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, and crushed red pepper flakes. Pour it over stir-fried meats and vegetables, and serve them on a bed of rice for a tasty treat.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

This sauce, commonly associated with Asian cuisine, offers a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavours. Drizzle it over steamed rice or use it as a dipping sauce for egg rolls and spring rolls. You can also add it to chicken, pork, or beef for a flavourful twist.

Asian Barbecue Sauce

For a unique twist on traditional barbecue sauce, try Asian barbecue sauce. It combines hoisin sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, and Chinese five-spice powder. This sauce is less smoky than its American counterpart, making it a perfect pairing for fried rice or rice bowls.

Peanut Sauce

For a creamy and nutty option, peanut sauce is a delicious choice. It typically includes peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, chilli spices, and water. You can adjust the spice level to your preference. This sauce is perfect for fried rice or as a dressing for rice salad bowls.

Curry

Curry is a beloved combination with rice, especially in Indian cuisine. With a range of spice levels and flavours, from spicy red curry to mild yellow curry, there's a curry sauce for every taste. Try it with basmati or jasmine rice for a flavourful and aromatic meal.

Frequently asked questions