This has been a cruelly hot summer. Particularly and most especially in the
city. Steaming pavements, blazing sun,
heat-headaches and the sticky lethargy that comes upon you when you feel like
you are trapped in an oven. The slow
roast…that’s what this summer has been. It
is driving people bananas and electricity bills sky-high.
city. Steaming pavements, blazing sun,
heat-headaches and the sticky lethargy that comes upon you when you feel like
you are trapped in an oven. The slow
roast…that’s what this summer has been. It
is driving people bananas and electricity bills sky-high.
Which is why we have been escaping to the beach every
chance we get. Lovely beaches aplenty are
one of the many perks of living on a tropical archipelago, specifically one near
the equatorial belt. Yes, the heat can
be debilitating, and the monsoons can drive you mad. We don’t have four distinct seasons either, so I
have never experienced a white Christmas, or a golden autumn.
chance we get. Lovely beaches aplenty are
one of the many perks of living on a tropical archipelago, specifically one near
the equatorial belt. Yes, the heat can
be debilitating, and the monsoons can drive you mad. We don’t have four distinct seasons either, so I
have never experienced a white Christmas, or a golden autumn.
But the beaches…ah, yes. No matter how hot it gets (and believe you
me, it gets scorching, fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk hot), having my toes in the
sand, ice cold beer in my hand, or just floating on my back in the sea, letting
the gentle waves rock me this way and that…this still makes me feel like I am the
luckiest girl ever.
me, it gets scorching, fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk hot), having my toes in the
sand, ice cold beer in my hand, or just floating on my back in the sea, letting
the gentle waves rock me this way and that…this still makes me feel like I am the
luckiest girl ever.
It does not, admittedly, make for the best environment
for cooking. Fortunately, another perk
of living in this particular tropical archipelago, is the presence of a rice
cooker in ever home. Toss everything in,
plug, power on, and scuttle back into a/c.
for cooking. Fortunately, another perk
of living in this particular tropical archipelago, is the presence of a rice
cooker in ever home. Toss everything in,
plug, power on, and scuttle back into a/c.
Rice Cooker Mushroom Rice
- Roughly 3 1/2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 40 grams dried oyster mushrooms
- 120 grams Chinese sausage (about 3 pieces), sliced on the
diagonal - 300 grams brown rice
- 3 cups liquid (water or the mushroom liquid)
- 5-6 stalks green onions, sliced (white and light green
parts only)
– Bring the water to a boil.
Place dried mushrooms in a heatproof bowl. When water comes to a boil, pour over the
mushrooms. Set aside.
Place dried mushrooms in a heatproof bowl. When water comes to a boil, pour over the
mushrooms. Set aside.
– Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, sugar, and sesame
oil is a small bowl and set aside.
oil is a small bowl and set aside.
– When the mushrooms have softened and the water has
cooled down a bit (not completely cool but not quite boiling hot anymore),
drain the mushrooms but make sure to save the liquid.
cooled down a bit (not completely cool but not quite boiling hot anymore),
drain the mushrooms but make sure to save the liquid.
– Measure out into your rice cooker bowl the rice, 3 cups
of the mushroom liquid, the mushrooms, the sausage, and the sauce mixture. Mix well.
Cover the rice cooker and set to cook.
of the mushroom liquid, the mushrooms, the sausage, and the sauce mixture. Mix well.
Cover the rice cooker and set to cook.
– When the rice is done, sprinkle in the green onions,
fluff the rice, and cover once more on the “keep warm” setting for a further
10-15 minutes.
fluff the rice, and cover once more on the “keep warm” setting for a further
10-15 minutes.
– Remove the rice from the cooker and serve in bowls.
I remember the first time I read that many consider the
rice cooker a “single use” non-necessity.
Single use?? For Filipinos, that “single
use” is one of the most basic and necessary uses we have in our kitchen. For a culture that cooks a batch of rice almost once a day (sometimes more!) the rice cooker gets more work than many other “multiple
use” appliances. That being said, we
sometimes fail to look beyond this single, yet ever so important, use. You can use the rice cooker for many other
things as well. You can make oatmeal and
quinoa in it. I’ve even cooked pasta in
it. And, like this dish, you can make
many a one-pot meal.
rice cooker a “single use” non-necessity.
Single use?? For Filipinos, that “single
use” is one of the most basic and necessary uses we have in our kitchen. For a culture that cooks a batch of rice almost once a day (sometimes more!) the rice cooker gets more work than many other “multiple
use” appliances. That being said, we
sometimes fail to look beyond this single, yet ever so important, use. You can use the rice cooker for many other
things as well. You can make oatmeal and
quinoa in it. I’ve even cooked pasta in
it. And, like this dish, you can make
many a one-pot meal.
I used the dried oyster mushrooms here from the giveaway
I had a while back. I wanted to feature
a recipe that used them so Sweet Tooth, my lucky winner, could get some
ideas. These dried ones have a stronger and more intense taste than the fresh oyster mushrooms, but do need more liquid, and a longer cooking time, to cook
properly. Soaking them, as I have done
here, and then cooking them with the rice, really plumps them up and infuses
them with all the flavors in the dish.
They would also work very well is stews and braises.
I had a while back. I wanted to feature
a recipe that used them so Sweet Tooth, my lucky winner, could get some
ideas. These dried ones have a stronger and more intense taste than the fresh oyster mushrooms, but do need more liquid, and a longer cooking time, to cook
properly. Soaking them, as I have done
here, and then cooking them with the rice, really plumps them up and infuses
them with all the flavors in the dish.
They would also work very well is stews and braises.
If I am lucky enough to have some Chinese
goose liver sausage on hand I would use that instead of regular Chinese
sausage. I like to serve this with some sliced omelet on the side. You can also toss a nice
handful of frozen peas in before cooking.
C likes to have it generously laced with sriracha, which I also highly
recommend.
goose liver sausage on hand I would use that instead of regular Chinese
sausage. I like to serve this with some sliced omelet on the side. You can also toss a nice
handful of frozen peas in before cooking.
C likes to have it generously laced with sriracha, which I also highly
recommend.
We are, once again, off to the beach tomorrow! To escape the city heat but also to make the
most of our last month of summer. We
will be with my mom’s family, a crazy bunch that I love to bits. Little C, who has become quite the island
girl, as is her birthright, has been asking us every morning this week for “beach”
and “sand”. So I bid you good night and a happy weekend, whatever the weather
may be like where you are!
most of our last month of summer. We
will be with my mom’s family, a crazy bunch that I love to bits. Little C, who has become quite the island
girl, as is her birthright, has been asking us every morning this week for “beach”
and “sand”. So I bid you good night and a happy weekend, whatever the weather
may be like where you are!
I love mushrooms! This seems to be an easy enough dish I can try to prepare, maybe even surprise the hubby! =)
Very tasty looking mushroom rice. I am a mushroom fanatic. Loves all dishes with it…..drooling….. =)
i love it that you are using the rice cooker like it's a slow cooker haha. i love the radiant color of your mushroom rice.
have fun in the beach. i still can't get over the fact that i didn't go to any of the beaches while i was there for 6 weeks so im jealous haha.
enjoy,
malou
nice idea.. thanks for sharing.
So far our summer has been non existent although I'm just hearing on the news that the temperatures are getting higher as of today so we might have good weather at last. Love this dish!! We don't have a rice cooker but I still think I can definitely make this!
Hi! I love mushrooms, and I just bought some yesterday! I must try this recipe.
Great unique way to use a rice cooker. I love all the flavors you have here, Joey! Must try your recipe. Thanks for sharing! Take it easy & hope it cools down soon over in Manila!
Ooh! Your mushroom rice looks utterly scrumptious – and given how evenings have become rather chilly and rainy of late, it'd make a satisfying supper.
Woo…this is so yummy. With similar method, I usually cook pumpkin rice or long bean rice. Mushroom always is one of the main ingredients too. But I like to stir fry all the ingredients for a short while before transfer them to rice cooker. 🙂
Hi Berto and Kwala! Very very easy! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Hi Raquel! I love mushrooms too! 🙂
Hi Malou! As if we need more ways to use it (just keeping up with our rice consumption is keeping it busy!)! It is really so versatile 🙂 When were you here?? We have just been going to the ones closeby 🙂
Hi Anonymous person! Thank you 🙂
Hi Simone! I wish this summer wasn't so hot! Over here we cook rice everyday so the rice cooker is a big help!
Hi Macky! Hope you like it! Looove mushrooms 🙂
Hi BettyAnn! It's so hot you can't believe! I love this Asian type blend of flavors as well…I use it in so many things!
Hi Midge! Where are you?? Send me some chill!!
Hi love cooking! Will try that next time 🙂
oh yes, i remember those summer scorchers! that's one thing i DON'T miss about living there! though, i do miss all our sparkling beaches…haaay…
thanks for sharing this recipe! i have a pack of Chinese sausages in my fridge, so it's time to cook 'em!
Set it and forget it. Rice cooker rules. 🙂
i really like mushroom but i have never tried cooking it with rice. i like how it came out. delicious
I'd trade the beaches for the snow…in a heartbeat! 🙂 Bring along the food of the sea and this dish! yummy!
This looks like an easy meal – and delicious!
Thank you for sharing this!
I've tried a similar recipe which I got from a chinese grandma blogger. It was good but her recipe involved way too many steps. Your recipe is simpler but is probably just as yummy 🙂
Hi Jen! This has been such a hot summer! It’s starting to rain now but still hot during the day…enjoy your Chinese sausage!
Hi Dexie! Love that!!
Hi Kellensue! It is great with rice…we are rice veterans over here (in the Philippines), rice with almost every meal! 🙂
Hi Mirage! I wouldn’t mind some cold weather now though…even with the rains starting it is still HOT!
Hi Chocolate Shavings! Very easy! 🙂
Hi Mama Mia! I want to have a Chinese grandma blogger friend too! Well, I don’t know if it can be yummier than something from a Chinese grandma but it is delicious…and very easy 🙂
looks scrumptious 🙂
question: your 300g of rice comes up to about how many cups? of uncooked rice?
Hi Unknown…the 300 grams is uncooked.
This photo is won-der-ful! Even if it's 6:30pm and it is still a sunny day here in Italy, I feel like eating it now!
Nice one! Thanks!