Going to cook lentils the first time? Or are you unfamiliar with the rice cooker? If yes, no worries because we have a detailed guide for you in this article. Therefore, undergo to know How to Cook Lentils in a Rice Cooker.
It is quite tough to choose what you should cook daily and precisely when you have very little time for cooking. In this situation, the best thing to cook is lentil; effortless, quick, yet yummier. Moreover, when you are running a shortage of time, no other more comfortable option is left for you.
Cooking lentils with Zojirushi or Cuckoo cooker is hurrier than ever because it allows you to cook your food speedily without putting any extra attention on your food. Simply throw your lentils in your rice cooker and let your rice cooker make it ready for you on its own. You can enjoy lentils in different ways, try with soups or use in other dishes, like salads, tacos, or simply seasoned and topped with an egg.
Do you want to know the steps about how to cook lentils in a rice cooker? Let’s go through the steps but before that, look at some advantages as well as tips before cooking in the fuzzy logic rice cookers.
Skip the Soak
Don’t wonder if your rice cooker quickly prepares your food because there are many steps that you can skip while you are using a rice cooker. The first thing is there’s no need to soak lentils when you are cooking in the pressure cooker.
It is one of the best benefits of a rice cooker because you don’t need to spend a lot of time waiting for lentils to soak. Furthermore, unlike the stovetop method, you don’t have to worry about monitoring the lentils’ doneness, so they’re firm yet tender every time.
Flavoring or Not
Green or brown lentils are the best to cook in the rice cooker because delicate red lentils turn spongy or shapeless when cooked under pressure.
To vigor up the pot of lentils, you can also add chicken with your lentils and enjoy the broth, too. This chicken broth will add taste to make your salad and dishes yummier as well as flavorsome.
Releasing the Pressure
It is better to let your rice cooker continuously release the pressure when you have used it for 15 minutes.
Ways to Use Your Lentils:
You can use your cooked lentils in many different ways, and the following are those ways.
Recipes that call for Cooked Lentils
- Cheesy Lentil, Mushroom & Rice Bake
- Brown Rice Bowl with Lentils, Caramelized Onions & Fried Egg
- Braised Lentils and Chard Topped with an Egg
- Spiced Lentils with Egg
If your rice cooker is electric, even then no need of getting panic because we have briefed how to how to cook lentils in a rice cooker (electric)
How to Cook Lentils in an Electric Rice Cooker
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 small onion, diced (about 1/3 cup)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cup brown or green lentils
- 2 cups water, chicken, or vegetable broth
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Sauté onions and garlic: Choose the sauté setting on an electric pressure cooker, heat the oil, and add the onion. Cook the onion for 3 minutes almost to make it soft, and then add garlic and cook it for two minutes until you get the fragment.
- Pressure Cook: It’s time to add the lentils, water or broth, and salt into the pressure cooker. Cover the pressure cooker and lock it down for 15 minutes at high pressure.
- Release naturally: After 15 minutes, let your pressure cooker release the pressure naturally to avoid any hassle; it will take almost 10 minutes only. After removing the pressure, turn the steam valve to release any remaining pressure; later, remove the lid away from you. Now, you can taste the lentil and adjust salt or pepper according to your family’s taste. Later, garnish your lentil the way you want and present it to your family.
RECIPE NOTES
- Stovetop pressure cooking: this recipe is specific for cooking lentils in an electric rice cooker, but if you are cooking in a stove rice cooker, then time adjustment will vary.
- Storage: You can store the cooked lentils for five days in the refrigerator and two months in a freezing area but make sure you have stored lentils in an airtight container.