Rice is a staple in many Asian homes and we eat rice for dinner almost on a daily basis. A good rice cooker is therefore a necessity. Zojirushi Rice Cookers have been a reliable household name and its rice cookers have always served us well. Zojirushi rice cookers are versatile, durable and its cutting-edge technology is considered the best in the market. Case in point: Zojirushi rice cookers come with controls using microprocessors and software that have been designed to monitor humidity and heat to deliver ideal rice consistently with the perfect taste and consistency each time. So whether it is basmati, brown, or plain white rice grains, Zojirushi rice cookers cook delicious rice every time, bowl after every bowl!
We tried out the Zojirushi i NL-BGQ05 Micom Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker which comes with the following impressive functions:
- Micro computerized Fuzzy logic technology
- Short grain (our usual white rice setting), sushi, congee, long grain (e.g. basmati rice) and brown rice settings
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheat function
- Low energy LCD display with clock and timer feature (for up to 13 hours in advance)
- Detachable inner lid
- 5mm heavy duty non-stick “kuroatsugama” inner bowl
- Spherical inner cooking pan and heating system provide even heating for perfectly cooked rice
- Easy-to-clean clear coated stainless steel exterior
- Built-in retractable power cord
The Zojirushi NL-BGQ05 is a small, compact cooker with an attractive, unique design of a durable clear-coated white and champagne gold exterior. It comes with multi-menu selections which use Micom (micro-computerised) Fuzzy logic technology to control the temperature for the efficient cooking of many different types of rice including short grain (this is the standard white setting), sushi, congee, long grain and brown rice. There is also a quick cooking feature on this model. The micro computer chip inside the rice cooker automatically makes adjustments to temperature and heating time – ensuring perfect rice every time.
For added convenience, this rice cooker has an extra-large LCD display with clock and timer function (for up to 13 hours in advance). I like the nifty feature where a happy tune is tuned when the rice is cooked and it automatically shifts to the ‘keep warm’ mode. The solid 5mm heavy duty non-stick “kuroatsugama” inner bowl and the detachable inner lid make this rice cooker a real good companion in the kitchen.
David, the enthusiastic Master-chef wannabe in our home, used the Zojirushi Rice Cooker to whip up an easy-peasy, delectable Rice Cooker Paella last weekend and the kids polished off every grain in record time. Now, we can have our Paella fix at home. This recipe is definitely a keeper so we decided to share it here as our first installment in the ‘Dad Can Cook Series‘.
Step by step video tutorial to cook Seafood Paella right at home!
The Recipe: Rice Cooker Paella
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of white jasmine rice
- 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 1 bay leaf, crushed
- 1/4 tsp. saffron
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
- 100ml chicken broth
- 500g mussels
- 500g clams
- 500g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas
- For garnishing: chopped parsley and lemon wedges
Method:
- Heat oil in a sauté pan, sweat garlic and onions until lightly browned. Add salt, bay leaf, saffron and paprika.
- Add tomatoes and chicken broth , bring to a boil. Add the mussels and clams.
- Cover and steam 2 minutes then add shrimp and peas.
- When seafood is cooked, strain the cooking liquid into a bowl.
- Place cooked seafood in a large bowl, cover and hold at room temperature while rice is prepared.
To cook in rice cooker:
6. Measure 2 cup of rice and place in inner cooking pan. Rinse rice under water until water clears. Add reserved cooking liquid from step 4 to reach the water scale marked “2”. If more liquid is needed, use chicken broth or water. Cook using the “Mixed” setting.
7. When rice completes cooking, microwave or steam the cooked seafood for a few minutes to heat it up, then add to the cooked rice. (Do not add the seafood to the inner cooking pan, as the shell may scratch the nonstick coating.)
8. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve in warm bowls with lemon wedges.
- 2 cups of white jasmine rice
- 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 1 bay leaf, crushed
- 1/4 tsp. saffron
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
- 100ml chicken broth
- 500g mussels
- 500g clams
- 500g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas
- For garnishing: chopped parsley and lemon wedges
- Heat oil in a sauté pan, sweat garlic and onions until lightly browned. Add salt, bay leaf, saffron and paprika.
- Add tomatoes and chicken broth, bring to a boil. Add the mussels and clams.
- Cover and steam 2 minutes then add shrimp and peas.
- When seafood is cooked, strain the cooking liquid into a bowl.
- Place cooked seafood in a large bowl, cover and hold at room temperature while rice is prepared.
- Measure 2 cup of rice and place in inner cooking pan. Rinse rice under water until water clears. Add reserved cooking liquid from step 4 to reach the water scale marked “2”. Cook using the “Mixed” setting.
- When rice completes cooking, microwave or steam the cooked seafood for a few minutes to heat it up, then add to the cooked rice.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve in warm bowls with lemon wedges.
- Saffron is available at NTUC Finest and Cold Storage Supermarkets.
Tangs is having its annual sale this weekend and there are some good discounts on Zojirushi Rice Cookers there. Do check it out. Stay tuned for our next recipe in the ‘Dads Can Cook’ series.
DISCOUNT CODE:
Quote “LTM_ZOJIRUSHI_2017” at Tangs and Takashimaya to enjoy a flat SGD20 off Zojirushi regular price Micom Rice Cookers ! Readers can just head down to the departmental store and speak to any Zojirushi staff to claim the discount. This code is valid till 6th September 2017. The coupon code is available only at Takashimaya and TANGS and will not be applicable to promotional items.
Mummybean says
Actually, if you’re going to use the rice cooker, won’t it be easier to do everything in it? No need for the sauté pan. Less washing too! Sauté the aromatics in the rice cooker with the lid open, add the washed rice and stir to coat in oil. Then add then broth and tomatoes to cook in the rice cooker the normal way with lid closed. When it’s nearly done, stir in the seafood to cook for another few mins. Maybe that’s the lazy mum’s method. Lol! Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. I’m going to test it out and see how it pans out.
David.S says
Hi Mummybean, cooking the mussels etc…in the saute pan has a few benefits: 1. Able to manage the amount of stock to pour into the rice , 2. Avoid having the shells of the mussels / prawns or other shell fishes scratching the inner surface of the rice pot and 3. Frying the aromatics like the onions and garlic in the saute pan with high heat helps to prevent damaging the inner coating of the rice pot which may not be made for frying these things. If you have a huge pan like what the Spaniards do then that would be ideal. In any case, let me know how the recipe ‘pans’ out at your end! Thanks for your input. Cheers!
Susan says
Wow David you SURE can cook! That seafood paella looks so mouthwatering. And how convienent to use the rice cooker for this.
David.S says
Haha… yes, this has certainly fired-up my love for cooking again! You guys should try this recipe too! Thanks for dropping by!
Shub says
I have a rice cooker with some functions like you mentioned and it really comes handy. The meal you cooked looks very elaborate and healthy. Nice…
David.S says
Thanks Shub! I’m sure you would agree too that a good rice cooker is important to cook our staples right.
Phoebe says
Wow. Food really looks delicious! Have been thinking if I should get a rice cooker as we do not dine at home frequently and has been using our multi – tier steamer to do the job. Looks tempting. Thanks for sharing.
David.S says
No probs! This rice cooker really does the rice right. Let me know how it turns out!
Ai Sakura says
So shiok!!! Can ask your wife to dabao some for me hehehe #notkidding
AI @ Sakura Haruka
Jacqualine says
Wow this paella sure looks good! Soooo many ingredients! You should probably try baking a banana cake in the rice cooker too. I love how mine turns out every time – great for days when I crave for cakes, but lazy to operate the oven.
David.S says
Thanks Jacqueline…I MIGHT just do that! 🙂
Sherly says
Hi, thanks for sharing the recipe. May I know if you’re still using the cooker, and if you do, how is the coating holding on?
David.S says
Hi yes we are still using the cooker! Daily in fact! Due to wear and tear, we have changed the pot and it’s still going strong. Thanks for dropping by!