Steamer - Recipe Ideas

[thetapeworm]

I went to a little Chinese street food stall last week and bought some really tasty (electrically rather than bamboo) steamed dumplings... then a few days later I bought the same steamer on impulse.

I didn't need a steamer, my wife has told me for years we don't need a steamer. She's right.

Now I have one.



Apart from cooking frozen Chinese delights and maybe some basics I'm not sure what to use it for in order to justify it, do any of you have one in regular service and what are your go-to recipes or items that benefit from being steamed?

Are there any good cook books / websites I should look for?

In hindsight I probably should have gone with the deep fat fryer she said I couldn't buy instead

[ambuletz]

Steamed fish with ginger and soy (plenty of videos on youtube). There's also a variant where after steamed you pour on sizzling hot oil over the ginger/garlic/chillies.

If you really want to try something different you could always try the unique steamed cheeseburgers that originate from conneticut. (again, just check youtube, george motz is the one to look for)

[thebraketester]

ambuletz said:

Steamed fish with ginger and soy (plenty of videos on youtube). There's also a variant where after steamed you pour on sizzling hot oil over the ginger/garlic/chillies.

If you really want to try something different you could always try the unique steamed cheeseburgers that originate from conneticut. (again, just check youtube, george motz is the one to look for)

Is that the same as a Cleveland Steamer?

[sherman]

Bao, Gyoza, spring rolls, wontons
Asparagus is just coming into season
Suet dumplings to go with stew
Hot dogs and their buns
Could you do a steamed pudding in one

[dapprman]

I use mine (Chinese 8" bamboo baskets) virtually every Sunday for Frozen dimsum, however for Burns Night I cook a haggis in mine (I have an old, failed basket with the slats removed that acts as a height extension ring), I also used to steam puddings in mine (again normally just once a year, a sale reduced X-Mas pudding for friends on New Years Eve (bit of a tradition)).

[Arkose]

Steamed "sticky" (Thai Glutenous Rice) rice is a good one!

just soak it for an hour or so, drain and whack it in the steamer to cook!

[vaud]

Salmon or cod is nice steamed. If you get your ingredient timing right then you just add the layers at the right time.

I have a French favourite - layer of diced potatoes, layer of lightly shredded green or red cabbage (and I hate cabbage) and then whole, very garlicky toulouse sausages. As the sausages cook their juices go into the cabbage and the potatoes. Though you don't need a steamer to do this.

[thetapeworm]

Thanks everyone, some great suggestions here.

[Lotobear]

Mrs Loto is Nepali so the FiL used to regularly make these in a steamer and bloody lovely they are:

http://nepalrestaurant.co.uk/how-to-make-momos-nep...

[AndyAudi]

ambuletz said:

Steamed fish with ginger and soy (plenty of videos on youtube). There's also a variant where after steamed you pour on sizzling hot oil over the ginger/garlic/chillies.

Came here to suggest this, I love it.
Smoked fish like haddock especially- I believe the steam means less smell throughout the house too.

Veg is great, brocoli especially

Surprise hit for me is mushrooms though I guess cause of the steam, the moisture doesn’t leave them as per other cooking methods & they are plump & juicy.

[MesoForm]

Vast majority of the veg I've cooked in the past 20 years has been in a hobtop steamer, makes the timings so much easier without waiting for things to come to the boil, less hobs to use for multiple types of veg, less washing up, etc.