Candy soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and Thai basil flip a easy pot of rice and tofu into one thing deeply savory, aromatic, and wildly comforting. And the most effective half? This model is totally one-pot pleasant, designed for a Rice Cooker. In case your rice cooker doesn’t have a sauté mode, you’ll do the primary half on the range.

For those who’ve by no means had San Bei earlier than, historically it’s a Taiwanese dish typically referred to as “three cup” as a result of it makes use of three key components in roughly equal spirit: soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine. This model retains the soul of the dish whereas making it plant-based and sensible for busy weeknights. Better of all, you may get pleasure from this simple plant-based meal whether or not you’re vegan or not.

Why This Recipe Works So Properly in a Rice Cooker

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As an alternative of cooking the tofu individually and serving it over rice, the rice cooker lets every thing mingle collectively whereas it steams. The rice absorbs the sauce and aromatics whereas grated tofu stays tender and flavorful (however not mushy!). I designed this recipe to work within the Cosori Rice Cooker (paid hyperlink) which has a sauté mode. But when yours doesn’t have one, you should use the interior pot of your rice cooker on the range high to maintain it “one-pot.”

Just a few issues make this model particularly good:

• Additional-firm tofu shredded utilizing an peculiar field grater supplies loads of protein whereas conserving its chew.
• Garlic and ginger infuse the rice immediately
• Thai basil will get stirred in on the finish for freshness as regular. However making CRISPY Thai Basil initially takes the dish to a different degree.

• Toasted Sesame oil perfumes your entire pot

The outcome lands someplace between a rice bowl, a clay pot rice dish, and a comfortable weeknight casserole.

The Taste Profile

For those who’ve by no means cooked with San Bei flavors earlier than, right here’s what to anticipate:

Candy + Savory

The sauce balances salty soy sauce with a contact of sweetness. Because the rice cooks, the sugars caramelize barely across the edges of the pot.

Toasted Sesame Aroma

Sesame oil is without doubt one of the defining flavors right here. It provides the entire dish that heat, nutty perfume that makes the kitchen scent unbelievable.

Contemporary Herbaceous End

Thai basil added on the finish cuts by the richness and makes the entire dish style vivid and recent as an alternative of heavy.

Deep Umami

The combination of darkish and lightweight soy sauce carry the savouriness. Even with out meat, the dish tastes wealthy and satisfying.

Selecting the Proper Tofu

For this recipe, extra-firm tofu works greatest. It is going to simply shred with a field grater. Then you definitely’ll sauté it first to enhance the feel. Among the water can be evaporated to make room to absorb the sauces.

Rice Cooker Ideas

I’m utilizing my Cosori Rice Cooker (paid hyperlink) each week for this recipe. It has sensors inside so it may modify for moisture, temperature and timing in case your rice to water ratio is a little bit off. Plus it has a sauté perform so I could make the crispy Thai Basil. Then go away within the herb infused oil whereas I sauté the tofu and get up the ginger and garlic as properly. But when your rice cooker doesn’t have that perform, you may nonetheless do these steps on the range.

Use Jasmine Rice for Finest Outcomes

Jasmine rice pairs particularly properly with the fragrant sesame and basil flavors. It additionally provides the completed dish that barely shiny texture.

Add Basil on the Finish

Contemporary Thai Basil wilts completely if you happen to simply fold it into the rice after cooking. This manner retains the recent taste with out overwhelming.

Let It Relaxation

After the rice cooker finishes, fold within the Thai Basil and add the Toasted Sesame Oil. Letting the pot sit for five–10 minutes helps flavors mingle and improves texture.

Simple Variations

The most effective issues about this recipe is how adaptable it’s.

Add Extra Greens

Attempt including:

• Bok choy
• Bell peppers
• Snow peas
• Child spinach

Over the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking, you may pop open the rice cooker lid, add your tender veggies and allow them to cook dinner in there whereas the rice finishes.

Enhance the Protein

You possibly can combine in:

• Shelled edamame
• Soy curls
• Seitan items

Meal Prep & Leftovers

This recipe reheats very properly. In reality, the flavors deepen in a single day, making leftovers particularly good for lunches. Retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4 days.

You may as well divide it into single parts and freeze. The feel of the rice and tofu after thawing and reheating stays nice. Although you might need to crisp up some recent Thai Basil proper earlier than serving to make these leftovers simply pretty much as good as recent.

Why One-Pot Vegan Meals?

I don’t learn about you, however the older I get, the much less I need to wash dishes, fuss with a number of pans or home equipment, and usually the much less fudges I’ve to provide. However I nonetheless need to eat nice meals.

I’m on a mission to make one-pot meals that:

• really feel comforting,
• don’t require six pans,
• really style thrilling,
• and don’t go away the kitchen trying like a catastrophe scene afterward.

San Bei Tofu Rice checks all these packing containers for me. I hope it’ll for you too! Please let me know if you happen to strive it within the feedback beneath or go away a evaluate. Thanks for studying!