One cooking technique that stands out for its ability to maintain products' natural flavours and nutrients is steaming, a gentle process that transfers heat to food through vapour. Vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients are preserved during the process, which entails cooking without coming into direct touch with water. Explore the world of steaming as we reveal the delicious foods that bring out their best when cooked in this way.
Leafy Greens
To keep their bright colours, crunchy texture, and nutrient content, steam leafy greens like spinach, fenugreek, and collard greens. After washing the greens, put them in a steamer basket and cook for a few minutes, or until they are soft but colour remains. This approach is perfect for people who are concerned about their health because it keeps nutrients from being lost.
Eggs
Whatever texture you're going for—soft-boiled, medium-boiled, or hard-boiled—simply steam the eggs. After steaming for the specified amount of time, cool the eggs by submerging them in cold water. To prevent overcooking and ensure consistently creamy yolks, steaming is the way to go.
Chicken
Steaming chicken ensures a juicy and tender result. Marinate the chicken with your preferred spices, place it in a steamer, and cook until it reaches the desired doneness. Steaming keeps the meat moist while allowing it to absorb the flavours of the marinade, creating a succulent and healthy dish.
Seafood
Steaming seafood, such as fish or shellfish, preserves its delicate flavour and texture. Season the seafood with herbs and spices, place it in a steamer, and let it cook until it becomes flaky and opaque. Steaming seafood is a quick and efficient method that highlights the natural taste of the fresh seafood without overpowering it with excessive seasonings.
Apples
You can use steamed apples in everything from baby food to sweets because of how flexible they are. Preparing apples for steaming is as easy as peeling, coring, and slicing them. Apples are perfect for purees, compotes or even just a little steaming to soften them up and keep their natural sweetness. They're also great on top of muesli or desserts.
Dumplings
No matter the filling, steaming dumplings makes them fluffy and tender. To make dessert dumplings or dim sum, simply place the dough or batter in a steamer and allow the steam to cook it. The dough or filling will remain tasty and fulfilling, and the exterior will be soft, thanks to this cooking method.
Rice
When you steam rice, it creates a wonderfully light and airy texture, with each grain standing apart from the others. Make sure to rinse the rice really well, then put it in a steamer basket or tray and let it steam until it's completely cooked. Many Asian cuisines often steam rice instead of boiling it, which gives it a unique texture and is a widely adopted cooking method.
Broccoli
When you steam broccoli, you can quickly and efficiently cook this healthy vegetable while keeping its vibrant green colour and preserving its nutritional value. To prepare the broccoli, simply place the florets in a steamer basket. Steam them until they reach the desired level of tenderness, maintaining their crispiness. Once ready, serve and enjoy! When you steam broccoli, it keeps its antioxidants and vitamins intact, making it a healthy and nutritious choice for a side dish.