More things you can do with a steamer basket
Those cute bamboo steamer baskets are great for dumplings and look lovely on the table too, but usually they just gather dust in the cupboard. Or in the storage room, because those things take up an enormous amount of space. Time to keep them on your stove as standard, because you can do so much more with them.
My steamer is my best friend. By now I’ve upgraded from bamboo baskets to a large two-tier aluminium steamer because I steam so much. A huge pan like that costs €20 at the Asian grocery store, but those bamboo baskets are absolutely great too. And if you think steaming is only for health freaks who don’t want to add any fat to their chicken breast, think again.
Fish
One of my favourite recipes is this steamed salmon with black beans. The great thing about steaming fish is that you can add extra ingredients. Place the salmon on a small plate that fits in the steamer, together with Shaoxing rice wine and soy sauce. Once the salmon is steamed, top it with a mixture of spring onion, coriander and finely chopped black beans. Pour sizzling-hot oil over it, making the toppings crackle and become even more flavourful.
Or steam white fish with spring onion and coriander and add a sauce of ginger and soy sauce later. A Cantonese classic that is not only incredibly delicious, but also wonderfully healthy.
Chicken
You can apply the same technique to chicken. With this recipe, you also make a delicious dipping sauce and leave the skin on the chicken. It may not sound appealing to eat chicken skin that isn’t crispy, but when it’s steamed this way, it’s truly delicious.
Egg
Now pay close attention, because this is a brilliant tip for a quick and healthy weeknight meal. That is, if you like custard. All you need to do for a silky savoury egg custard is whisk eggs with a little salt and, optionally, other flavourings. Steam for eight minutes and you’ll have a dream of a meal.
If you want to take it in a Chinese direction, add a splash of Shaoxing rice wine. Prefer Japanese? Then it’s called chawanmushi, and you add mirin and dashi. You can also add shiitake to the ‘batter’, along with minced pork or prawns. Finely slice some spring onion and place it on top, pour hot oil over it (as with the salmon above) and finish with a little soy sauce.
Steamed buns
There they are at last: steamed buns—who doesn’t know them? Delicious with pork belly, duck, shiitake, tempeh or fried prawns. You can hardly walk into an Asian restaurant anymore without seeing them on the menu. And they’re just as easy to recreate at home. Or, well, the filling is; we’re really not going to toil away in the kitchen making the buns ourselves. Just get them from the freezer section of the Asian grocery store.
The predecessor (in the Netherlands, at least) of the steamed bun: bao pao also do very well in a steamer basket. Whether you buy them ready-made or make them completely from scratch.
(Sponge) cake
If you want to steam a cake, you’ll need a larger steamer basket or pan, but it’s worth it. Indonesian roti kukus, Chinese sponge cake or Japanese mushi-pan. Steamed cake has a light texture that is impossible to match.
Vegetables
Did you buy those baskets partly to be healthy? Then steam a whole lot of vegetables! Carrots, potatoes, courgette—you can steam them all. The flavour is better preserved than when you boil them. Personally, I think broccoli and aubergine are the most delicious vegetables to steam. Broccoli needs nothing added, and once it’s ready, sprinkle a generous pinch of sea salt over it.
Jamie Oliver has a very tasty recipe for steamed aubergine in a dressing of soy sauce, chilli sauce, sesame oil and lots of fresh herbs. I bet your guests will be amazed when you make this. Especially since it’s easy peasy.
Reheating
Don’t have a microwave, like me? Then the steamer basket is also perfect for reheating things. The aforementioned bao pao, but also other ready-made items from the Asian grocery store. Bought lemper? Pop it in the steamer basket for a quick warm-up. You can also give rice and pasta a little steam bath to heat them up again.
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