Steamed Tomatoes – China Sichuan Food

Have you thought about steaming your tomatoes? Steaming is a traditional Chinese cooking method with a long history in Chinese cuisine. We used to steam vegetables, initially with bamboo steamers, to enhance flavor and boost nutrition. In this post, I will introduce two ways of steaming your tomatoes perfectly. You can even taste the feeling of the sunlight.

With their juicy and natural sweetness, Tomatoes are my favorite ingredient when making stir-frying, stews, and soups. If you love Chinese food, you might already try our tomato and egg stir fry.

Although steamed tomatoes are less famous as stir fry or tomato egg drop soup, they can be something new in your taste experience. You can even taste the sunlight in the soft steamed tomatoes.

Why steaming tomatoes

Compared with raw tomatoes, steamed tomatoes are beneficial from a different perspective. As we all know, fresh tomatoes are a good source of vitamins C, K, and A and several B vitamins. However, there is another essential nutrition called Lycopene. When the tomatoes are well cooked, our body will better absorb the lycopene.

I think steaming also makes the texture slightly different. Compared with raw tomatoes, steamed tomatoes are super soft and juicy, with a stronger sour and sweeter taste because of the heat coming through.

Ways of steaming

The traditional steaming method involves the adoption of a steamer, but there are several ways to steam your tomatoes. Following are two of my favorite ways.

1. Use a traditional steamer- this is the most common option. You can use this method if you want to serve it as a side dish.
2. Steam the tomatoes with steamed rice in a rice cooker- I would call this the new trend among young generations.

Cook’s Note

• Choosing a mature, high-quality tomato is the key tip for a delicious steamed tomato.
• Remove the skin before eating.
• Drizzle some oil, like olive oil, can further enhance the flavor.
• Don’t throw away the juice left in your bowl. That’s one part of the treasure.

Step by Step Instructions

Clean the tomatoes and then cut two lines crossing on the surface.

Transfer the tomatoes to a bowl. Steam for around 10 minutes after the water starts to boil.

Drizzle some olive oil on the surface, and that’s the simplest steamed tomato.

Steam the tomatoes with steamed rice

Wash the rice and place them into a rice cooker.

Next, add the appropriate amount of water to the rice. This step is crucial as the water-to-rice ratio affects the outcome. Generally, the ratio is 1:1 for white rice, but check your cooker’s instructions for the recommended ratio for your specific model.

Then, dig a small hole in the center and place the tomato with cross lines in the hole.

Press rice procedure. Your steamed tomato can be ready with the rice when well-cooked. I love this method most because it is economical, and no steamer will be needed.

When the rice is ready, my favorite way is to peel the skin off, break the tomatoes, and let each grain of the rice absorb the juice and sweetness of the tomatoes.

• tomatoes high quality, mature tomatoes
• olive or other healthy vegetable cooking oil , optional

Steam along with rice in rice cooker

• Wash the rice and place them into a rice cooker.

• Next, add the appropriate amount of water to the rice. This step is crucial as the water-to-rice ratio affects the outcome. Generally, the ratio is 1:1 for white rice, but check your cooker’s instructions for the recommended ratio for your specific model.

• Then, dig a small hole in the center and place the tomato with cross lines in the hole.

• Press rice procedure. Your steamed tomato can be ready with the rice when well-cooked. I love this method most because it is economical, and no steamer will be needed.

Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 292mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1025IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.3mg