There is a moment when your kids start getting interested in cooking. It could happen at an early age of 5, or when they feel independent at 15. Whatever the age, this is a good opportunity to teach them funny and simple recipes with safe cooking techniques.
The big question is which recipe would be the best to start. You may choose ingredients that are easy to handle and cook, so if they fear a bit of the process, the way you present the recipe will make them feel confident.
A good starting point is to use a staple food, so you can show your kids different types of recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even for snacks. The preferred staple is rice, easy to cook, handle, and with countless recipes to use with.
First steps
Rice is a humble ingredient with a blank flavor; it can be used as the main component in salty and sugary dishes, even for drinks. It is also perfect to pair with a lot of other ingredients and get delicious meals quickly and effortlessly.
To get started, explain the different ways of cooking rice: stovetop, oven, microwave, and rice cookers. Do not forget to keep reminding them how easy it is to prepare rice and all the meals you can make with it.
The traditional way of cooking rice is on the stovetop and maybe this is the way they have seen you preparing it. But since it involves the use of the stove, and they do not have enough confidence yet, it would be better to teach them how to cook rice in the microwave.
They will be really surprised to discover they can cook, and not only reheat, in a microwave. Your first lesson would be showing them how quick and easy rice can be cooked. If you focus on these two aspects, your kids will gain more confidence each time.
First, prepare simple white rice with the instant version of it in the microwave. Your kids will find out that in just a few minutes, they will have something to eat. Give them easy-to-follow and clear instructions; you can list the steps for better understanding:
- Prepare all ingredients.
- Use a microwave-safe bowl.
- Empty instant rice in the bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of water.
- Mix very well.
- Set heating time on High for 2 minutes.
- Carefully take the rice out of the microwave.
- Let rice stand for some minutes.
- Serve.
Fearless kids with some rice recipes
Once they understand that microwaves actually work for cooking meals, and that they can make rice so fast with no effort, they will get rid of any fear and ask you for more recipes. In the future, they will be the ones to give you some ideas for creative rice dishes.
At this point, they know how to cook rice as a side dish. The next step would be teaching some base-rice dishes, like one-pot meals in the microwave. Introducing slowly more ingredients and extra instructions will allow your kids to be more audacious in the kitchen.
Among all rice-based dishes, fried rice is a good option. Everybody loves this dish, and your kids are not the exception. Besides, if you are in a full cooking lesson, use the white rice you just taught them to prepare.
Fried rice is very easy to make in a few simple steps, and if you include eggs, it turns into a complete meal. Look for your fried rice with egg recipes and let your kids prepare dinner for tonight.
Tasty fried rice with egg
Ingredients (2 servings)
- 1 cup of cooked instant white rice.
- 1 Egg.
- 2 tablespoons of frozen peas.
- ¼ cup of diced carrots.
- 1 tablespoon of chopped onions.
- 1 tablespoon of diced red peppers.
- ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- ½ teaspoon of soy sauce.
- ½ teaspoon of sesame oil.
Preparation:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, incorporate cooked rice, frozen peas, carrots, red peppers, and onions. Also incorporate soy sauce, garlic powder and sesame oil.
- Mix well all ingredients.
- Make a small hole in the middle of the rice and vegetable mixture.
- Beat the egg in another bowl, and pour it into the hole.
- Cover the bowl with a lid.
- Set the heating time on Medium and cook for 5 minutes.
- Carefully take the rice out of the microwave.
- Serve hot.
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