As the new school year begins, many return to their dorms, while others leave campus and settle into their own rented apartments. It’s the perfect time to explore rice cooker recipes.
The rice cooker is probably one of the first kitchen tools we all own. If you know how to use it well, you can make multiple dishes and even soups with just one pot. But I prefer recipes that fill you up in one go, like today’s fragrant salted egg yolk claypot rice.
After it’s cooked, the aroma of the Chinese sausage spreads, and when you poke the salted egg yolk with your chopsticks, the golden oil seeps into the rice. Stir in the soft, fragrant mushrooms and potatoes, and you’ll have your friends flocking to grab a bite. Before you know it, it’s all gone in a flash. 
Living alone doesn’t mean you can’t eat well.
Salted Egg Yolk Claypot Rice Recipe
Ingredients：
- 10 dried shiitake mushrooms
- 4 Cantonese sausages, sliced
- 1 potato, peeled and cut into small pieces
- Soy sauce (2 tbsp light, 1 tbsp dark)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cooking wine
- 1 small salted duck egg (halved)
- Chinese broccoli (optional)
- Rice (half a pot)
Instructions：
1、Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in water for 1 hour.
2、Slice the Cantonese sausages and cut the potato into small chunks. Slice the soaked shiitake mushrooms.
3、In a bowl, mix together soy sauces, sesame oil, sugar, and cooking wine to make the sauce.
4、Rinse half a pot of rice (Jasmine rice is ideal) and add enough water to cover the rice by about one finger’s width. Cook in the rice cooker on the regular cooking mode for 7 minutes.
5、After 7 minutes, open the rice cooker and layer the shiitake mushrooms, potatoes, and sausages on top of the rice.
6、Cover and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Then add the halved salted egg and Chinese broccoli. Pour the sauce over the top.
7、Cook for another 15 minutes. Once done, the salted egg yolk claypot rice is ready!
Pairing with a Side: Garlic Minced Pork Stuffed Eggplant
Ingredients：
- 150g minced pork
- 2 tbsp cooking wine
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 eggplants, washed and trimmed
- 3 tbsp chili oil
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp minced scallions
- 1-2 fresh chili peppers, sliced (optional)
Instructions：
1、Marinate the minced pork with ginger, cooking wine, soy sauce, and cornstarch for 30 minutes.
2、Cut the eggplants into halves and brush with a little oil. Wrap each piece in foil.
3、Place in a preheated steam oven at 200°C (400°F) for 30 minutes.
4、Heat a pan with a bit of oil and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add the marinated minced pork and cook thoroughly. Add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, chili oil, and a little cornstarch mixed with water to create a thick sauce. Set aside.
5、Take the eggplants out of the oven and open the foil. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, and stuff the minced pork mixture into the hollowed eggplant halves.
6、Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes at 200°C. Once done, sprinkle with fresh scallions and enjoy your garlic minced pork stuffed eggplant!
Final Thoughts
These two recipes, salted egg yolk claypot rice and garlic minced pork stuffed eggplant, are perfect for busy weeknights. They’re simple, flavorful, and filling. Even if you’re cooking for just yourself, you’ll enjoy a hearty meal that’s both easy and delicious!
