I disliked cooking in a slow cooker because of the extra step of browning the ingredients first in a separate pan. The extra pot to clean up plus the mess on my stove was a chore. For a very long time I watched the new slow cookers coming out with the insert that browned. Reviews were less than good and the prices for some units were more than I wanted to spend.
I finally saw this unit and felt I had found my new kitchen toy. I love it!
I have been using it for several months now. The insert goes directly on the stove top. It browns beautifully and there is no mess on my stove. It slow cooks beautifully, as well and is very easy to operate.
Clean up is a breeze. I made this recipe yesterday and it is delicious. Of course I did the first step in the insert on my gas cooktop.
Wild Rice and Black Walnut Pilaf
Ingredients
1 cup wild rice, well rinsed
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 cup assorted fresh wild mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
2 celery stalks thinly sliced
3 cups chicken stock or water
1/4 cup dried currants or dried cranberries
Salt
1 cup black walnuts, coarsely chopped (I used toasted Pecans)
1/2 cup chopped green onions, green parts only, for garnish (I used the entire green onion)
Instructions
Pilaf
Place the rice in the slow cooker.
Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the butter.
Add the onion, mushrooms, and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes, until soft.
Transfer to the slow cooker and add the water and currants (I used orange flavored dried cranberries.)
Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the rice just starts to burst open
Do not overcook or the rice will get mushy. Season to taste with salt.
Walnuts
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the walnuts for about 10 minutes, until toasted.
Divide the pilaf among plates and serve warm, garnished with the walnuts and green onions.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPENZK0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I finally saw this unit and felt I had found my new kitchen toy. I love it!
I have been using it for several months now. The insert goes directly on the stove top. It browns beautifully and there is no mess on my stove. It slow cooks beautifully, as well and is very easy to operate.
Clean up is a breeze. I made this recipe yesterday and it is delicious. Of course I did the first step in the insert on my gas cooktop.
Wild Rice and Black Walnut Pilaf
Ingredients
1 cup wild rice, well rinsed
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 cup assorted fresh wild mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
2 celery stalks thinly sliced
3 cups chicken stock or water
1/4 cup dried currants or dried cranberries
Salt
1 cup black walnuts, coarsely chopped (I used toasted Pecans)
1/2 cup chopped green onions, green parts only, for garnish (I used the entire green onion)
Instructions
Pilaf
Place the rice in the slow cooker.
Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the butter.
Add the onion, mushrooms, and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes, until soft.
Transfer to the slow cooker and add the water and currants (I used orange flavored dried cranberries.)
Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the rice just starts to burst open
Do not overcook or the rice will get mushy. Season to taste with salt.
Walnuts
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the walnuts for about 10 minutes, until toasted.
Divide the pilaf among plates and serve warm, garnished with the walnuts and green onions.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPENZK0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1