When I think of steaming, I picture a basket of bright green veggies or a silky fillet of fish. Those are some of the easiest things to steam, sure.
But I've rounded up 17 recipes that show this humble technique can do so much more. From desserts to dumplings to impossibly tender cakes, I'm about to show you a whole new side of steamy deliciousness.
1. Steamed Rice
I can't believe rice didn't pop into my head when I was rattling off classic steamed foods earlier. Rice is basically the poster child for steaming, and all it takes is rice and water.
Once it's done, I love to dress it up a bit. Personally, I'm a total sweet rice person.
2. Steamed Cabbage
Steamed cabbage takes a touch more patience than spinach, around 20 minutes total cooking time, but it's every bit as tasty. I find it makes a really appetizing side dish with a few tablespoons of butter, garlic, salt, and pepper, finished with a sprinkle of dried parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
3. Steamed Pears with Rock Sugar
If a scratchy throat and cough tend to find you every fall or winter, tuck this recipe into your memory. It's sweet, fruity, and delicious enough to double as dessert.
Yet in Chinese tradition, it's also used for cough relief. You can prepare this by boiling or steaming, but I much prefer the steamed version because it turns out extra syrupy and soothing.
4. Steamed Vegetables
Let's just get the most obvious one out of the way first, shall we? I'm handing you a couple super simple paths: zap them in the microwave or cook them on the stovetop.
And if you've got a steamer basket, that's an easy third option. The best part? You get to pick whatever veggies you're in the mood for.
5. Tamales
I know! I know!
Tamales take a fair amount of work and a good chunk of time. Still, I firmly believe the final result is worth every single bit of effort. If you don't have all day to fuss, though, this steamed tamales recipe is exactly what you need.
6. Steamed Carrot Cake
When I dream about cake, I usually picture a hot oven and the phrase "bake a cake." But this lovely carrot cake will never even flirt with an oven. Instead, you'll steam it right on top of the stove. It delivers that classic carrot cake flavor you know and most of us adore, only it turns out infinitely softer and more tender.
7. Steamed Broccoli
The thing I love most about steamed broccoli is how ridiculously easy it is. It takes 15 minutes and nothing but your broccoli and some water.
Sure, you can add salt, pepper, and herbs if you feel like it, but you honestly don't need a thing to make this a delicious side. Broccoli also hangs onto most of its flavor after steaming, which is always a big win.
8. Steamed Potatoes
Potatoes are one of those magical foods that taste incredible no matter how you cook them. Since we're in steamed territory today, I'll walk you through steaming baby Yukon potatoes. All you need are the spuds, some butter, salt, and your favorite herbs.
9. Mediterranean Steamed Salmon
I love a wholesome, all in one dinner that comes together in 30 minutes flat. This Mediterranean steamed salmon does just that.
The fish is succulent and buttery, packed with flavor from lemons, garlic, white wine, and spices like coriander, cumin, and Aleppo pepper. You also get a generous load of veggies. There's a bed of parsley, plus green onions and yellow onions to dig into.
10. Steamed Cinnamon Apples
It doesn't matter if it's the night before Halloween, New Year's Eve, or the dead center of the hottest summer on record. There's just something about steamed cinnamon apples that instantly makes everything feel like fall.
They're so aromatic and cozy. I absolutely love eating them, but I think I love the way they make my whole house smell even more.
11. Steamed Chocolate Pudding
This chocolate pudding is pudding in the English sense of the word, not the American Jell-O kind. It's a gorgeous, rich, dense pudding that's unbelievably soft.
The ingredients list might look a little long, but don't let that intimidate you. Almost everything on it is a basic baking staple or a warm spice.
12. Steamed Clams in Garlic Butter
I could just say "ditto garlic butter sauce" for this one and leave it at that, but I'll give you a little more. These clams are every bit as easy as the mussels, and that garlic butter sauce gives them the most incredible flavor.
You get the perfect marriage of garlic, butter, herb, and savory umami notes. They're so good that even folks who usually dodge seafood will find themselves reaching for more.
13. Steamed Mussels
If you're someone who gets a little nervous cooking seafood at home, may I gently suggest starting with steamed mussels? They're shockingly simple and it's practically impossible to mess them up. Just build your base with white wine, garlic, chicken stock, shallots, and a few other goodies, then toss those mussels into the pot and let them steam.
14. Steamed Spinach
Steamed spinach is a speedy little side dish you can whip up in just over 5 minutes. All you'll need is salt, pepper, garlic, butter, and a bright squeeze of lemon juice.
If there are spinach skeptics in your house, I say go a little heavier on the garlic. That usually wins them over.
15. Chinese Steamed Sponge Cake
Sponge cake is another lovely cake you can make without turning on your oven. You'll pull it together with just 10 ingredients: eggs, caster sugar, light brown sugar, salt, vanilla extract, baking soda, evaporated milk, flour, baking powder, and canola or grapeseed oil. The cake comes out soft, moist, and incredibly satisfying, and you can make the entire thing on your stovetop in under an hour.
16. Steamed Carrots
Because raw carrots are so firm, they need a bit more time to steam than some of the other veggies I've mentioned. Even so, there's no need to season them beforehand and the hands-on effort is wonderfully minimal.
Just pop them in your steamer basket and cover the pot. Then let them do their thing.
17. Steamed Asparagus with Butter and Garlic
Anyone who claims they don't enjoy steamed asparagus has either never had it or has never had it cooked properly. It's all about that irresistible garlic butter sauce. The lemon juice, salt, and pepper bring their own yummy notes too, but if you nail the garlic butter sauce, everything else just kind of sings into place.