Hearty Sausage and Pea One Pot Rice

If you’re searching for a meal that delivers maximum comfort with minimum fuss, look no further. Today, I’m sharing a recipe for a truly delightful one-pot rice dish that has become a staple in my kitchen. The whole process takes about an hour, but most of that time is completely hands-off as your rice cooker works its magic. The cooking method is a gentle simmer and steam, which allows every single grain of rice to become infused with the smoky, savory flavor of the sausage and the subtle sweetness of the peas. It’s an incredibly simple dish to master, making it perfect for a busy weeknight, yet it tastes so complex and satisfying you’ll be proud to serve it to anyone. Get ready to fall in love with this easy, fragrant, and utterly delicious meal.

Let’s gather our ingredients. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, so you won’t need a long shopping list. For about 2-3 servings, you will need:

• Rice: 1 cup (about 200g) of medium or long-grain white rice, like Jasmine rice.
• Cured Sausage (Lap Cheong): 2 links. This is a key ingredient. It’s a firm, sweet, and savory Chinese sausage you can find in most Asian markets. If you can’t find it, a great substitute is a hard, cured Spanish a firm smoked sausage like Kielbasa will also work, though it will give the dish a different, more European-style smoky flavor.
• Peas: 1 cup (about 150g) of fresh or frozen sweet peas. Frozen peas are perfect here and require no extra prep.
• Light Soy Sauce: 1 to 2 tablespoons. This is for seasoning and umami, not for dark color. A standard “all-purpose” soy sauce from the supermarket is ideal.
• Peanut Oil: 1 tablespoon. This adds a lovely nutty aroma, but any neutral cooking oil like vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil works just as well.
• Salt: A pinch, to taste.

And that’s it! The magic comes from how these few simple ingredients come together in the pot.

Now for the fun part! This recipe is practically foolproof. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a perfect meal.

1. First, prepare your toppings. Rinse the sweet peas if they are fresh. Slice the cured sausage into thin, coin-shaped pieces.

2. Place a skillet or pan over medium heat and add the peanut oil. Once the oil is warm, add the sliced sausage and pan-fry for 2-3 minutes until it becomes slightly crisp and releases its fragrant oils. Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside, leaving the flavorful oil behind.

3. In the same pan, add the peas to the sausage-infused oil. Sauté for about a minute, just to coat them in the oil and lightly warm them through. Add a small pinch of salt, give them one last stir, and then turn off the heat.

4. Next, prepare your rice. Rinse the rice in a bowl with cool water, swirling it with your fingers and changing the water a few times until it runs mostly clear. Drain the rice well and place it in the inner pot of your rice cooker.

5. Add water to the rice cooker pot. A good rule of thumb is a 1:1 or 1:1.2 ratio of rice to water, but it’s always best to follow the measurement line inside your specific rice cooker for perfect results.

6. Now, add the sautéed peas directly into the pot with the rice and water. Pour in the light soy sauce and stir everything together gently to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed.

7. Place the pot into your rice cooker and start the standard “cook” cycle. Let the machine do its work.

8. Once the rice cooker finishes its cycle and clicks over to the “keep warm” setting, open the lid and scatter the pre-cooked sausage slices over the top of the rice. Close the lid immediately and let the rice continue to steam with the sausage for another 10-15 minutes. This final steaming step is crucial—it allows the rich flavor of the sausage to permeate the entire pot.

9. After the final steam, open the lid, and use a rice paddle to fluff the rice, gently mixing the sausage and peas throughout. Serve hot and enjoy!

The moment you lift the lid of the rice cooker, you’ll be greeted by the most incredible aroma—a warm, savory scent of seasoned rice, smoky sausage, and sweet earthiness from the peas. Each spoonful is a perfect harmony of textures and flavors. The rice is fluffy and savory, having absorbed all the deliciousness from the sausage oil and soy sauce. The sausage itself provides wonderful chewy, meaty bites, while the bright green peas add a pop of sweetness and freshness that cuts through the richness. It’s a complete, satisfying meal in a single bowl, the kind of food that feels like a warm hug. I truly hope you give this simple recipe a try. It’s a wonderful introduction to the world of savory one-pot rice dishes and is easily adaptable. Let me know in the comments how it turns out for you or if you discover any fun new substitutions!