My review of the Ninja cooking system: a few weeks ago I was invited to a Ninja Cooking system party. During the party we learned about all the cool functions of the Ninja. The Ninja is a slow cooker with a stove top and bake function. Which means you can brown your meat without going to a stove top. The ninja does it all in one place. No moving of hot pots around the kitchen, so it is safe with little kids running around under foot. The Ninja also has a backing function, you can bake brownies, cakes and more.
There is a also a steam basket which allows you to layer your meals. You can put you pasta, rice, and or couscous with veggies on the bottom of the ninja then place your protein in the steam basket to cook to perfection leaving all the favor in the meat. The protein cooks with steam allowing for the moisture to stay in the food.
So once I received the Ninja and I had to try it out. My husband could not wait to see it it worked, we used it the 1st night. He wanted to try out the pasta method. He cooked ground Italian sausage in the ninja and then added the other ingredients the sauce, dry pasta, and 4 cups of water in the Ninjia and cook for 20 minutes. The result awesome baked pasta, I loved it because it was not watery, yet fully cooked the tomato sauce and sausage flavor was infused the pasta.
This Sunday I get to church and realize it is the pot luck luncheon. So I skip the sermon ran home and made my potluck pasta in less than 30 minutes. I made the pasta, transfer it to my pot luck dish put cheese on top threw it under the oven broiler then brought a pipping hot dish to church. The Ninja saved me from embarrassment. I received a a ton of complements on my pot luck dish.
Next I made Ginger Beef using the layering method cooking in stages.
- 1 lb of stew meat sliced ( or an inexpensive cut)
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 tbls of oil (vegetable or sesame oil)
- 3 carrots peeled and Jillane
- 1/4 tbls powered ginger
- 2 tbls of soy sauce
- 2 cups of rice
- 3 cups of water
- 1 (14oz) can of beef broth
- 1 head of broccoli cut
- Turn Ninjia to stove top high add oil Cook onions till golden and caramelized
- add beef, ginger to ninja cook till beef is brown
- add soy and carrot
- turn to slow cooker function cook for 1-2 hours on slow cooker till the beef in infused and tender
- Add 3 cups of water, 1 can of beef broth and 2 cups of uncooked dry rice cook for 2o minutes on Ninja stove top function
- Add uncooked broccoli to top of rice, cover cook another 5-10 minutes till rice is cooked and broccoli is tender
Mix broccoli in serve and enjoy Finally thoughts: Why I really love the Ninja cooking system.
- It is easy to use
- Variety of functions backing, stove top, steam, and slow cooker
- I am excited to bring it camping when we go next year.
- Options It gives me so many different things I can make
- Healthy way to cook with less oil
- Keeps moisture in the food
- Clean up is so easy, because it is one pot so no extra stainer too clean (less pots)
- Ninja cooking system easy non stick surface.
- Ninja in stores is approximately $159.99 and the $199.99 is the price for the online package, as it comes with some additional items.
This is the beginning of my Ninja adventure.. I cant wait to see what I can make with it going forward.. chicken and dumplings maybe??
Want to win a Ninja valued at $199 one check one of my Blogging Buddies (enter all 3) who running a Giveaway PhillyFun4kids Monderdaydonnareed and Look What Mom Found
Do you have a Ninja Cooking System I would love to read what you tried ? link your post
Disclosure : I received my Ninja for the purpose of this review. All the opinions in this post are of my own.
OMG!! I WANT TO WIN AND I want you to come with it and cook for me!!
Oh how awesome!!! I would be thrilled to have this in my cooking arsenal! Anything to make super easy for a freelancing single Mama.
pretty cool! the meals look so good too. I am going to enter! thanks for sharing and the photos too.
Your dinner looks so healthy and delicious!!!
I absolutely love your recipe and the Ninja seems like a crock pot version 10.0. I love the features and how easy it looks to use! Great photos!
Sherry, this looks Awesome! Has your husband used this again? I am using my slow cooker a lot because it means I don’t have to cook when I get home from work. And Chris (who’s home) is not into cooking. Is it easy enough for cooking-challenged stay-at-home dads?
My husband uses the Ninja as much as i do he hates cleaning pots. He used it last night.. he is a little heavy with liquids when making items.. but he is getting better. If your husband can follow a recipe than he should be fine. Sorry for the slow delay in response.
Looks delicious and healthy! Question..can you throw in frozen broccoli or does it have to be fresh? Thanks!
I use fresh because the fresh produce store is walking distance to my home. I am sure frozen would work fine just make sure you watch it so it does not turn to mush (inless you like it that way). I like mine firm.
What I really love about the Ninja Cooking System is that it retains the flavor when I made roasted chicken. I also love your recipe as I’m Asian an I love rice.
Got mine with a big $140 discount at http://www.squidoo.com/ninja-cooking-system-review
Thanks for commenting . I love my Ninja. I have not done a chicken yet. I am using it this week to make a my easy fish I love it with asparagus https://superexhausted.com/2013/03/easy-fish-recipe/
Just bought one and cooked a prime rib roast. It is awful. Tastes liked boiled meat..no yummy prime rib taste that you get in the oven. I won’t even use the meat for sandwiches. I will try cooking a chicken but suspect it will taste like chicken bouillon rather than like a baked or roasted chicken. This May end up at goodwill.
Hi Beth, I have not used my ninja for Prime rib. I like it for steamed or foods that require a moisture approach.. Like meat with pasta or rice. I love how the Ninja cooks fish or perogies with smoked sausage. I would think if you want the crispy skin or outside you might have to try a different approach.
I LOVE my Ninja 3-in-1 Cooker! It was my Valentine’s present (I love to cook, so it makes sense, really), and we’ve used it almost every night since. I’m trying this recipe tonight! So far, it smells delicious, and everyone keeps trying to peek into it to sample bites. My favourite are the 30 minute pasta meals, they’re quick and easy, and with my teenage son staying late at school for drama production week, the buffet setting keeps it warm for him when he gets home. No microwaved crap. <3
I hope your family loved the beef. Thanks for commenting
Ridiculous story there. What occurre after? Takee care!
This dish has made it onto our meal planning list for the month, but had a simple question. When changing the setting to slow cooker, did you set it to high or low for the 1-2 hours?
Also, when cooking the rice what stovetop setting did you use? Lid on or lid off?
I made the beef broccoli recipe in the Ninja for our office. It was great. I think my rice cooked a little too long, but the flavors were all there. I got a skirt steak at the butcher and used a sharp knife to slice it in very thin strips. I have had my Ninja for over two years and use it weekly.