More than a Rice Cooker: Practical Action Nepal and Himstar release new eCookbook and video recipes to help customers unlock their EPCs’ potential and increase eCooking usage

By Krishna Ram Duwal (Practical Action Nepal), Rabin Shrestha (Practical Action Nepal), and Richard Sieff (Gamos Ltd.)

SC2 eCooking promotion methods blog 1 of 3

While the Electric Pressure Cooker (EPC) is increasingly making its way into Nepali households, it may be that this clean, versatile, easy-to-use, and highly energy-efficient cooking appliance is not being used to its full potential. Consumer feedback from a MECS funded project by Practical Action Nepal and Him Electronics Pvt. Ltd to scale EPC uptake in Nepal, found many households thought of an EPC as great for rice (unlike rice cookers which often leave rice too dry for Nepali tastes) but didn’t appreciate how much more the appliance could do, supporting similar sentiments found in previous MECS research in Nepal.

The development of an eCookbook and accompanying video recipes by Practical Action Nepal aims to change that mindset. By showing the EPC’s versatility for delivering not only rice, but other key Nepali staples such as dahl, curries, vegetables, as well as dishes like pasta, and even cake and desserts, the eCookbook aims to help position the EPC as an all-in-one solution for busy families. Forming part of the MECS funded “Escalating the Uptake of Electric Pressure Cookers in Nepalese Households” Challenge Fund Project, the eCookbook and video recipes also address a shortcoming of appliance user manuals which typically provide operating instructions, but fall short of addressing practical, everyday cooking needs.

12 Tried-and-tested recipes for the Nepali palate

The eCookbook offers detailed, step-by-step instructions for 12 dishes, mostly staples in Nepali homes. The goal is to help users prepare these dishes in a way that replicates the taste when made using traditional cooking methods. In addition, the book provides guidance on operating procedures such as cleaning and handling the appliance and using the EPC more efficiently. To increase accessibility, the booklet integrates video links that can be accessed either directly via YouTube or by scanning a QR code, allowing users the option of either reading the instructions or watching a video demonstration (or both).

YouTube Video Recipes

Developing recipes to achieve authenticity

To ensure each recipe delivered an authentic taste and texture, each dish was tested and standardized in a model kitchen set up by project partner Him Electronics Pvt. Ltd. ‘Demo Executives’ (trained cooks with the ability to clearly explaining technical features of EPCs and demonstrate a variety of dishes safely and efficiently) cooked each dish multiple times, experimenting with different styles to reflect traditional Nepali flavours. This process helped identify ideal cooking times, methods, and function buttons for each recipe.

How multimedia can help increase EPC use and support climate goals

By demonstrating the EPC’s versatility, this initiative aims to increase user confidence and encourage wider adoption of this clean, easy-to-use, and highly energy-efficient modern cooking solution – important in Nepal where the EPC is a relatively new technology and many users are unfamiliar with it compared to other electric appliances. Recent YouTube analytics found each of the video recipes had received on average 5,500 views since their launch in May; a promising start which suggests the multimedia approach may help support greater EPC use and adoption. It is hoped that by enabling household members to more fully embrace modern energy technologies, the eCookbook and videos can promote more sustainable cooking practices and support Nepal’s energy transition and climate goals by highlighting how there are practical alternatives to biomass and LPG-based cooking.

Click here to access the full eCookbook.

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AI Disclaimer: ChatGPT5 was used to review the draft version of the blog for flow, clarity, and consistency with results then followed up by human checks and editing.

Image Credits: All images are copyright of Practical Action Nepal and Him Electronics Pvt. Ltd. (2025)