Even a clever housewife cannotcook a meal without rice.

巧妇难为无米之炊。

youdao

Without rice, firewood, stove and pot in their own kitchen, who could cook?

无米、无柴、无灶、无锅，还有谁家能烧菜做饭呢？

youdao

The saying means no matter how skillful a housewife is, she can't cook a meal without rice literally.

本义为再巧的主妇，要是没有米也做不出饭来。

youdao

He noted that Bong and Lofa counties produce the most rice, and he added, "We cannot live without rice."

VOA: special.2009.01.27

Rice without its hull or bran is white rice.

VOA: special.2009.12.01

Turay teaches without a salary, accepting instead offers of rice and farm-labor as payment.

VOA: standard.2010.02.25

The next day, we left earlier than usual, without jollof rice.

NEWYORKER: Cell One

In the southern cities of Bangalore and Mysore, Wal-Mart partner Bharti Enterprises Ltd. in October opened retail stores without having licenses for rice, lentils, fruits and vegetables, a Bharti executive said.

WSJ: Wal-Mart Hits Obstacle to Growth in India

Oh, what will the middle class teen in Brazil do without someone to cook their rice and beans, press their clothes and make their beds every day?

FORBES: In Brazil, Maid Service Becoming Thing Of The Past