Japanese rice/gohan

No Japanese meal is complete without gohan – fluffy, slightly sticky rice. Top this versatile food with pickles, spring onions, nori or katsuobushi flakes

  • Prep:5 mins
    Cook:30 mins
  • Serves 4
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 259
  • fat 1g
  • saturates 0g
  • carbs 58g
  • sugars 2g
  • fibre 0g
  • protein 5g
  • salt 0.3g

Ingredients

  • 300g sushi rice
  • 200ml dashi(optional)
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • pickles, nori, katsuobushi flakes (see tip below), sliced spring onions, to serve (optional)

Tip

Katsuobushi (bonito flakes)

These fish flakes are used to add flavour to dashi, a kind of stock, but they also make a delicious topping to rice dishes or to Japanese pancakes called okonomiyaki. Sprinkle them on and watch them dance and sway – they're sure to mesmerise your guests.

Method

  1. Rinsing and soaking your rice is key to achieving the perfect texture. Measure the rice into a bowl, cover with cold water, then use your fingers to massage the grains of rice – the water will become cloudy. Drain and rinse again with fresh water. Repeat five more times until the water stays clear.

  2. Tip the rinsed rice into a saucepan with 400ml water, or 200ml dashi and 200ml water, bring to the boil, then turn down the heat to a low simmer, cover with a tight-fitting lid with a steam hole and cook for 15 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to sit for another 15 mins, then stir through the mirin. Remove the lid and give it a good stir. Serve with any or all of the optional toppings.

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