7 things you need to do when you come visit Japan
If you are considering or already decided upon visiting Japan, here is a list of what you should not miss out on when you come and visit.
Takikomi Gohan (炊き込みごはん)
Takikomi Gohan (炊き込みごはん)
Takikomi Gohan (炊き込みごはん) is a Japanese dish, which is very tasty, yet simple to make. All you need to do is put the soy sauce, dashi, and either meat, fish, veggies, or mushrooms into the rice cooker and wait for it to cook. Its that simple. If you do not manage to finish it, that is okay because you can have a bowl the day after tomorrow or use it to make some onigiri (rice ball) for your lunch. Remember that it is not a main dish so also prepare a main meal if you want to make sure that the person you are serving gets a real Japanese meal.
Table of Contents
A little bit about Takikomi Gohan（炊き込みごはん）
Takikomi Gohan (炊き込みごはん) is a Japanese dish, which is prepared with soy sauce, dashi, and either meat, fish, veggies, or mushrooms. This dish is typically eaten in the fall because fall is the time when much of the root vegetables and mushrooms are harvested. This dish’s popularity in Japan is partly due to the sheer simplicity in how it is prepared and the lack of complicated equipment needed. All that needs to be done is to put the rice, broth, soy sauce, vegetables into the rice cooker, mix it all together turn on the rice cooker and wait for it to get cooked.
It is also a very delicious and the broth and the soy sauce are put in, just the right amount so that the flavouring does not overpower the natural flavors of the ingredients that you put in.
However, one must note that this is not a main meal and you should consider it as a very and nutritional side dish so it is best to prepare other main dishes as eating only the Takikomi Gohan can get a little bit boring towards the end. On the other hand, you can make a lot of Takikomi Gohan in one go, which will make it a good ingredient for you to make some Onigiri or put it into your bento or packed lunch.
List of Ingredients you will need
Recipe
1. Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water. Use the
measurement in the pot of the rice cooker. Have the water a inch
below the suggested amount of water.
2. Chop the chicken into small pieces. Wash, peel and julienne the
carrots, but make sure that it is not too long or too thick. Wash
and slice the Shiitake Mushroom into small pieces.
3. Put all of the ingredients into the rice cooker. Turn the rice cooker
on and wait for it to cook.
Tip: The texture of rice is the determining factor of whether the Takikomi Gohan turns out well so we highly recommend that you use a rice cooker. While you might feel that it is a little bit pricey, it will save you so much time and effort especially for those of you that consume rice often. Also, it is important to make sure that you do not cut the ingredients too big as the point of the dish is to make the rice aromatic and flavorful from the ingredients put in. If the chicken, carrots and mushrooms are too big, it would over-empower the rice.
You can also opt to make a lot in one batch, which you can freeze and microwave it to consume later on. It is also good as you can use it for your bento or Onigiri (Riceball) for lunch. However, note that this is NOT a Main Meal so make sure that you prepare something else on the side.
1. Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water. Use
the measurement in the pot of the rice cooker. Have
the water a inch below the suggested amount of
water.
2. Chop the chicken into small pieces. Wash, peel and
julienne the carrots, but make sure that it is not too
long or too thick. Wash and slice the Shiitake
Mushroom into small pieces.
3. Put all of the ingredients into the rice cooker. Turn the
rice cooker on and wait for it to cook.
Tip: The texture of rice is the determining factor of whether the Takikomi Gohan turns out well so we highly recommend that you use a rice cooker. While you might feel that it is a little bit pricey, it will save you so much time and effort especially for those of you that consume rice often. Also, it is important to make sure that you do not cut the ingredients too big as the point of the dish is to make the rice aromatic and flavorful from the ingredients put in. If the chicken, carrots and mushrooms are too big, it would over-empower the rice.
You can also opt to make a lot in one batch, which you can freeze and microwave it to consume later on. It is also good as you can use it for your bento or Onigiri (Riceball) for lunch. However, note that this is NOT a Main Meal so make sure that you prepare something else on the side.
1. Wash the rice thoroughly
and soak it in water. Use the
measurement in the pot of
the rice cooker. Have the
water a inch below the
suggested amount of water.
2. Chop the chicken into small
pieces. Wash, peel and
julienne the carrots, but
make sure that it is not too
long or too thick. Wash and
slice the Shiitake Mushroom
into small pieces.
3. Put all of the ingredients into
the rice cooker. Turn the rice
cooker on and wait for it to
cook.
Tip: The texture of rice is the determining factor of whether the Takikomi Gohan turns out well so we highly recommend that you use a rice cooker. While you might feel that it is a little bit pricey, it will save you so much time and effort especially for those of you that consume rice often. Also, it is important to make sure that you do not cut the ingredients too big as the point of the dish is to make the rice aromatic and flavorful from the ingredients put in. If the chicken, carrots and mushrooms are too big, it would over-empower the rice.
You can also opt to make a lot in one batch, which you can freeze and microwave it to consume later on. It is also good as you can use it for your bento or Onigiri (Riceball) for lunch. However, note that this is NOT a Main Meal so make sure that you prepare something else on the side.
Other recommended recipes
If this is the kind of dish you like, we have compiled some a list of dishes that you might also like for your next cooking session below.
Onigiri (おにぎり)
Onigiri (おにぎり) is a dish made out of rice which is shaped in triangle or ball shape which is filled with different kinds of filling. If you go to Japan, you will see many kinds of different Onigiris sold and it is also easy to make as well.
Zaru Soba (ざるそば)
Zaru Soba (ざるそば) differs from conventional Soba as the Soba noodles are served chilled on a tray, which will also come with a dipping soup called ‘Tsuyu’.
Annin Tofu (杏仁豆腐)
Annin Tofu (杏仁豆腐) is a delicious dessert which originated from China. While it has “Tofu” in the name of the dessert, it is made with Apricot Kernel milk and sugar and is not related to Tofu. (It is called “Tofu” most likely because of the shape looks somewhat similar to Tofu).
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