Takikomi Gohan

Takikomi Gohan:

Takikomi Gohan is a type of dish where rice and other ingredients are cooked together in a rice cooker. This dish is meant to be enjoyed as a seasonal delicacy.

History of Takikomi Gohan:

Takikomi Gohan was originally created to save some rice at a time when rice was not readily availabe. Ingredients such as chestnuts, millet, vegetables, and potatoes were used to increase the mass of the dish. These ingredients were mixed with a small amount of rice and then they were cooked together. This type of food comes way back from the Nara (710-794) to Heian period (794-1185).

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573) this type of rice came to be known as "変わり飯 (kawarimeshi)" which means different rice. By the Edo period (1603-1867), rice was commonly mixed with whatever ingredients were readily availabe, such as; pea, bamboo shoots, Japanese radish, chicken and oyster. This practice gave the dish a flavor that was specific to the seasons, ans was enjoyed as such. This style has been kept ever since.

Takikomi Gohan Recipe

Ingredients

You can adjust the amount of ingredients as you like.

Mirin will add a more sweet flavor, and shouyu will add a stronger flavor to the rice.

Shiitake mushrooms have a very strong flavor, so just a few pieces will do.

• Chicken - half a pound
• Shredded carrot - estimate the amount as you like
• Bamboo shoots - As you like
• Shiitake Mushroom - 2 - 4 pieces
• Hondashi - About 1 tea spoon
• Shouyu (soy sauce) - 1 1/2 table spoon
• Mirin - 1/2 table spoon
• Rice - 1~2 cup if the rice cooker is large, you may put two cups of rice

Direction

1. Wash the rice and let it stand for about 20 minutes.

2. While the rice is getting prepared, soak the shiitake mushrooms in water. When they are soft, get rid of the stem of the mushrooms and cut the mushrooms into small pieces.

3. Cook the chicken well, with vegetable oil, and sprinkle a little salt to your liking.

4. When the rice has stood for over 20 minutes, add some water a little over the level of rice. Then put the cooked chicken, shiitake mushrooms, carrots and bamboo shoots into the rice cooker.

5. Over the ingredients, add the hondashi, shouyu and mirin.

6. Cover the lid of the rice cooker and turn on the switch. It is ready when the rice cooker is done!

STEP 1 and STEP 2

STEP 4 and STEP 5

STEP 6

History adapted from:

http://www.ota-ya.jp/komekome/rekisi/rekisi5.html