Dear Japanese Food Lovers,
Hello from Aiko at isfor WA, Oxford!
In Japan, it’s the season of freshly harvested rice. How do you usually cook your rice?
In the UK, the type of rice often called sushi rice or sticky rice is what we use for Japanese dishes. It’s delicious – and the good news is you don’t even need a rice cooker to prepare it properly.
Here’s a simple stovetop method:
- Wash the rice well and leave it to soak for at least 30 minutes.
- Cook it in a heavy-based pan with just enough water – I measure it by resting my little finger on the rice so the water reaches the first joint.
- Bring to the boil, then cover, reduce the heat, and simmer gently for about 12 minutes.
- Finally, take it off the heat, keep it covered, and let it steam for another 10 minutes before fluffing with a rice paddle or fork.
This way, you can enjoy perfectly cooked Japanese rice at home.
In Japan, autumn is often called the “season of appetite,” a time to fully enjoy food. I’ll be sharing plenty of delicious Japanese dishes with you this season.
Happy Cooking!
Aiko
isfor WA
