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BAM 39: Teriyaki Chicken, Okara salad, Daikon with Chirimen jyako and Rice.

BAM 38: Shake (Salmon) Rice, Satoimo and shimeji miso shiru, hiyayakko with komatsuna and salmon skin daikon oroshi

BAM 37: Sui-gyoza 3 (3 of 3)

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BAM 35: Cabbage Salad with Sesame Dressing, Suigyoza Soup, Eggplant and Bell Pepper Miso Stir fry and Rice

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BAM 33: Yakiniku, Kimchi, Kimchee, Soy Bean Soup and Rice

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BAM 31: Nasu no Tuskemono (Fast and Easy), Turkey Hijiki Niku Dango (Meat Ball), Negitama (Egg and green onion) Miso Soup and Rice

Cooking Perfect Stove Top Japanese Rice (Update)

BAM 30: Okonomiyaki (American-Kitchen)

BAM 29: Okonomiyaki (Buta Tama) (Easy Breezy)

BAM 28: Classic Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki (Buta tama)

BAM 27: Hiyashi Chuka

BAM 26: Southern-Japanese Build-a-Meal featuring Fried Chicken with Umeboshi Honey Dipping Sauce, Tofu Macaroni Salad and Okara Cornbread

BAM 25: Vegan Build-a-Meal Nagaimo Pancake, Lemon Daikon, Myoga and Red Potato Miso Soup and Rice.

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Cooking Perfect Stove Top Japanese Rice

Monday, June 21st, 2010
I've been meaning to post a stove top version of Japanese rice since I first posted the electric rice cooker directions. Most Japanese meals are served with rice so I wanted to post another option for cooking rice. The benefit to cooking stove top rice is that you get more flavor coming out of the rice, especially if there is toasted okoge (toasted rice) at the bottom of the pot. The con is that more often than not the rice will come out dry and controlling the heat is difficult, but once you make it a few times, you should be able to figure out the perfect temperature for your pot/pan.

There is a science to cooking rice and I'll try to explain it using a graph. You should note that controlling the heat is the most difficult part of cooking stove top rice. Please refer to the size and pot chart for additional tips.

Ingredients
2+(1/4) cups of Japanese medium grain rice (this is equivalent to 3 cups in Japanese units
2+(1/4) cups of purified water*
Pot or pan (see pot chart)

1) Wash rice according to the cooking with an electric rice cooker directions. Drain water with a colander.
2) Add the rice and purified water to the pot and soak for at least 30 minutes. (During the summer or warm climates 30 minutes, during the winter or dry or cold climates 1 hour).
3) Turn on the stove on to medium heat and slowly bring to a boil. The rice should reach boiling at exactly the 10 minute mark.
4) Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
5) Turn off the heat and steam for 10-15 minutes.

If you want to add okoge (crunchy toasted rice) to the bottom of the pot, you'll want to turn the heat up to high for 1 minute before you turn the stove off.

*The rice to water ratio is about 1:1.2 but since the rice absorbs some water when you wash it, it will end up being 1:1.

Easy Directions in a chart.
Stove top rice-chart2

*Source: Tokyo Gas

This graph show how to optimize the taste.
Stove top rice-oishisajyosho line

*Source: Tokyo Gas

This chart lists the various options you have for cooking stove top rice. As you can see, the temperature is almost the same for most pots and pans. You'll want to start it at medium and then turn the heat to low but this will vary slightly depending on your particular pot.
Stove top Rice-chart

*Source: Tokyo Gas

After washing rice, drain and immediately add to the pot and add water.
Stove top Rice-drain rice

I used a clay pot.
Stove top rice-clay pot

Add purified water to the pot.
Stove top rice-add water and rice to pot

Soak the rice in the water for 30 minutes to an hour.
Stove top rice-let it soak

Make sure the heat is on low so that the rice doesn't dry out during step 4.
Stove top rice-fire

The steaming step is very important for fluffy rice.
Stove top rice-steaming

Fluffy fragrant rice. I added the okoge step.
Stove top rice-done

Mmmmm Okoge...tastes like senbei (Japanese rice cracker).
Stove top rice-okoge

Tokyo Gas Website
tags: Rice 
Thanks for posting. I just got married to a Japanese-American, and he's still after me to get a rice cooker. Our kitchen really can't handle any more equipment, so maybe this proces will do the trick!
— Laura T., June 22nd, 2010
this is what i've been looking for!!! i really need step by step instructions thanks!
— px, September 22nd, 2010
I'm glad you found it helpful. I hope it turns out well!
— Umamitopia, September 23rd, 2010
Hello, Thank you for the detailed post. Is the pot covered or uncovered in step 3? I am thinking uncovered because even on low med heat it would come to boil too fast if covered. Is this correct?
— Arturo , June 5th, 2011
Yes, the pot is covered in step 3. It will help it boil faster. Sorry for the late response.
— Umamitopia, July 13th, 2011
Tag List
tags (categories)
Soy Sauce [25]
Dashijiru [23]
Rice [19]
Daikon [14]
Egg [14]
Vegan [13]
Sesame Seed Oil [12]
Katsuobushi [11]
Chicken [11]
Kyuri [9]
Shiso [9]
Mayonnaise [8]
Miso [8]
Tofu [8]
Shoga [8]
Sake [8]
Cabbage [7]
Garlic [7]
Beef [7]
Vegetarian [7]
Pork [6]
Miso soup [6]
Vinegar [6]
Mirin [6]
Age [5]
Umeboshi [5]
Carrots [5]
Carrot [5]
Green Onion [5]
Hakusai [5]

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