Grains

Rice Aloni

January 14, 2010
5
3 Ratings
  • Serves 1 hungry hermit
Author Notes

Although a night alone for me often features stinky cheese, this dish also satisfies with its strong flavors—salty, umami, smoky. A nice dab of yuzu kosho (a fiery paste of chile and yuzu zest) adds a bright, spicy kick I can't do without. Enjoy this with a glass of chilled sake. —gluttonforlife

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup dried bonito flakes, packed
  • 1 tablespoon sake
  • 1/8 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon say sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
  • 3 pickled ume (Japanese plum) chopped, pits removed
  • 1/2 sheet nori, lightly toasted*
  • green yuzu kosho
  • 1 cup Japanese short-grain rice
  • 1 cup water
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
  2. Stir sake into the bonito flakes. Chop into a paste. In a heavy skillet over medium heat, push the bonito flakes around until dry. Add sake, sugar and soy sauce. Stir frequently until mixture is dry again. Combine with sesame seeds and spread on a plate to cool.
  3. Rinse rice until water is clear, then drain. Combine with 1 cup water in a small, heavy saucepan and let stand for 10 minutes. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook 5 minutes (don’t be alarmed if it sputters), or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand again, covered, for 10 minutes.
  4. *Sprinkle nori with a little water and bake on a cookie sheet until crisp, about 15 minutes.
  5. To serve, stir bonito flakes, ume and yuzu kosho (if using) into rice. Plop into a bowl and crumble nori on top.
Contest Entries

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • EmilyNunn
    EmilyNunn
  • luvcookbooks
    luvcookbooks
  • gluttonforlife
    gluttonforlife

3 Reviews

EmilyNunn January 21, 2010
I love those crazy salty plums, I love sesame, I love nori, I love rice. Therefore: this sounds dreamy.
 
luvcookbooks January 18, 2010
This looks delicious, I'm putting the ingredients on my shopping list now. Don't know much about cooking with Japanese ingredients, this sounds like everyday comfort food and a very reliable easy recipe to try! Thanks
 
gluttonforlife January 18, 2010
It really is delicious! Let me know how you like it. And the next time I'm home alone, I'm going to try your savory French toast!