Ochazuke
Japanese Rice Soup
A simple and comforting Japanese dish consisting of cooked rice, typically leftover, served in a bowl and doused with hot green tea or dashi broth. It's often topped with savory ingredients and is a popular late-night meal or a quick, light snack.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 bowl (about 150-200g) Cooked rice(Preferably slightly cooled leftover rice. Warm it gently if very cold.)
- 200 ml Green tea or Dashi broth(Use good quality sencha or genmaicha for green tea, or a prepared dashi. Ensure it is very hot.)
- 1 Umeboshi (pickled plum)(Remove the pit before serving, or serve whole and instruct the diner to remove it.)
- 2 tbsp Salted salmon flakes(Flaked cooked salmon, preferably salted. Canned or leftover grilled salmon works well.)
- 1 sheet Nori (seaweed)(Cut into thin strips (kizami nori) or crumbled for garnish.)
- to taste Wasabi(Optional, for a spicy kick.)
- optional Soy sauce(A small dash can enhance the flavor.)
- optional tsp Sesame seeds(For added texture and nutty flavor.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the rice: Place the cooked rice into a deep serving bowl. Gently press down to create a relatively even surface.
⏱️ 1 minute - 2
Arrange the toppings: Place the umeboshi (with pit removed if preferred) and the salted salmon flakes on top of the rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 3
Heat the liquid: While preparing the rice and toppings, heat your green tea or dashi broth until it is steaming hot, ideally around 80-90°C (175-195°F).
⏱️ 2 minutes - 4
Assemble the ochazuke: Carefully and slowly pour the hot green tea or dashi over the rice and toppings. Pour until the rice is mostly submerged.
⏱️ 1 minute - 5
Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the nori strips over the top. Add a small dab of wasabi on the side if desired. Serve immediately while piping hot.
⏱️ 1 minute
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using leftover, slightly cooled rice is ideal as it holds its shape better when the hot liquid is added.
- ✓For a richer flavor, consider using a bonito-kombu dashi.
- ✓Adjust the amount of liquid to your preference – some like it soupy, others prefer less.
- ✓This dish is incredibly versatile; feel free to experiment with other toppings like grilled fish, pickles, or even a raw egg yolk (ensure it's safe to consume).
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Ochazuke with grilled mackerel (saba)
- Ochazuke with tsukemono (Japanese pickles)
- Ochazuke with mentaiko (spicy cod roe)
- Ochazuke with a raw egg yolk stirred in just before serving