You can make a popular staple dish for a potluck, just using a rice cooker and a pot of boiling water.
Keiko Inouye of Waialae Iki often takes this uncomplicated dish to parties because it is easy, tasty and healthy.
She makes 7 cups of brown or white rice in a cooker, then allows it to steam on the warm function for at least 30 minutes for fluffier rice.
While the rice is cooking, she boils a bag of peeled edamame or green soybeans, which takes about 5 minutes. Then she stirs the drained beans into the steamed rice along with a bottle of seasoned enoki mushrooms, called ajitsuke nametake.
The last ingredient is a bottle of furikake. She prefers the type labeled for ochazuke.
These four ingredients are easily found in grocery stores, so you do not need to go to a Japanese specialty market.
The flavored mushrooms and dried seaweed mix add just enough tastiness and saltiness to bring you back for seconds.
EDAMAME, NAMETAKE, FURIKAKE RICE
By Lynette Lo Tom
- 7 cups raw white or brown short- or medium-grain rice
- 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen shelled green soy beans (edamame)
- 1 (14-ounce) jar seasoned enoki mushrooms (ajitsuke nametake)
- 1 (1.7-ounce) jar ochazuke furikake (dry seasoned seaweed)
Wash rice, add water according to instructions and cook in rice cooker. Let steam 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil, then add frozen soybeans and cook according to the package directions. Drain.
In a large bowl or pan, toss rice, beans, mushrooms and furikake until completely mixed. Serve immediately or at room temperature. Serves 15 as a side dish.
>> Variations: Use brown or multigrain instead of white rice; try various flavors of furikake, including the red shiso type.
Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 430 calories, 2.5 g total fat, no saturated fat or cholesterol, 200 mg sodium, 87 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 11 g protein.
“Easy Kine” features simple dishes that start with commercially prepared ingredients. Lynette Lo Tom is excited to hear your tried-and-true suggestions. Contact her at 275-3004, email lynette@brightlightcookery.com or via instagram at @brightlightcookery.
