JAPANESE OCHAZUKE
~makes 3 cups ~
This is pure comfort food and infinitely adjustable to your taste and available ingredients. At its core it is well cooked rice with a comforting herbal tea broth, and some salty umami toppings to satisfy.
2 cups short grain rice, cooked
2 cups strongly brewed green tea
2 Tbsp sake or mirin (optional)
2 tsp soy sauce
4 oz smoked salmon, flaked
Cilantro or mint leaves, roughly chopped
SHICHI, to taste
Place rice, tea, sake and soy sauce in a saucepan and heat on medium for 20-30 minutes until some of the tea has evaporated and rice is very soft.
Serve in a bowl topped with salmon, cilantro or mint, and sprinkled with SHICHI.