Okayu (お粥), or the Japanese rice porridge, is a comfort food when you’re feeling low or want something mild and easy to process for your body. The simple taste makes it the best to enjoy warm. Various toppings can be added, but umeboshi is known to be the simplest and most delicious topping.
Let’s make Okayu at home!
Japanese Rice Porridge (Okayu) Recipe
Japanese Rice Porridge (Okayu) with Umeboshi
Instructions
- Measure the uncooked rice and put it in a bowl.
- Pour water into the bowl to wash the rice. 3. Lightly knead the rice with your hands, and drain the water. Repeat a few times or until the water becomes clear.
- Put the drained rice in a pot. You can use Japanese earthen pot or Donabe as well.
- Pour 600ml of water. If you prefer softer congee, add up to 900ml water for this recipe.
- Place the pot over medium heat and wait until it boils.
- When it comes to a boil, mix the rice so it won't stick in the pot.
- Switch to low heat and cook for 30 minutes or until it becomes soft. It is important to close the pot with a lid and keep the stirring to a minimum.
- Turn off the heat, and add 2 pinches of salt or your preference.
- Serve together with umeboshi on top. We love to enjoy it with pickled cucumber as a side dish.(Optionally add more toppings if you like)
Recommended Recipe Using Umeboshi
Learn More About Umeboshi
Recommended Umeboshi Product Available on Amazon USA
Red Umeboshi Japanese Pickled Plum 17.6 oz (500g)
Use twice as much shiso as ordinary umeboshi to make the naturally bright crimson color. Made with the traditional and time-consuming methods to make the classic, authentic umeboshi. Particularly delicious with rice, to make sauces or dressings, or to flavor up your meal as a side dish.
No chemical seasonings, no sweeteners, no colorings. 100% Made in Japan.
Organic White Umeboshi Pickled Plum Nanko Ume 17.6 oz (500g)
Traditional-style Japanese salted plums made only from organic plum and sea salt, pickled without shiso leaves which leave a lighter color. Particularly delicious with rice, to make sauces or dressings, or to flavor up your meal as a side dish.
No chemical seasonings, no sweeteners, no colorings. 100% Made in Japan.
Organic White Umeboshi Pickled Plum Nanko Ume 5.3 oz (150g)
Traditional-style Japanese salted plums made only from organic plum and sea salt, pickled without shiso leaves which leave a lighter color. Particularly delicious with rice, to make sauces or dressings, or to flavor up your meal as a side dish.
No chemical seasonings, no sweeteners, no colorings. 100% Made in Japan.
Recommended Umeboshi Product
Recommended Umeboshi Plums (Whole Fruits)
In Kawashima The Japan Store, we have several type of umeboshi plums, include those which has been fermented for 3-4 years. Kindly check your favorite type of Umeboshi Plums below:
To learn more about Sannen Umeboshi (3 Years Fermented Umeboshi), please read the following article:
Recommended Umeboshi Seasoned Paste
You can also fill in your onigiri with umeboshi paste. We recommend you to use this umeboshi paste with several seasonings such as ginger, shoyu, shiso, etc. Kindly check our Umeboshi Seasoned Paste Product below:
Recommended 100% Umeboshi Extract Puree/Paste
We also provide a pure 100% umeboshi extract paste in Kawashima The Japan Store, in case you want a 100% umeboshi filling in your onigiri without any other seasonings. Kindly check the product below:
