Miso is a well-known seasoning that we add to Japanese soup, salad dressing, fish, chicken, and more. However, did you know that you can add miso to rice as well? Let me show you how I use fermented soybean paste to add savoriness to mixed rice in my delicious Gobo and Miso Takikomi Gohan recipe!
What is Takikomi Gohan?
Takikomi gohan (炊き込みご飯) is a Japanese mixed rice dish typically seasoned with soy sauce and other savory seasonings. In Japan, we add different kinds of vegetables, meat, and mushrooms depending on the season. This way, we can enjoy the food each season offers and get extra nutrition instead of just plain white rice. People are always creative about the ingredients they add to takikomi gohan. Today, I added gobo (burdock root) and leftover fish cake called chikuwa. I seasoned it with miso this time because the savory taste goes really well with both ingredients. If you’re tired of just plain rice, I hope you will add my Gobo and Miso Takikomi Gohan recipe to your repertoire!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This simple recipe requires a short list of ingredients. It’s easy to customize, too!
Japanese short-grain rice water — you can substitute it with dashi (Japanese soup stock) for extra flavor and umami gobo (burdock root) chikuwa (fish cake) — or substitute a different protein like chicken, aburaage, or tofu carrot — try different vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, peas, or shio kombu miso — I use koji miso or awase miso soy sauce, mirin, and sake — vary the seasonings with salt, sesame oil, or the condiments of your choice yuzu kosho (Japanese citrus chili paste) — optional, for serving shredded nori seaweed — for garnish
How To Make Gobo and Miso Takikomi Gohan
This staple of Japanese home cooking is so easy to make in your rice cooker!
3 Cooking Tips for Gobo and Miso Takikomi Gohan
How To Store
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the freezer for a month. I prefer freezing the takikomi gohan since cooked rice gets hard and dry when refrigerated. You can read more about it in my tutorial How to Store Cooked Rice.
Mixed Rice Dishes You’ll Love
There are many delicious variations of Japanese mixed rice. Try some of my recipes, or customize your own!
Takikomi Gohan (classic Japanese mixed rice) Instant Pot Takikomi Gohan Hijiki Rice (takikomi gohan with dried seaweed) Sweet Onion Takikomi Gohan Matsutake Gohan (wild pine mushroom rice) Kuri Gohan (chestnut rice) Ginger Rice
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