If you’re thinking the only way to enliven plain rice is to make fried rice or sprinkle it with furikake rice seasoning, you haven’t seen everything yet. For a fresh touch, Mazegohan (混ぜご飯) is a unique way to dress up plain steamed rice. It’s as effortless as mixing rice with other raw or cooked ingredients.
What’s Myoga Shiso Rice?
Today, I’m sharing one of my favorite Maze Gohan – Myoga Shiso Rice (ミョウガとしその混ぜご飯). All you need to do is finely chop myoga and shiso, and mix them in with hot steamed rice that’s seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce, and toasted sesame seeds. A gentle drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil goes a long way. The result is a Japanese rice dish that’s light and incredibly aromatic, at the same time versatile enough to pair with a whole suite of main and side dishes. My family loves this 6-ingredient Maze Gohan so much that we keep coming back for more! The exquisite taste reminds us of a kaiseki course at the fine dining establishment.
The Golden Combination of Myoga and Shiso
Certain vegetables and herbs go well together, and myoga ginger and shiso leaves are one of those golden combinations.
Myoga ginger (ミョウガ, みょうが, 茗荷) – Also known as Japanese ginger, Myoga is harvested for its unopened flower bud and flavorful shoot instead of its root. The flower buds are slightly larger than thumb-size and they come in pinkish-bronze outer layers. Myoga has a very distinctive flavor, with a mild ginger overtone and zesty tang. It has a tender crunchy texture and gives a refreshing taste to the palate. That is why the Japanese believe eating myoga can help boost appetite. Shiso leaves (しそ, 紫蘇) – Similar to Korean or Vietnamese perilla leaves, Shiso has distinct fragrances and flavors. This is one of my favorite herbs and I have a lot of shiso recipes on the blog.
Substitute for Ingredients – Any substitutes will not make up for the unique flavor of this recipe. However, you can always try with other herbs and condiments of your choice to make your own special maze gohan:
chives garlic ginger mitsuba onion (thinly sliced raw onion or sauteed onion) scallions sprouts katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) nori seaweed sansho dried red chili sichimi togarashi or ichimi togarashi umeboshi yuzu kosho
What To Serve with Myoga Shiso Rice
This beautiful mixed rice pairs well with many Japanese and Asian dishes, but if you’re looking for some ideas, here are my suggestions: Main Dishes
Teba Shio (Salted Chicken Wings) Grilled Mackerel Teriyaki Salmon Miso Cod
Side Dishes
Vegan Miso Soup Eggplant Agebitashi Simmered Koya Tofu Kinpira Renkon Japanese Cucumber Salad Spinach with Sesame Miso Sauce
More Delicious Japanese Mixed Rice Recipes
Takikomi Gohan (Japanese Mixed Rice) Sweet Onion Takikomi Gohan Ume Shiso Rice Bamboo Rice Mame Gohan (Green Pea Rice)
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
