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Okowa with shiitake mushrooms and carrots served with fresh vegetables and sesame seeds
Rich tasting Japanese rice dish with shiitake mushrooms and carrots

Shiitake & Carrot Okowa

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Side Dishes
Okowa means 'sticky rice', and this dish is a festive staple of Japanese cuisine. The secret lies in the special rice with high amylopectin content, which sticks together when cooked and acquires a chewy, 'mochi-like' texture. The earthy taste of mushrooms and vegetables, paired with the umami-bomb of soy sauce, makes this dish both filling and sophisticated.
🕒 Prep Time 45 mins
🍳 Cook Time 25 mins
⌛ Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 550 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Japanese

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Heavy-bottomed pot with lid or rice cooker
  • Sieve for washing rice
  • Frying pan for vegetables

Allergen Information

⚠️ Soya

Instructions

1 ✓

Wash the rice in cold water 3-4 times until the water is less cloudy. Soak in the stock (or water) for at least 30 minutes.

Tip: Washing removes surface starch powder which would make the dish too gloopy; soaking hydrates the grains.
2 ✓

Meanwhile, slice the shiitake mushrooms thinly, and cut the carrots into tiny matchsticks (julienne).

Tip: Uniform size of vegetables ensures they cook at the same time.
3 ✓

Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the mushrooms and carrots for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

Tip: Frying in oil brings out the aromatics that wouldn't be as prominent if just boiled (fat-soluble aromas).
4 ✓

Add the soy sauce and mirin to the vegetables, boil together for a minute, then turn off the heat.

Tip: This quick boil 'burns' the flavours into the vegetables.
5 ✓

Pour the rice with the soaking liquid into a pot. The amount of liquid should be approx. 1.1 times the volume of the rice. Spoon the vegetable mixture on top (do not mix!).

Tip: If you mix it, the sugary sauce might burn on the bottom. The steam will permeate the vegetables.
6 ✓

Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to the absolute lowest setting and steam for 15-20 minutes. Then turn off the heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes.

Tip: During resting, the remaining steam distributes evenly, and the rice grains 'fluff up'.
7 ✓

Loosen the rice with a spatula, mix with the vegetables. Serve with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Tip: The oil content and crunch of sesame seeds provide contrast to the soft rice.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use regular rice?
For the real Okowa experience, you need glutinous rice (sweet rice). If unavailable, use sushi rice, but the texture will be different.
Why soak the rice?
Glutinous rice grains are harder; soaking helps the water reach the centre of the kernel so it softens evenly.

Ingredients

  • 300 g Rice (preferably glutinous rice or sushi rice)
  • 100 g Shiitake mushrooms (fresh)
  • 2 pc Carrots
  • 3 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Mirin
  • 400 ml Stock (or dashi)
  • 1 tbsp Sesame seeds (toasted)
  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • 2 stalks Green onions