• Okayu (Porridge)

    From Ben Collver@1:124/5016 to All on Sun Feb 15 08:10:36 2026
    MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

    Title: Okayu (Porridge)
    Categories: Japanese, Grains
    Yield: 1 Serving

    1/4 c Dry Japanese short-grain
    -white rice
    1 c Water; +2 ts, for cooking
    -the rice

    MMMMM--------------------------TOPPINGS-------------------------------
    Green onion/Scallion;
    -chopped
    Umeboshi (Japanese pickled
    -plums)
    Toasted white sesame seeds
    Nori seaweed (kizami nori);
    -shredded
    Homemade Japanese salted
    -salmon; flaked
    Mitsuba (Japanese parsley);
    -for garnish

    Gather all the ingredients. I follow a rice-to-water ratio of 1 to 5
    for a thicker consistency in this recipe.

    Rinse 1/4 cup uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice in water, then
    drain. Repeat until the water runs clear. Drain into a colander and
    shake off the excess water.

    Add the well-drained rice and 1 cup, 2 ts water to a heavy-bottomed
    pot or a donabe earthenware pot, as I have here. If cooking in a
    donabe, use a towel to wipe off any excess water on the bottom of the
    pot (or else it may crack under heat).

    Tip: Select a cooking pot with plenty of room for the rice and water
    to cook without boiling over.

    Soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.

    Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat.

    Once boiling, lower the heat to the stove's lowest setting (make sure
    to use the right size of stove burner for your pot size). Open the
    lid and gently mix with a spoon, making sure the rice does not stick
    to the bottom of the pot.

    Then, cover with the lid and gently simmer the rice for 30 minutes.
    During this time, I do not open the lid or mix the rice.

    Tip: With a good size pot and the lowest heat on the stove, the water
    should not boil over. If you cook with more water or your pot is
    smaller than mine, you may want to leave the lid slightly ajar so the
    water doesn't boil over.

    Tip: If you are worried, you can take a quick peek to make sure
    there's enough water so the rice doesn't burn on the bottom of the
    pot. If necessary, you can stir the rice or add a bit of hot water.
    Otherwise, don't stir the rice because that may break the rice grains.

    After 30 minutes, turn off the heat and let it steam with the lid on
    for 10 minutes. The rice porridge should be soft and thick. If you
    want to add a beaten egg or salt, this is the time to mix it in. I
    keep this recipe plain and simple. Serve in individual rice bowls and
    garnish with toppings of your choice.

    You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and keep them for
    2 days in the refrigerator or for up to a month in the freezer.

    Notes:

    I recommend using a heavy-bottomed pot or donabe (earthenware pot).
    The heat is evenly distributed, and it is not as direct or strong as
    a regular pot, so the rice cooks evenly.

    Rice-to-Water Ratio (in order from thick to runny consistency)

    Zen-gayu - 1:5 (50 grams : 250 ml)
    Shichibu-gayu - 1:7 (50 grams : 350 ml)
    Gobu-gayu - 1:10 (50 grams : 500 ml)
    Sanbu-gayu - 1:20 (25 grams : 500 ml)

    Using Cooked Rice: Add the cooked rice and 2-3 times water in the pot.
    Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat. Adjust the consistency by
    adding more water.

    Recipe by Namiko Hirasawa Chen (Nami)

    Recipe FROM: <https://www.justonecookbook.com/rice-porridge-okayu/>

    MMMMM
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  • From Ben Collver@1:124/5016 to Carol Shenkenberger on Sun Feb 15 08:10:36 2026
    Re: Okayu (Porridge)
    By: Carol Shenkenberger to Ben Collver on Fri Feb 23 2024 17:05:22

    I ask wont you about them again. ;)

    Thanks for explaining outa. I have been calling it improvisation.

    That is interesting that this Okayu recipe probably came from
    northern Japan. I had an older aquaintance from there whose parents
    were Ainu. I enjoyed her personality very much.

    A friend from southern Mexico was dating a man from northern Mexico,
    close to Texas. She told me the cuisine up there was relatively
    bland and boring compared to where she grew up. I've heard from
    others that the "Mexican" food at a typical California tacqueria is
    not bad, but not authentic either. For example, it's more likely to
    use Californian ingredients such as olives.

    Until next time...
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