Energizing Chicken and Rice Medley
Energizing Chicken and Rice Medley
Boost Your Vitality with This Super Simple Chicken and Rice Medley! A Delicious and Nutritious Summer Health Tonic
No need for fancy tonics this summer! Our super simple Chicken and Rice Medley is surprisingly easy to make and delivers both fantastic flavor and essential nutrients. It’s the perfect way to stay healthy and satisfied during the warmer months.
Key Ingredients- 300g Rice (short-grain)
- 290ml Water (slightly less than usual for cooking rice)
- 200g Chicken (thighs or breast), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 150g Mushrooms (shiitake, king oyster, etc.), torn or sliced
- 100g Burdock root, peeled and sliced about 0.5cm thick, then halved
- 100g Lotus root, peeled and sliced about 0.5cm thick, then halved
- 50g Carrot, julienned thinly
- 20g Ginger, minced or thinly sliced
- 3 sheets Fried Tofu (Aburaage), thinly sliced about 0.3cm thick, then halved
- 3 Tbsp Mentsuyu or Soy Sauce
- 3 Tbsp Sake (Japanese rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp Mirin (sweet rice wine)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing all the wonderful ingredients that will make our Chicken and Rice Medley so flavorful. Tear or slice the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Thinly julienne the carrot into strips about 0.5cm thick. Peel the burdock root and lotus root, then slice them about 0.5cm thick and cut each slice in half. Thinly slice the fried tofu into strips about 0.3cm thick and cut them in half. To prepare the burdock root, you can scrape off the skin with the back of a knife or wrap it in crumpled aluminum foil and slide it along the burdock to easily remove the peel. Once peeled, make lengthwise cuts into the burdock and then slice it thinly, like sharpening a pencil. To remove any bitterness from the burdock, soak it in cold water for about 30 minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Finally, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the rice, the foundation of our delicious dish. Gently rinse the rice about 5 times under running water. Drain it well in a sieve and let it soak for about 1 hour. Soaking the rice allows the grains to cook evenly, resulting in a perfectly textured and delicious pot of rice.
Step 3
Once the rice is soaked, place it in your rice cooker and add the water. For this recipe, it’s important to use slightly less water than you normally would when cooking rice. This is because the various ingredients will release moisture as they cook, and too much water can make the final dish too mushy.
Step 4
Now, let’s add the flavor enhancers. Pour in the sake (3 Tbsp) and mirin (2 Tbsp) to help tenderize the chicken and remove any gamey odors. Add the mentsuyu or soy sauce (3 Tbsp) for a depth of savory flavor. Finally, add the minced or sliced ginger for a fragrant aroma.
Step 5
It’s time to add all the prepared ingredients to the rice cooker, spreading them evenly over the rice and liquid. The chicken, mushrooms, burdock root, lotus root, carrot, and fried tofu will all cook together, infusing the rice with their wonderful flavors and nutrients. The colorful mix of ingredients will make this dish visually appealing too!
Step 6
Close the lid of your rice cooker and press the ‘Cook’ or ‘Start’ button. All that’s left is to wait for this delicious and nutritious Chicken and Rice Medley to be ready! Enjoy this hearty, wholesome meal that’s perfect for restoring your energy and satisfying your appetite.
