Kuri Okowa(Chestnut Sticky Rice)栗おこわ- Chopstick Chronicles

Chestnut rice (Kuri Okowa) is a comforting Japanese autumn dish of sticky glutinous rice with candy, comfortable chestnuts. It’s historically made in a steamer however this model makes use of a stress cooker to make the method faster and extra handy whereas retaining the identical cozy flavors and satisfying texture. Usually loved at autumn festivals, household gatherings, or just as a seasonal deal with, Kuri Okowa captures the heat of fall in each chunk.

What’s Kuri Okowa?

Kuri Okowa is a sort of Japanese ‘okowa’ dish made with steamed glutinous rice full of chestnuts. The rice has a naturally sticky texture which is complemented with the chunky, candy, and comfortable bites of chestnut which can be combined into the rice. Typically azuki beans are added for further shade and style, like I’ve completed, but it surely’s not crucial. The straightforward mixture of chestnuts and sticky rice is sufficient to make this cosy autumn favorite. Different varieties of okawa rice embrace substances like greens, konnyaku, shiitake mushrooms, edamame, and bamboo shoot and could be seasoned with soy sauce, sake, and mirin.

Elements Required to Make Kuri Okowa

Kuri Okowa is made with only a handful of easy, seasonal substances.

Glutinous Rice (Mochigome)

A brief-grain rice that turns sticky when cooked. It offers Kuri Okowa its chewy texture and holds the chestnuts collectively.

Kuri (Chestnuts)

Candy and nutty chestnuts are the star of this dish. They add a refined taste and a comfortable texture that pairs completely with the sticky rice.

Azuki Beans

These small purple beans carry earthy sweetness and a pure purple tint to the rice, making the dish extra colourful and festive.

Salt

Just a little little bit of salt added in whereas cooking brings some further flavour to this easy dish.

Gomashio

It is a mixture of toasted sesame seeds and salt, usually sprinkled on high of rice earlier than serving. It provides nutty aroma, crunch, and further taste.

Step by Step Directions

1. Take away the laborious outer shell of the chestnuts, then soak them in a bowl of water in a single day. The following day, peel away the skinny inside pores and skin and set the chestnuts apart.
2. Rinse the rice till the water runs clear, drain nicely, and put aside. Rinse the azuki beans and drain.
3. Place 2 & ¼ cups of water and the azuki beans right into a stress cooker. Lock the lid, carry to excessive warmth, and as soon as the stress indicator rises, scale back to low and cook dinner for five minutes.
4. Rapidly launch the stress following your cooker’s directions. Open the lid, scoop up a few of the cooking liquid with a ladle, and pour it again in a number of instances—this helps carry out the purple shade within the rice.
5. Add the rinsed rice, ready chestnuts, and salt to the pot. Lock the lid once more, carry to excessive warmth, and await the stress pin to rise. As soon as it does, decrease the warmth and cook dinner for 3 minutes.
6. Flip off the warmth and let the stress launch naturally. When totally launched, open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a paddle, taking care to not squish the rice nor mash the chestnuts.
7. Serve heat, sprinkled with black sesame and salt (gomashio) for further taste.

Serving Solutions

Kuri Okowa is greatest loved heat, proper after cooking, when the chestnuts are comfortable and the rice is completely sticky. Serve it as a aspect dish with miso soup, grilled fish, or seasonal pickles for a comforting autumn meal. It’s additionally excellent in bento containers for picnics or college occasions. Sprinkle just a little gomashio on high simply earlier than serving.