Looking to elevate your weeknight rice? This nourishing Hijiki Rice is a colourful, umami-packed Japanese mixed rice cooked in seasoned dashi, loaded with seaweed and carrots. It’s not just delicious—it’s a mineral-dense, vegan-friendly comfort dish that celebrates the best of seasonal, whole-food ingredients.
Unlike plain rice, Japanese mixed rice is simmered in a savory broth, absorbing all the flavours from the dashi, soy, mirin, and sake. Each bite is infused with nourishment and gentle complexity.
Why Hijiki?
Hijiki is a traditional Japanese sea vegetable, valued for its high dietary fiber and essential minerals like iron and calcium. It brings a delicate earthiness to the rice and pairs beautifully with sweet carrots and umami-rich stock.
🌿 Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the Rice:
- 1½ cups Japanese short-grain white rice
- 3 Tbsp dried hijiki seaweed
- ⅓ medium carrot, cut into matchsticks
- 3 shallots chopped finely
For the Dashi Stock:
- 1⅓ cup water
- 12g instant dashi powder (kombu-based for vegan option)
Seasonings:
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp sake
- ½ tsp Celtic Sea salt
🛒 Hijiki is available at health food stores or online from amazon.com.au.
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep the Hijiki:
Soak 3 Tbsp dried hijiki in a bowl of water for 10 minutes. Once softened, drain in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse well under running water. Gently squeeze out excess water and set aside.
2. Wash the Rice:
Place the rice in a bowl, cover with water, swirl gently, and discard the water. Repeat rinsing until the water runs clear. Drain and let rest for 5–10 minutes.
3. Cook the Rice:
In your rice cooker pot, combine:
- Washed rice
- Dashi stock
- Soy sauce, mirin, sake, and salt
Stir gently to distribute the seasonings. Then layer the drained hijiki , shallots and carrot on top—do not mix them into the rice.
👉 This keeps the texture light and prevents uneven cooking.
4. Cook:
Use the “Mixed Rice” setting if your rice cooker has one. Otherwise, the standard setting will work fine. Once the cooking cycle completes, let the rice steam undisturbed for 10–15 minutes before opening the lid.
🍚 To Serve
Using a rice paddle or wooden spoon, gently fluff and fold the rice with a slicing motion. Serve warm in small bowls as a main or side dish.
✨ Final Notes
This classic Japanese mixed rice is a wonderful way to integrate plant-based minerals and seasonal simplicity into your meals. Try it with seasonal additions like bamboo shoots, mushrooms, or edamame.
Looking for more warming, mineral-rich meals? Browse our [recipe collection] or book an appointment to learn how food therapy integrates with Chinese medicine at Eastern Therapies.
