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–+ servings

Homemade Ochazuke Seasoning Mix

Prep Time5 minutes
Author Yuto Omura
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients 
 

Mixed first

Added last

  • 1 tbsp arare tiny baked rice crackers about the size of a peppercorn, or 2 tbsp crushed kaki no tane, senbei, or plain savory puffed rice
  • 1 tbsp kizami nori (shredded nori)
  • 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds

To serve

Instructions 

  • Grind ½ tbsp dashi granules, 1 tsp bonito flakes (katsuobushi), ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp sugar together using a mortar and pestle.
    grinding bonito flakes with Japanese suribachi (mortar and pestle)
  • Pour the mixture into a small bowl and add ½ tsp matcha powder. Mix until combined.
    homemade instant ochazuke ingredients with matcha in a glass bowl being mixed with a wooden spoon
  • Right before you use it, add 1 tbsp arare (or a crunchy substitute), 1 tbsp kizami nori (shredded nori), and 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds and mix until evenly distributed.
    homemade instant ochazuke ingredients in a bowl with arare (rice crackers) and kizami (shredded) nori
  • Divide 250 g cooked Japanese short-grain rice between serving bowls. Spoon the ochazuke mixture over the top.
    Homemade instant ochazuke over rice next to store-bought instant ochazuke over rice
  • Prepare 250 ml freshly boiled water and pour it down the side of each bowl rather than directly on top.
    Homemade instant ochazuke and store bought side by side over rice topped with hot water
  • Serve immediately and mix gently. Enjoy!
    a scoop of ochazuke made with homemade instant ochazuke ingredients(powder) on a wooden spoon

Notes

Grind the coarse things first, add the matcha after: Flakes, crystals, and granules have to come down to the same size before they act as a single seasoning. Matcha has nothing left to break, and an even green tells you it reached everything.
A wet spoon is what ruins the jar: The risk starts on your second bowl, when the spoon has already been near steam or a wet counter. Fine powder takes that water and sets into lumps you have to break apart before you can measure anything again.
Crushed crackers need more spoon than arare: Arare grains pack a spoon solid, while anything you crush yourself lands as loose, uneven pieces with air between them. Scooped the same way, the crushed version arrives short and the bowl comes out weak.
Eat it the moment the water is in: Every second the rice sits in liquid it drinks and swells, and the bowl turns from something you drink through into something you chew through. You have about a minute.