Summer Mixed Corn Rice
Summer Mixed Corn Rice with Soy Butter is my ultimate summer comfort food. Sweet, juicy corn and smoky bacon come together with a touch of soy butter to create a dish that’s cozy yet packed with fresh seasonal flavor. The secret is cooking the rice with the corn cobs to make a natural “corn cob dashi,” which infuses the rice with even more corn sweetness. A squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of cilantro bring everything to life. It’s summer festival in one bite!
Rice Porridge with Kale and Mushrooms
What do you eat when you're sick? In Japan, we eat okayu, a simple rice porridge similar to congee. To start, make dashi using dried shiitake mushrooms. Soak them in cold water to rehydrate—the soaking water will become a flavorful mushroom dashi, and the mushrooms themselves will be used as a topping.
The okayu I'm making today isn’t necessarily for when you're already sick, since it involves some cooking. Personally, I can’t cook when I’m feeling unwell, but this is perfect when you’re starting to feel under the weather. It's easy to digest, and in Japan, we also feed okayu to babies as their first solid food.
Whether you're sick or not, this bowl is nourishing, cozy, and packed with flavor.