Kayaku Gohan (Rice With Vegetables)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups short-grain rice
• 1/2 cup ground beef or ground pork or ground turkey or ground chicken (all work well) or diced chicken
• 2 tablespoons corn oil or grapeseed oil (if you're using meat)
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1/4 lb shiitake mushroom, stems removed and caps sliced
• 1 small carrot, finely diced
• 1/4 cup bamboo shoot or water chestnut or celery, chopped
• 1/4 lb fried tofu, well pressed and cut into chunks (abruage) or firm tofu, well pressed and cut into chunks
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons mirin or honey
• 2 1/2 cups dashi or chicken stock or water

Directions

1. 1

   Wash the rice and soak it in water to cover while you prepare the other ingredients.

2. 2

   If you are using meat or chicken, put the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the meat or chicken and cook, stirring occasionally to break up lumps, until it browns; season with a bit of salt and pepper and turn off the heat.

3. 3

   In a medium saucepan or flameproof casserole with a lid, combine all the ingredients including the meat or chicken and the drained rice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then stir once and cover. Reduce the heat to low and cook for a bout 20 minutes and let sit, covered, for 15 - 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, then serve.