Summer is almost at an end. Almost, but not quite yet. With the daytime temperature still reaching over 30 degrees, I have been craving for a dish that is light yet comforting…

That’s when Ochazuke (お茶漬け) comes in handy: a simple rice dish which combines green tea (ocha), steamed rice, and an assortment of savory ingredients (zuke means “submerged”). In Japanese homes, ochazuke is often regarded as a comfort food. It is typically enjoyed as a filler snack, any time of the day, but it is especially loved as a midnight snack (or as a hangover remedy)!

Try this really simple recipe and enjoy a hearty snack like your favorite manga character!

(You can use cold rice and cold dashi or tea in summer time to enjoy a more refreshing version of Ochazuke.)

Ingredients:

Ochazuke:

• 1 cup cooked, steamed Japanese rice
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup hot brewed Japanese tea (I swear by the Gyokuro stems teabag from Nakamura Tokichi Honten!) , just enough to cover the rice
• 1/2 tbsp of soya sauce (optional)
• Pinch of white sesame seeds (toasted)
• Pinch of shredded seaweed

Seared Oysters:

• 3-4 oysters
• 1/4 cup mirin
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce

Directions:

1. Set frying pan to medium-high heat.
2. Pat oysters dry. Add to the pan and cook for a 1-2 minutes on each side until nicely brown.
3. Remove oysters and reduce the heat to medium. Mix mirin, brown sugar and soy sauce, add to the pan.
4. If sauce is nicely reduced and thickened, turn off heat. If not, continue to cook over medium heat until desired consistency is reached.
5. Add in oysters and stir-fry for 1 minute, or until they are well-coated with the sauce.
6. Pour the tea until it covers half of the rice and top with oysters. Add soy sauce if you like.
7. Sprinkle sesame seeds and shredded seaweed on top for extra flavor.