Seasoned Rice with Clams はまぐりの炊き込みごはん

In Japan, March 3 is a festival called Hinamatsuri, or Doll’s Day. People decorate with hina dolls and eat festive foods to pray for the healthy growth of girls. Clams are one food that is eaten on Hinamatsuri. Seasoned rice with clams that are best in the spring is a great dish to make.

日本では、3月3日は「ひなまつり」。雛人形を飾り、お祝い膳を食べ、女の子の健やかな成長を祈ります。「ひなまつり」に食べられているものの一つが、はまぐり。春に旬を迎えるはまぐりでぜひ作りたい炊き込みごはんです。

How to cook

The rice is cooked in broth made from the stock of sake-steamed clams flavored with soy sauce and salt. Seasoned rice that combines the rich and savory flavor of clams with fluffy Japan rice is exquisite. It is also delicious made with bivalves instead of clams.

Ingredients for 3 serving

300g (10.5oz): Rice(uncooked)
200㎖ (6.7fl oz): Sake
1 Tbsp: Soy sauce <A>
1 tsp: Salt <A>
As needed: Water <A>
6 or 7: Clams
6: Snap peas

Cooking Steps

30 minutes

Preparation

Wash the rice and place it in a strainer (see here for instructions on how to wash rice). Fill a tray with 500㎖ (16.9fl oz) of water and mix in 1 Tbsp of salt (separate from the ingredients). Line up the clams in the water so that they do not overlap, and let them soak for 1 to 2 hours to remove any sand. Remove the stems and strings from the snap peas and cut them into bite-size pieces. Put a pinch of salt in boiling water and boil the snap peas.

Steam the clams in sake

Put the clams and sake into a frying pan, place a lid on top, and turn the heat on high. When the clams open, transfer them to a tray or another dish(Keep the stock in the pan).

Make the broth

Transfer the stock left in the frying pan from step 2 into a large measuring cup and add the soy sauce and salt from <A>. Add water until it measures about 435㎖ (14.7fl oz).

Cook the rice

Put the rice and 3 into a pot(thick pot is better) , place a lid on top, and turn the heat on high. When it starts to boil, let it cook for 8 minutes and then turn off the heat. Open the lid and stir.