Natto Ochazuke: Easy Nutritious Recipe using Dried Natto
Originating from Japan, Natto (納豆) is a fermented soybean with a characteristic smell and slimy consistency, because of which many people can’t eat this soy food.
Have you ever eaten the delicacy before? If not, I want you to try it at least once because Natto is a superfood packed with nutrients such as vitamin K, soy isoflavone, Nattokinase, protein, and dietary fiber.
Hoshi Natto (干し納豆: Dried Natto)
By the way, do you know the snack food Hoshi Natto? It consists of Natto beans salted, coated with wheat or Katakuriko flour, and dried in the sun.
Nutrients
As with regular sticky Natto, the dried fermented soybeans are a rich source of nutrients, generally said to contain about 1.5 times the potassium, 1.8 times the iron, and twice the zinc compared to ordinary Natto.
Also, the amount of minerals in Hoshi Natto is large. Besides, when dried in the sun, Natto beans taste better. So, accordingly, Hoshi Natto is savorier and easy to eat.
How to Eat
With Hoshi Natto, you can take various nutrients probably without feeling unpleasant. Of course, the dried Natto is edible as is. Also, it is usable in dishes.
Natto Ochazuke Recipe using Hoshi Natto
Image: tengunatto.com
Therefore, today, let me introduce an easy O-Chazuke recipe using Hoshi Natto, which a TV show introduced before.
Ochazuke (お茶漬け), also called Chazuke, is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of white rice soaked in green tea or soup and usually topped with salty or savory foods.
Since Ochazuke is very easy to prepare, we Japanese sometimes enjoy it at meals.
With the following instructions and dried fermented beans, you can readily enjoy a healthy and nutritious Natto Ochazuke even at your home!
Instructions
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Dry Natto Beans (Hoshi Natto) | 50 grams |
| Soy sauce | 1.5 tablespoons |
| Toppings (Chopped green onions, fine strips of ginger, Shiso leaves, Myoga ginger, or the like) | As you like |
| White sesame seeds | As you like |
- Combine the Natto beans with the soy sauce and let the mixture rest overnight so that the Natto can absorb the flavor.
- Put the seasoned Natto onto a warm bowl of plain rice.
- Add additional toppings to the bowl if desired.
- Pour hot green tea into the bowl until it entirely soaks the rice.
- Now, it is ready to eat. Enjoy!
