Natto Ochazuke: Easy & Nutritious Recipe using Dried Natto
Originated in 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 it before? If not, I want you to give it a try at least once because Natto is a superfood packed with lots of 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 called Hoshi Natto made of Natto beans? It is made from Natto that’s been salted, coated with wheat or Katakuriko flour, and dried in the sun.
Nutrients
As with regular sticky Natto, the dried fermented soybeans are rich in nutrients, and Hoshi Natto is generally said to contain about 1.5 times the potassium, 1.8 times the iron, and twice the zinc compared to ordinary Natto.
Not only that, but the amount of minerals in Hoshi Natto is also larger. Besides, when Natto beans are dried in the sun, they taste better, so accordingly, Hoshi Natto is more savory and easier to eat.
How to Eat
With Hoshi Natto, you can take in various nutrients without feeling unpleasant. Of course, the dried Natto can be eaten as it is, and it can also be used in dishes.
Natto Ochazuke Recipe using Hoshi Natto
Image: tengunatto.com
Therefore, today let me introduce an easy O-Chazuke recipe using Hoshi Natto that was introduced in a TV show.
“Ochazuke (お茶漬け)“, also called Chazuke, is a common Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of white rice entirely soaked in green tea or soup, which is 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 also enjoy a healthy and nutritious Natto Ochazuke readily even outside of Japan.
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) | A proper amount |
| White sesame seeds | A proper amount |
- 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 on a hot bowl of plain rice
- Add additional toppings to the bowl if desired
- Pour hot green tea into the bowl until the rice is entirely soaked
- Ready to Eat, Enjoy!
