Aromatic Gondre Rice: The Secret to Easy Electric Rice Cooker Preparation
Recipe for Gondre Rice with Soy Sauce Dressing Using Frozen Gondre Leaves, Made Easily in an Electric Rice Cooker
Nowadays, you can easily purchase pre-cooked gondre (a type of edible thistle) which makes preparing gondre rice incredibly simple. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also a healthy choice. Enjoy this nutritious and flavorful dish!
Gondre Rice Ingredients- 100g frozen gondre leaves
- 1 measuring cup of rice (approx. 150g)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang)
Flavorful Soy Sauce Dressing (Tbsp measurement)- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin, etc.)
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 Tbsp chopped chili pepper
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin, etc.)
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- 1 Tbsp chopped chili pepper
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 100g of frozen gondre leaves. Submerge them completely in cold water and place a heavy bowl or plate on top to press them down. This helps thaw the gondre evenly and more quickly.
Step 2
While the gondre thaws, let’s pre-soak the rice for the dish. Rinse 1 measuring cup of rice (about 150g) 2-3 times until the water runs clear. Then, soak the rice in cold water for about 30 minutes. Soaked rice yields a softer and more delicious cooked rice. The gondre should also be sufficiently thawed within 30 minutes.
Step 3
Once thawed, gently rinse the gondre leaves in cold water once or twice. Then, take both hands and gently squeeze out the excess water. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, as this could break down the leaves.
Step 4
Now, let’s chop the gondre leaves into bite-sized pieces. If the leaves are too long, it can be inconvenient when mixing and eating the rice. Chopping them into lengths of about 3-5 cm is recommended, depending on your preference. Avoid chopping them too finely to maintain a pleasant texture.
Step 5
Add 1 tablespoon of soup soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of perilla oil to the drained and chopped gondre leaves. Use your hands to gently massage the leaves, ensuring the seasoning is evenly distributed. The nutty aroma of the perilla oil will make the gondre even more flavorful.
Step 6
Drain the soaked rice and place it in the rice cooker. Add water, using slightly less than you normally would for plain rice (about 10% less). Arrange the seasoned gondre leaves attractively on top of the rice. It’s important to adjust the water level to avoid mushy rice.
Step 7
Simply press the ‘Cook’ button on your rice cooker, and that’s it! You can easily make delicious gondre rice. Use the standard white rice cooking mode.
Step 8
While the rice is cooking, let’s make the flavorful soy sauce dressing. In a bowl, combine 0.5 tablespoon of red pepper flakes, 0.5 tablespoon of minced garlic, 3 tablespoons of regular soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of cooking wine. Mix well. Then, add finely chopped green onion and chopped chili pepper, and finish with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for a vibrant dressing. If you prefer less spicy food, you can omit the chili pepper.
Step 9
Once the gondre rice is cooked, use a rice paddle to gently mix the rice and gondre leaves together within the cooker. As you mix, the earthy scent of gondre and the nutty aroma of perilla oil will combine, making your mouth water. The key is to mix gently to avoid mashing the rice grains.
Step 10
Serve the gondre rice in a bowl and drizzle with an extra tablespoon of perilla oil for an enhanced aroma and richer taste. Spoon the prepared spicy-sweet soy sauce dressing generously over the rice and mix well. The subtle aroma of gondre rice combined with the dressing creates a fantastic harmony. This dish makes a satisfying and delicious meal, even without many side dishes.
