Aromatic Mugwort Rice (Sotbap): Capturing Spring’s Fragrance in a Healthy Delicacy
[Spring Seasonal Vegetable] Simple Mugwort Rice Recipe
As the beautiful cherry blossom season bids farewell, let’s capture the essence of spring with its fleeting seasonal vegetables! We’ve brought home a basket of fragrant mugwort, perfect for creating a delicious sotbap (rice cooked in a pot) and mugwort soup. This dish is not only easy and quick to make but also packed with the goodness of mugwort, known to protect the lungs, improve cardiovascular health, boost immunity, and benefit the skin. Enjoy a fragrant spring meal with this special recipe.
Main Ingredients (Serves 2 generously)- 2.5 cups short-grain rice
- 2.5 cups water
- 2 handfuls fresh mugwort
- 1-2 shiitake mushrooms
- 2 handfuls shrimp meat (approx. 15-16 pieces, frozen)
Shrimp Seasoning- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- A little olive oil
- 1 pinch black pepper
Dipping Sauce (Yangnyeomjang)- 2/3 small bowl soy sauce (recommended with lemon slice)
- 1 Tbsp kelp broth
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion (or chives, wild chives)
- 1 chili pepper (finely chopped)
- A little red pepper flakes
- 1/2 Tbsp perilla oil (or sesame oil)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- A little olive oil
- 1 pinch black pepper
Dipping Sauce (Yangnyeomjang)- 2/3 small bowl soy sauce (recommended with lemon slice)
- 1 Tbsp kelp broth
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion (or chives, wild chives)
- 1 chili pepper (finely chopped)
- A little red pepper flakes
- 1/2 Tbsp perilla oil (or sesame oil)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Prepare the Mugwort: Carefully remove any yellowed leaves or blemishes from the fresh mugwort. Rinse it thoroughly under cold running water and drain well in a colander. If the mugwort leaves are very long, you can cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 2
2. Start the Rice and Prepare Rice Water: Wash the rice about 3 times, just as you would for regular rice. Add water at a 1:1 ratio to the rice in your pot and begin cooking. (Tip: If you plan to make mugwort soup, save about 1 cup of the water from the second rice rinse. This cloudy rice water is perfect for making a flavorful soup.)
Step 3
3. Sauté the Shrimp: While the rice is cooking, prepare the toppings. Season the shrimp meat with salt, pepper, and ginger powder. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and quickly sauté the seasoned shrimp until they turn pink. This step adds a delicious nutty flavor.
Step 4
4. Slice the Shiitake Mushrooms: Cut the shiitake mushrooms into bite-sized pieces, similar in size to the shrimp.
Step 5
5. Add Toppings and Steam the Rice: Once the water in the pot starts to boil and then subsides, creating small steam holes on the surface of the rice, it’s time to let it steam. Just before this steaming phase, arrange the sliced shiitake mushrooms and sautéed shrimp evenly over the rice.
Step 6
Cover the pot again, reduce the heat to low, and let it steam for about 10 minutes.
Step 7
6. Add Mugwort and Rest: After about 10 minutes, when you can smell the fragrant rice and savory shrimp, the rice is nearly done. Now, generously spread the drained mugwort over the cooked rice. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let it rest for 2-3 minutes. This resting period allows the delicate aroma of the mugwort to infuse into the rice.
Step 8
While the mugwort steams and infuses its flavor, let’s make the dipping sauce.
Step 9
7. Make the Dipping Sauce: This is very simple. In a small bowl, combine 2/3 of a small bowl of soy sauce, finely chopped green onions (or chives, wild chives), and chopped chili pepper. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon of the reserved rice water (or kelp broth), and 1/2 tablespoon of perilla oil (or sesame oil). Mix everything well until evenly combined. This creates a wonderfully flavorful sauce for the rice. (Tip: For an extra spring touch, finely chop and add wild chives or regular chives.)
Step 10
8. Serve and Enjoy: In the meantime, your aromatic mugwort sotbap is ready! The moment you lift the lid, you’ll be greeted by an incredible, fresh mugwort aroma.
Step 11
Drizzle the dipping sauce over the rice and mix. It’s so delicious that even with just some kimchi, you’ll find yourself finishing the entire pot in no time. Experience the magic of this incredibly satisfying meal!
