Five-Grain Rice (O-gok-bap) for Jeongwol Daeboreum
How to Make Nutritious Five-Grain Rice (O-gok-bap) for Jeongwol Daeboreum – A Versatile Multi-Grain Rice Recipe
I’ve made the traditional O-gok-bap eaten on Jeongwol Daeboreum (the first full moon of the lunar new year). It makes me feel so healthy! 🙂 This hearty and nutritious rice is perfect for a wholesome meal.
Ingredients- Sweet Rice (Glutinous Rice) 2.5 cups
- Red Beans 1/2 cup
- Millet (or Sorghum) 1/2 cup
- Foxtail Millet 1/3 cup
- Proso Millet 1/3 cup
- Black Beans 1/5 cup
- Water (as needed)
- Salt to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Traditionally, O-gok-bap includes five grains: red beans, millet, foxtail millet, sweet rice, and black beans. However, nowadays you can customize it with your favorite grains according to your preference. Adding chestnuts or dates can also enhance the flavor and nutritional value.
Step 2
Rinse the sweet rice, millet, proso millet, and foxtail millet thoroughly. Then, soak them in water for about 30 minutes. Soaking allows the grains to absorb moisture, resulting in softer and more delicious cooked rice.
Step 3
Rinse the black beans clean and soak them in water as well. Since beans require soaking time, it’s best to prepare them along with the other grains.
Step 4
Now, let’s cook the red beans. First, wash the red beans carefully under running water. Place them in a pot, add enough water to cover them, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, discard the initial cooking water. This step helps remove any bitterness or astringency from the beans. Refill the pot with 500ml of fresh water, add the washed red beans and 0.5 tsp of salt. Simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes. Cook the beans until they are tender but still hold their shape – they should be ‘al dente,’ not mushy.
Step 5
Prepare to cook the rice. Combine the soaked sweet rice, millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, soaked black beans, and the cooked red beans in your rice cooker pot or a cooking pot. Gently mix them with your hands to distribute the ingredients evenly. If you’re adding chestnuts or other ingredients, mix them in at this stage.
Step 6
Transfer the mixed grains into the rice cooker or pot, spreading them out evenly. It’s good to lightly level the surface to ensure even cooking.
Step 7
Create the cooking liquid using the water from cooking the red beans. Dissolve 0.5 tsp of salt into the red bean water, adjusting the seasoning to your taste. The red bean water itself will add a subtle umami flavor.
Step 8
Pour the prepared red bean water over the grains in the pot. The red bean water alone might not be enough to cook the rice properly.
Step 9
Since the red bean water isn’t sufficient on its own, add more regular water to reach the desired level for cooking rice. The exact amount of water needed can vary depending on the type of grains and how long they were soaked. Adjust the water as you normally would when cooking rice.
Step 10
Now, let’s cook the rice. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes. Then, lower the heat to low and cook for another 8-10 minutes. After cooking, let the rice steam, covered, without opening the lid for 10 minutes. This steaming process ensures the rice is fluffy, tender, and glossy.
