Aromatic Chwinamul and Shiitake Mushroom Rice
Flavorful Chwinamul and Shiitake Mushroom Rice for 4 Servings
Enjoy a nutritious rice dish packed with the fresh flavors of spring chwinamul (Korean aster) and fragrant shiitake mushrooms. This recipe uses pre-blanched chwinamul for convenience. It’s a wonderful way to sneak in fiber, as even children tend to love its delicious taste. The satisfying texture of shiitake mushrooms combined with the subtle aroma of chwinamul creates a truly appetite-whetting, healthy meal. Serve with a side of seasoned chives for an even richer flavor experience.
Main Ingredients- 300g blanched chwinamul (Korean aster), prepared
- 2 cups (360g) medium-grain rice
- 2 cups (400ml) water
- 150g fresh shiitake mushrooms
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cut the prepared blanched chwinamul into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4 cm long. If they are too long, they might be difficult to mix well with the rice.
Step 2
For the fresh shiitake mushrooms, remove the stems and slice the caps into pieces about 1 to 1.5 cm thick. Slicing them this way helps their aromatic flavor infuse beautifully into the rice.
Step 3
Rinse the rice thoroughly, drain it in a sieve, and then soak it in cold water for about 10 minutes. Soaking the rice beforehand ensures that the cooked rice will be wonderfully soft and fluffy.
Step 4
Drain the soaked rice and mix it with the chopped chwinamul. You can lightly season the chwinamul at this stage with a little soy sauce or salt to enhance its natural flavor. (This step is optional; you can also adjust the seasoning with the sauce later.)
Step 5
In a large bowl, combine the sliced shiitake mushrooms and the seasoned chwinamul. Gently mix them together with a little soy sauce, sesame oil, and minced garlic, or your preferred seasonings. Marinating the mushrooms and chwinamul separately allows the shiitake mushrooms to absorb the flavors more deeply, resulting in a richer taste.
Step 6
Now, place the soaked and drained rice into the inner pot of your electric pressure cooker. Arrange the seasoned shiitake mushrooms and chwinamul attractively on top of the rice. Try to distribute the water evenly over the ingredients.
Step 7
Put the inner pot into the pressure cooker, check the water level, and select the ‘White Rice’ cooking mode. Using a pressure cooker will help the ingredients’ flavors and aromas permeate the rice grains more effectively, leading to a delicious outcome.
Step 8
Serve the freshly cooked chwinamul and shiitake mushroom rice in bowls. Enjoy it with the prepared seasoned chive sauce on the side, mixing it in as desired for an even more satisfying meal. Savor the fragrant essence of spring with this warm, freshly made rice!
Step 9
To make the seasoned chive sauce: Finely chop the washed chives. In a bowl, combine the chives with water, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, gochugaru, perilla oil, and sesame seeds to your liking. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated. This sauce is delicious when mixed into the rice!
