SkinnyCook

Traditional Japanese Rice and Fish

I have a burgeoning interest in tradtional Japanese cooking, so today’s post is about my lunch of rice and poached fish. Sexy, no? It’s actually ridiculously fast (if you already have some leftover rice chillin’ out in the fridge) healthy, tasty, and utterly easy.

Poached Fish

1 or 2 filets of fish - Again, use whatever you like. I used dover sole, but it could be anything. Mild white fish will poach well. Salmon or tuna would work, but they will be more delicious broiled or grilled because of their high fattiness.
1/2 cup stock, bullion or white wine - We need something with a bit of flavor for poaching the fish. Vegetable, fish, or chicken stock will do fine, just don’t use beef stock.
cooked rice - Any sort will do fine. I like jasmine for this.

Heat a large skillet with the cooking liquid of your choice. Rinse the fish. When the liquid comes to a boil, add the fish. Let cook, undisturbed for 3-4 minutes. Flip it over for an additional 3-4 minutes. That’s it! Put that over hot rice and you’re golden. It’s pretty plain just like that, so I suggest some soy sauce. A traditional Japanese meal wouldn’t be complete without their weird pickles and condiments. I know you’ve been dying to buy a jar of them from your local specialty grocery, so now’s your excuse. I’d suggest salted plums, gomiaso or my new fave, seaweed salad.

Seaweed Salad

1/2 cup arame or wakame seaweed
1/2 cup hijiki seaweed
*Seaweed is available dried in PDX at Peoples and Food Front in the bulk bins. Otherwise, all Asian grocers (Fubonn)  will carry more types of seaweed than you knew existed.
1 tbl. lemon juice or rice wine vinegar
1 tbl. olive oil
3 tbl. apple cider or 2 tbl. mirin
1 tbl. sesame oil
1 tbl. soy sauce

Soak the dried seaweed in enough water to cover for one hour. Rinse and drain. Saute in a smallish skillet for 15 minutes with the olive oil. Add remaining ingredients and cook for about 5 minutes more until the liquid is absorbed. This will make enough for several meals and is good with all types of grains or on top of some lettuce for a super-healthy salad.