Zōsui - Japanese Rice Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups (470ml) chicken broth 2 cups (470ml) chicken broth
• 2 cups (470ml) water 2 cups (470ml) water
• 1 cup (185g) cooked rice 1 cup (185g) cooked rice
• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
• 1 cup (150g) mushrooms, sliced 1 cup (150g) mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup (150g) mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn) 1 cup (150g) mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin 1 tablespoon mirin
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 220 kcal / 920 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 4g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 30g, 3g
• Protein: 18g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large pot, bring the chicken broth and water to a boil.
2. 2.
   Add the cooked rice to the pot and stir well to break up any clumps.
3. 3.
   Reduce the heat to medium and add the sliced chicken, mushrooms, and mixed vegetables to the pot.
4. 4.
   Stir in the soy sauce and mirin, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. 5.
   Simmer the soup for about 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
6. 6.
   Remove the pot from heat and stir in the sesame oil.
7. 7.
   Ladle the zōsui into bowls and garnish with sliced green onions.
8. 8.
   Serve hot and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Chicken breast — To ensure tender and juicy chicken, thinly slice the breast against the grain.
• Mushrooms — Use a mix of mushrooms such as shiitake, cremini, and oyster for a variety of flavors and textures.
• Cooked rice — Leftover rice works best for zōsui as it absorbs the flavors of the broth more easily.

Tips & Tricks

• For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the chicken.
• Feel free to add other vegetables such as spinach or bok choy for added nutrition.
• Adjust the seasoning according to your taste preferences by adding more soy sauce or mirin.
• To make it heartier, top the zōsui with a poached egg or crispy fried shallots.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated the next day, but the texture may become softer.

Serving advice

Serve the zōsui hot in individual bowls. It can be enjoyed as a complete meal on its own or paired with a side dish or salad for a more substantial meal.

Presentation advice

Garnish each bowl of zōsui with a sprinkle of sliced green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil. The vibrant green color of the onions and the glossy sheen of the oil will add visual appeal to the dish.