Tomato Rice (Takikomi Gohan)
About This Recipe
Tomato Takikomi Gohan (Japanese Mixed Rice with Tomato) is a simple yet comforting dish that brings together the natural umami of tomatoes with the savoury depth of shiitake and kombu dashi—or a good vegetable stock if you prefer. Traditionally, takikomi gohan involves cooking rice with seasonal ingredients and a flavourful broth, and in this version, the tomato becomes the star. Whether you use ripe fresh tomatoes or convenient tinned ones, the result is a juicy, slightly tangy rice dish with a rich, mellow flavour. Perfect on its own or served as a side, it’s a plant-based twist on a Japanese classic that’s both hearty and easy to make.
Ingredients
- 2 cups White rice
- 1 Tomato large fresh or tinned (See notes)
- 2 cups Shiitake Kombu Dashi or Vegetable Stock
- Black Pepper for seasoning
Instructions
- 1
Wash rice until water runs clear (usually about 3 times)
Put rice in rice cooker and add either shiitake kombu dashi and a pinch of salt or vegetable stock to the 2 cup level on the rice cooker bowl.
Cut the stem piece out of the top of the tomato and make about 8 cuts from the top to about half the depth of the tomato and place the tomato on top of the rice in the rice cooker. Alternatively you can just chop tomato into about 1 cm pieces and put on top of the rice.
- 2
Start rice cooker on white rice setting and leave to cook.
When cooking cycle has finished turn off rice cooker but do not open the lid. Leave to sit for about 10 minutes then gently break up the tomato (if you used put it in whole) and mix the tomato through the cooked rice.
- 3
Put cooked tomato rice into individual serving bowls and season with freshly ground black pepper and serve while hot.
Notes
If using tinned tomato then use about half a cup of tomato pieces.
Shiitake mushroom kombu dashi is easy to make and follow this link for the recipe.
If using vegetable stock you can make your own (see recipe here) or buy a ready made one or use powdered stock made up as per the directions of the manufacturer.
If using purchased vegetable stock you will probably not need to add any extra salt but taste to see if it's to your liking or not.