From gluten-free to plant-forward diets, many people are making healthy food choices for various reasons. Japanese cuisine is popular amongst health-conscious consumers as Japanese food tends to be vegetable-rich and focuses on eating what’s in season.
Today, we are introducing Konjac Grain (Shirataki Rice). Another unique and healthy ingredient from Japan. Find out what it is, and be inspired to incorporate this ingredient into your everyday diet.
What is Konjac Grain (Shirataki Rice)?
Konjac Grain (Shirataki Rice) itself looks just like Japanese rice grain. However, it’s made with high-quality konjac (konnyaku) powder and packs a lot of healthy nutrients. They are low in calories and carbohydrates. Konjac Grain (Shirataki Rice) absorbs about 2.5 times more water than regular rice. Thus, you need less grain to cook the same amount of rice, making Konjac Grain about 40% fewer calories than regular rice.
This gluten-free and vegan ingredient has a rubbery and chewy texture. In Japan, Konjac has long been called the “broom of the stomach” and contains the dietary fiber glucomannan, which helps expel waste and toxins from the body.
Konjac usually has a strong fishy scent, even though it usually has little to no flavor. However, Shirataki Rice is less smelly than regular konjac products thanks to Ohara Group’s unique technology during production. Ohara Group, headquartered in Kanazawa, specializes in konjac products and produces many plant-based and gluten-free products. Ohara prides itself on being a bridge between food manufacturers and consumers and strives to deliver happiness to people worldwide through food.
How to Use Konjac Grain?
Using Konjac Grain is relatively easy. Just boil one package (60g) with at least one cup of water for about ten minutes. Once cooked, all you need to do is to drain and enjoy! It’s as easy as making quinoa or couscous. Similar to how you can season quinoa or couscous with broth or other seasonings, you can use broth instead of water to cook Shirataki Rice to add subtle flavor. This versatile food can be seasoned with any kind of sauce, dressing, or seasonings.
You can mix cooked Konjac Grain to garnish salads, soups, stews, and sauteed dishes. You can even add them to your go-to veggie burger patty recipe if you’re adventurous. The usage is limitless. Add this unique ingredient to okonomiyaki, macaroni & cheese, and more to enjoy a new culinary experience.
You can, of course, mix Konjac Rice with regular rice to cook steamed rice, which is the most common way of using this product in Japan. Blend one package of Konjac Grain and 150g (5.3 oz) of Japanese rice in a pot. Then, add 360 ml (12 fl oz) of water to cook rice as directed. You can make a healthier version of Japanese rice without compromising the taste by mixing Konjac Rice! Just like Japanese rice, you can make sushi, fried rice, and much more with Konjac Grain blended rice. You can also freeze cooked rice for later use.
Try New Ingredients from Japan Now!
Many Japanese ingredients are vegan-friendly and health-conscious. Umami Insider, an online Japanese grocery store, is your gateway to exploring many carefully-selected artisan ingredients from Japan. Discover the new texture of Konjac Grain and enjoy the health benefits added to your typical dish.
