> Skip to content

Recipe  •  22 September 2023

 

Soy-cured egg rice

A traditional Japanese snack, marinated overnight for ultimate flavour.

This traditional Japanese snack, known as tamago gohan (egg-rice) is essentially egg-fried rice without the frying: a bowl of soy sauce-seasoned hot rice, stirred through with a raw egg yolk. I prefer a soy-cured egg yolk, but they can be a bit too jammy to mix into the rice properly, so I add another, unadorned yolk at service. The eggs’ marinating time is flexible, but this is a great breakfast dish, and the length of a good night’s sleep is the sweet spot. It is also superbly well-paired with some of the pickles on pages 133–5, which likewise can be prepared the day before. A note about eggs – in 2017 British eggs were declared safe to eat raw (or lightly cooked, as here) provided they have the Lion stamp.

Cook Time: 15 minutes
Marinating Time: 8 hours
Makes: Brunch for 2 


INGREDIENTS

  • 40ml soy sauce, plus 1 teaspoon
  • 1/2 tablespoon mirin
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 150g long- or medium-grain rice
  • Furikake, shichimi togarashi or sesame seeds (optional)

 

METHOD

  1. Mix 25ml of soy sauce and the mirin in a small bowl, then slide in two of the egg yolks, topping up with soy to make sure they’re covered. Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate for 8–10 hours. Give them a swirl halfway (but only if you happen to be awake).

  2. To cook the rice, first wash it three times in a small saucepan to remove excess starch, then add 300ml of water and bring it to the boil over a high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a bare simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 8 minutes.

  3. Remove the rice from the heat and leave for 10 minutes, still covered, to finish cooking.

  4. Divide the hot cooked rice into two bowls. Add an unmarinated egg yolk along with 1/2 teaspoon of soy sauce to each bowl, and stir through vigorously so that the yolk gently cooks as it coats the rice. Top with a marinated egg yolk and a sprinkling of furikake, shichimi or sesame seeds.

Feature Title

of Cabbages & Kimchi
A playful and accessible guide to fermenting at home
Read more

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
Chinese leaf kimchi (baechu kimchi)

Fermentation fun with kimchi.

Recipe
Kimchi pancakes (kimchijeon)

A common and delicious Korean snack.

Recipe
Chilli Con Carne Meatballs

Take your meatball game to the next level.

Recipe
Love Monsters

These lovable monsters are perfect for Valentine's Day and can be made without the Oreo mouths, if preferred.

Recipe
Honey-Garlic Chicken

Sweet and savoury with a satisfying richness in every bite.

Recipe
Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Jjigae)

To me, kimchi jjigae is the ultimate comfort meal that reminds me of home.

Recipe
The Toll House Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies

There's no recipe more important to the baking legacy of the United States than the chocolate chip cookie.

Recipe
Skordalia (Bread & Walnut Garlic Dip)

In many parts of Greece, skordalia is known as a garlic and potato dip, but the combination of bread and walnuts, common in the north of the country, gives the condiment richness and body.

Recipe
Lobster Avocado Salad

This recipe is a celebration of summer.

Recipe
Aubergine Rolls with Walnut Filling

Georgia's rich culinary tradition is often overlooked.

Recipe
Crushed Olive Spread

I’ve converted countless olive haters to olive lovers with the introduction of my fave Castelvetrano, the meaty, mild Queen of Olives.

Recipe
Grated Tomato Linguine

A delicious pasta sauce made with the freshest in-season tomatoes.

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes
penguin pop image
penguin pop image