Kayaku Gohan (Rice With Vegetables) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups short-grain rice
1/2 1/2 cup ground chicken (all work well) or 1/2 cup diced chicken
2 tablespoons corn oil (if you're using meat) or 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (if you're using meat)
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1/4 lb shiitake mushroom, stems removed and caps sliced
1 small carrot, finely diced
1/4 1/4 cup water chestnuts or 1/4 cup celery, chopped
1/4 lb fried tofu (abruage) or 1/4 lb firm tofu, well pressed and cut into chunks
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons mirin or 3 tablespoons honey
2 1/2 2 1/2 cups chicken stock or 2 1/2 cups water

Preparation

Wash the rice and soak it in water to cover while you prepare the other ingredients.
If you are using meat or chicken, put the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the meat or chicken and cook, stirring occasionally to break up lumps, until it browns; season with a bit of salt and pepper and turn off the heat.
In a medium saucepan or flameproof casserole with a lid, combine all the ingredients including the meat or chicken and the drained rice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then stir once and cover. Reduce the heat to low and cook for a bout 20 minutes and let sit, covered, for 15 - 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, then serve.