RECIPE: Natto on Rice
The most typical, traditional Japanese way of serving natto: simply on a bowl of rice. The vast majority of Japanese consume natto as a quotidien meal in this way, with only some variation of add-on ingredients or condiments used.
How to Cook Japanese Rice
- For typical Japanese-style rice, select a white ”short-grain”or “sushi” rice, using about 1 cup of dry rice for 2 servings. Cover the rice with water and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes.
- Wash rice, soak briefly, mix, drain & repeat with cold water in its cooking vessel until water runs clear. This removes excess pulverized starch left over from the rice polishing process which makes the rice stickier and less fluffy if not removed before cooking.
- Add fresh water to the drained, rinsed rice (1:1, equal parts) and bring to a boil over medium heat. If you have an automatic rice cooker, simply start cooking and skip ahead to step 6.
- Once boiling, cover pot, reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Turn off heat and allow rice to continue steaming for at least10 more minutes, covered (don’t open!)
- Uncover and mix by gently scooping up from the bottom up to fluff rice.
Now the rice, natto’s bestie, is ready; next, we prepare the natto separately.
The special sticky nature of natto is so revered by Japanese natto fans, that the first step of prepping natto is to vigorously stir it to enhance this “neba-neba” quality!
- In a small bowl, place your portion of natto (~3tbs /45g is a typical serving)
- Add a small splash of soy sauce or gluten-free tamari to taste. Generally, another ingredient with some bite is added too - popular additions include: mustard, chopped scallions or shiso leaf, raw egg, or pickled umeboshi plum.
- Quickly whip it with chopsticks or a fork in a circular motion, transforming the sticky sauce into a stretchy foam!
- Scoop cooked, hot rice into a serving bowl & transfer the whipped natto mixture on top.
- Enjoy a deeply authentic Japanese power breakfast dish! (of course, natto can be eaten as an easy meal or snack at any time of day or night, like a bowl of cereal)
How To Eat Natto Rice
Be warned, it’s goopy! Eating natto this way without getting some of its spider web strings everywhere takes some practice. It may be easier to use a spoon than chopsticks.
Some people like to mix the whole thing together; others like to keep the rice/natto more separated. Scooping the rice & natto up in pieces of nori seaweed is another handy way to consume natto rice. Old school natto rice is the dominant recipe for serving natto in Japan, but some alternative regional natto traditions exist.
For more recipes ways to eat natto visit our Natto Recipes page.