Furikake
About 16 years ago when I was still back in the UK, I had some of my Japanese exchange student friends around my gaff. I didn't have any food to feed them at the time and all that was available was plain rice ^^;
Kenichi says to me "Jyubun dayo!" [じゅうぶんだよ] meaning "thats more than enough!" He then whips out some sachets of power looking substance which he then started to sprinkle over the rice.
I was puzzled as to how powder could turn white rice into a meal for three.
That was my first encounter with Furikake [ふりかけ] pronounced "furi-karkeh." Furikake is basically dried food like eggs, fish, squid, seaweed etc. This powdery mix of dried food on rice alone is enough to fill you up without any extra dishes.
Ochazuke [お茶漬け] is a type of furikake and this is what it looks like sprinkled on some rice. Ochazuke contains light soup stock so you are required to pour a bit of water or Japanese/Chinese tea on top.
Ochazuke complete with oo-long tea, seaweed and pickles.
I actually uploaded these photos during the summer but forgot to release them. Ochazuke tastes fantastic on a hot summers day.
All supermarkets have furikake - lots of it.
Whenever I made a trip to Japan I would buy tons to bring back to the UK.
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Student
http://saikyou.wordpress.com
Oh good, Will check out the supermarkets here that specialises in these :D
Policy & Research Officer
http://www.alafista.com/
Oh yeah I love them, I always keep a few bottles in my fridges. Nice to spice up plain rice
Service desk support
http://lookingglass.kokidokom.net
not sure if i'd go for that stuff. Having said that, I always have an "emergency" supply or instant ramen around my house!!
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
http://www.moeside.net/weblog
Will search for these over at the supermarket. Hope they don't cost too expensive ^^;
Polytechnic Junior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer In-training.
http://thehangerbay.wordpress.com/
I have eaten Furikake, and it's tasty. Ochazuke is still an untried, but I'm looking forward to it. They're a tad on the pricy side, though.
Pre-Enlisted NS(Army)-men
http://elozt.wordpress.com/
Tried it sometime ago and I must admit, its pretty nice. Although I had to stick to non-seafood alternatives but its still good nevertheless.
Other than that, I'll usually have stash of instant noodles or cup noodles ready just in case.
Freelance Artist
http://edcomics.deviantart.com
That's kind of like the Zatarain's mixes I've been eating for a number of years. Of course, the difference is that you Mix the powder in when you make the rice. Add water, cover, and voila. You're also expected to add your own meat to the respective dishes, but I'm sure you could survive without that step.
Zatarain's Home Page:
http://www.zatarains.com/
Their Jambalaya is probably my favorite.
Techie
http://squeejunkyard.blogspot.com/
I usually have bonito flavored furikake with my rice and sometimes on okonomiyaki. As for ochazuke I like the seaweed flavoured mixes.
I'll like to try the Pokemon furikake in the last pic ;)
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
Just had some white rice with furikake this weekend.
I usually mix it with my onigiri too.
But I also like plain white rice with an umeboshi in the middle...
student
http://bakaboi.otakurean.com
hahahaha...i remember when i was in japan...we were having bento at a windy hill and...my most of my furikake flew away with the wind T_T
Student
http://marianto.deviantart.com/
I must be living under a rock to not know such food existed. Would love to try it one day. Good for a lazy guy like me that doesnt do a lot of cooking. Just a dash of furikake, woahla, rice will never taste as bland as before.
Japanese Student
http://japanqna.wordpress.com
I love Furikake!!
I always have it on hand. You can mix and match it up with many dishes, too! I sometimes have steak with wasabi sauce and furikake... Really, real, tasty stuff...
Student
http://basement.halfarenaissance.net
Mmmm! I love furikake! Used to buy those Pokemon and Sailor Moon ones! Hahaha, plus anime curry!
Motion Graphics Designer
ah wonderful furikake. was introduced to these by my japanese mates. i've had tons of furikake while i was cram studying for my exams, lol. nothing beats the simplicity and the ajinomoto ladened powdered eggs and meat over steam rice. and steam rice was the only thing we could find time to cook ^^;
damn those uni days, blergh.
Administrative Assistant
http://bob-san.animeblogger.net
I love this stuff.
I only recently tried it though. A shopping market in Arlington Heights IL (Mitsuwa's) was having their annual Bon-Obori Festival and I decided to pick up some things I'd never tried before while I was there. Expand my palete beyond mere ramen/udon bowls.
There were food sampling booths o I got to try that as well as a mushroom mix you add to rice while cooking it.
Pretty tastey.
I only wish the place was closer because no place here in Madison carries this stuff (At least as far as I'm aware)
Study
Dont think they seel any of this in my town, im pretty sure as lazy as i am i would know if this existed :).
I would like to try this, it looks better than super noodles!
Student
http://www.myspace.com/iroppoi_productions
looks really odd o.O but it would be fun to try some!! has to be better then instant noodles =.=
Administrative Assistant
http://bob-san.animeblogger.net
It is good.
But that gives me an idea....
Instant Udon with Furikake...
Gonna have to try that one. Just gotta go stock up on Udon.
Gunpla Enthusiast
i have these often, its great for student life and goes great with rice or noodles. yup.
University Student
I think it's alright. It's a bit salty though. I currently have wakame and sake-wakame (salmon and wakame) flavors in my cabinet. Last time I had it was about 2 weeks ago. I also have some anko that I made daifuku mochi with. Maybe I'll make some more for New Years...
Design Consultant
Anyone tried it with Halibut? Hmmm? No? Anyone?
Student
http://ordinarybot.wordpress.com/
I think my mom picked up some kind, I'm not sure, I remember it was fishy + seaweed. It was ok I guess, it reminded me of fishfood for some reason so I didn't like it too much.
Student
http://www.lsioblog.com
Haven't eaten this for a long time. I used to have them when I was living with my Japanese roommate. We ate them when none of us wanted to cook. Well, we were lazy.
Anime Store Owner, artist, Web master
http://www.chucksanimeshrine.com
I've tried the seaweed but it takes a bit getting used to, very good for you though.
student
http://animesugoi.animeblogger.net/
Furikake is abundant here and in many local foods. I personally like furikake with dried seaweed and sesame seeds mixed together with sea salt. Great to have on rice when you don't have anything to eat the rice with.
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
Mmmm you remind me to eat some I got LOL
Student/Part-timer
After reading this, I think I'm going to go get some rice and furikake! I have some excellent furikake that my friend brought back from Japan. It's a shame I don't know how to read. =(
Software Support
Furikake or Ochazuke always a must in the pantry of my apartment.
Quick dinner or lunch with some left over rice and hot tea... yum!!
I think I tried it...so I voted yes.
It was Korean packaging, but had Pikachu on it. Not sure if I prepared it right, cause every time I ate it, I got sick. >_< I still have the packaging up on my Fridge, though.
T
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Yup! I got a small glass container of furikake at home. Let's see. Ingredients: Seaweed, bonito, soy sauce, sesame seed, salt & sugar. (Another one had mirin in it). Yum! (Just taste it! If you don't compare it like flakes for aquarium fish, I'm sure you'll love it).
I tend to add finely cut salad and more soy sauce to that as well as rice, naturally. However, I try not to make staple food out of this, because it can lead you to some heavy nutritional deficiencies. Just keep it as emergency provisions. XD
Love rice wrapped in salted nori seaweed too. Hmmm. Just thinking of it makes me remember of good times passed by. ;)
Hikikomori in the making
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Would liek to try... looks delish... Slurps...
???Confused???
Interesting, kinda like alternative to cup noodles...
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
http://www.imagineboris.com
mhhhh sounds very good.
4th Year Business Economics Student
Haven't seen that here yet and probably won't either, Japanese food products are hardly available here. It looks yummy and compact, very handy when you don't like your friend's food. ^^
High School Graduate... Now what?
http://djet0.deviantart.com/
Ah, yes, furikake, simplicity at its best. But my question is always, "which one next?" Wasabi? Salmon? Kimchi? Ah so many to choose from!
It looks like extravagant rice gruel. I'm fine with my pickled veggies and chicken bouillon rice. Nice and affordable at around 40-50cents a serving. But... how much do those furikake packets cost?
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
Eh... never tried it but it looks harmless enough. I looky next time I'm at the asian market. Bon appetit.
http://blog.codefront.net/
After seeing your post I saw some furikake at the supermarket and bought some. Hoping to try it when I get hold of some home-cooked rice!
ecchi student
http://tofusando.blogspot.com
のりたまは大好きです!!
Project Administrator by Force
http://ivalicealliance.wordpress.com
Awwwww I want that cup... is it yours or the kissaten's?
Something to do with cars
http://bvc100.blogspot.com/
Dried foodstuff eh? Looks tasty (bachelor's view into foods...). This kinda remind me of the stuff you can get in Malaysia. There's this stuff called "serunding" which is kinda like dried meat/chicken/fish floss. you usually eat this with rice (especially if you're on tight budget... like me. hohohoho). you guys should try it whenever you visit Malaysia~~~
CEO MIrai Inc
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Echizen Ken,
My cup ^^; Illustration by Pink Chu Chu
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Looks good and authentic, would love to try it, I hope the Japanese supermarket here sells that.
Daigakusei [Consular and Diplomatic Affairs]
http://dixinfernal.wordpress.com
i've tried these stuff and it's GOOD!!~
definitely one of the best alternatives when there is no "chow" around^^
Student
http://musou-enrai.deviantart.com/
Napkins! I'm starting to drool here!
http://animaticfigmation.com/
So, seeing as how I'm vegetarian Ochakuze would be the one for me right?
Student
http://macotaku.wordpress.com/
I need some of this- I usually have dried wakame on hand only.
Got a Master's in Mechatronics; looking for work!
http://www.bsodmike.com
Whilst browsing some figures and gunpla stuff I came across this. I was on holiday in Singapore last week and bought quite a bit of Furikake, Japanese green tea and Miso soup (in packets). They had not only the same exact same packets (ID 17211 and 17212), which I of course got, but also Furikake in sealed glass jars.
For a moderate bowl of rice (little more than what Danny has shown), I used about half of the glass jars. Having it dry probably uses more of the stuff, so I will try it with some chicken stock on top and seaweed.
Thanks for the great tip.
Cheers
Mike.
NEET
I love furikake since ever!!!
I eat it a lot! Specially the noritama one ^_^!