Japan – Yakimeshi (Japanese Fried Rice)

by Zayna Khan

This dish is very famous Japanese rice dish. It is known as Japanese fried rice, Japanese mixed rice or Chahan.

CHAHAN is a dish which is originated by Chinese immigrants when this dish was admired by the Japanese. Those dishes are known as FUSION CUISINE, which was originated in other regions and then infused into other regions, and the mixture of both nations came up with a new dish of both origins.

So chahan was originated by the Chinese and from the evolutionary changes by Japanese tradition. This dish CHAO FAN, means fried rice and also simply known by the name Japanese fried rice.

HISTORY OF THE DISH

This dish known as chahan was originated in 1860 when Chinese immigrants arrived at Kobe, the largest city of Japan. They introduce this dish chahan to Japan. This dish was loved by Japanese people and then this dish introduced to Japanese cuisine with a Japanese version. Japanese spices, their vegetables, and the cooking method evolved the dish from the original one. But still known to be as Chahan or Japanese fried rice.

VARIATION OF THIS DISH

This dish has few variations according to the regional differences like following below :

Kimchi Chahan

Kimchi chahan, Kimchi bokkeum bap, or kimchi fried rice is a spicy version of this chahan. In this rice dish, kimchi is used with many vegetables and cooked with rice. The use of hot sauce, chili sauce makes this dish spicier than the regular dish. This dish is a KOREAN VERSION OF CHAHAN. This dish was cooked and traditionally made in Korea.

Chao Fan

This is a dish of China and the Philippines. In this dish, normal spices and traditional method of cooking is used to make it delicious. Cooked rice is used to mix with cooked vegetables and then seasoned all things together with spices and some sauces. Toss all things together and serve. This is a very colorful rice dish because the addition of colorful vegetables and combine with white rice makes it popping out among many other dishes.

Chahan

This is a dish of old natives of China and this was introduced by the Chinese people to Japan.

Japanese fried rice

This is fried rice which was evolved by Japanese from Chahan.

PREPARATIONS OF MAKING THIS DISH

We need to have all ingredeints and cooking utensils. Must be aware of those cooking technique used in making this dish :

COOKING UTENSIL USED IN MAKING THIS DISH

Wok is used in making Chahan or Japanese fried rice.

Wok

The wok is a utensil used in cooking Chinese and Japanese food. It is a round bottom utensil, which is usually nonstick or sometimes made up of steel or iron. It is specialized used in cooking these high flames cooked food to sautee them. This is used in stir-frying, deep-frying, mixing, searing, or stewing. This is specially made to cook on high flame. So while cooking this dish, this WOK is used. Because this dish is cooked on high flame to mix all ingredients together.

MEAT USED IN MAKING THIS DISH

This dish can be non-veg or vegetarian, so meat can be used of any kind like :

• Chicken
• Beef
• Mutton
• Fish
• Pork
• Prawns
• Shrimps
• Crab
• Roe
• Octopus
• Tuna
• Shiso etc

VEGETABLES USED IN JAPANESE FRIED RICE

You can use any vegetable you like to put on. Following are the commonly used vegetables

• Mushrooms
• Carrots
• Spring onions
• Cabbage
• Bell peppers
• Capsicum
• Peas
• Olives
• Garlic
• Tofu etc

TECHNIQUE OF COOKING

Techique used in making this dish is simply ”STIR FRYING”.

STIR FRYING

Stir-frying is a technique used in Chinese and Japanese cooking. In this technique, precooked and half-cooked ingredients are probably used and then toss together by using this cooking wok on high flame. Some ingredients together mixed and make a good crunchy sizling effect to the food.

INGREDIENTS OF YAKIMESHI

• Boiled rice = 2 bowls
• Soya sauce = 4 tablespoons
• Rice vinegar = 4 tablespoons
• Salt = 1/2 teaspoon
• Blackpepper = 1 teaspoon
• Sesame oil = 4 tablespoons
• Carrot = chopped 1/2 cup
• Capsicum = chopped 1
• Cabbage = chopped 1/2 cup
• Peas = 1/2 cup
• Eggs = 2

COOKING METHOD

• Take a wok and add sesame oil into it.
• Now add beaten eggs into it and cook the eggs until they hardened.
• Now add vegetables and salt, pepper, soya sauce and vinegar into wok and start cooking.
• Toss all things together on high flame.
• Make this things to cook but their crunchiness maintained.
• Now add cooked rice into egg and vegetable mixture and toss them together.
• Mix all things and serve.