Recipe: Spicy rice with scallops

Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6

Note: Serve the dish with an assortment of cracked peppers, including red, black, shichimi, Sichuan and sansho pepper, as well as roasted sesame seeds and one-half cup chopped chives, daikon sprouts and thinly sliced yuzu rind. Goji berries, kombu (seaweed) and yuzu can be found at Asian markets. The cracked peppers can be found at well-stocked and gourmet markets, cooking stores and spice stores.

1/3 cup sweet rice

2 cups short- or medium-grain rice

2 1/3 cups water for a double-lid donabe or electric rice cooker, or 2 2/3 cups water for a single-lid donabe

3/4 pound jumbo scallops (about 5 large), cleaned and each broken into 3 or 4 pieces

2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons light soy sauce (usukuchi shoyu)

2 tablespoons sake

1 (2-inch) square of dried kombu

2 tablespoons goji berries (optional)

Salt to taste

1. In a bowl, soak the sweet rice in water for 2 hours or overnight.

2. Wash the short- or medium-grain rice well in a colander or strainer. Let stand for 15 minutes to drain completely.

3. Drain the sweet rice and place in the donabe pot or electric rice cooker with the rinsed short- or medium-grain rice and the water to soak for 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Place the scallops in a strainer and slowly pour the boiling water over the pieces to blanch them slightly. Set aside.

5. Stir the sesame oil, soy sauce and sake into the soaked rice until combined. Top the rice with the kombu, scallops and goji berries.

For a single-lidded donabe, cover with the lid and place on the stove over medium-high heat. Cook until the water comes to a slow boil, about 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and rest, covered, for 20 minutes. Try not to open the lid too often during the cooking process as this releases the steam and disrupts the cooking process.

For a double-lidded donabe, cover with both lids (make sure the inner lid’s ventilation hole is at a 90-degree angle relative to the hole on the outer lid). Place the donabe on the stove over medium-high heat. Cook until the water comes to a boil and steam comes rapidly from the outer ventilation hole. Remove from heat and rest, covered, for 20 minutes.

For an electric rice cooker, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but make sure the rice steams at least 15 minutes with the lid closed. Rest, covered, for 20 minutes.

6. When the rice has rested, remove the lid(s) and discard the kombu. Gently toss the rice, scooping the rice from the bottom up using a paddle or spatula. Season to taste with salt if desired.

7. Serve immediately, sprinkling the garnishes over the rice or serving them on the side.

Each of 6 servings: 284 calories; 13 grams protein; 49 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 2 grams fat; 0 saturated fat; 19 mg. cholesterol; 392 mg. sodium.