Green Tea Rice Quick And Healthy

Published Jun 23, 2024 Updated Oct 24, 2024

Green Tea Rice

A heaping bowl of green tea rice or ochazuke is one of the simplest Japanese dishes you can make at home. Hearty, refreshing, and filling, it’s something you can whip up when you’re feeling a bit under the weather or craving a delicious meal after a long day. This tea on rice recipe is healthy, low in calories, and extremely easy to make. It looks really simple, but the clean and toasty flavor of green tea combined with rice and various toppings make for a satisfying and comforting meal. Want to try another staple Japanese comfort food? Check out my Asari Miso Soup recipe!

What Is Ochazuke

Ochazuke is a simple Japanese rice dish doused in savory hot green tea and optionally, topped with various ingredients. In Japanese, ocha means “tea” and zuke means “to submerge,” which perfectly describes this dish. It’s commonly eaten as a quick meal, but it’s also usually given at the end of a large meal in Japanese restaurants. The hot tea is poured over the rice and sometimes topped with flaked fish, pickled vegetables, or seaweed. In Japan, this dish is typically eaten using chopsticks with the remaining rice and green tea slurped like soup. Of course, you can also use a spoon if that’s more comfortable for you. Make sure to mix your bowl well to fully incorporate all the flavors before you dig in!

What Kind Of Green Tea To Use

In general, you can use any type of green tea, but the best ones are called Shincha leaves. It’s technically the very first spring harvest of Sencha tea for the year, so it’s sold out even before it’s harvested. It is celebrated for its fresh and lively aroma, naturally sweet finish, and smooth umami flavor, which makes up the qualities of a premium green tea. For this green tea rice recipe, you can steep any tea leaves to make the tea that will be poured over the cooked rice. Check out other alternatives you can explore in the Ingredients section!

Benefits And Nutrition Of Green Tea

Fresh Shincha leaves are distinct from the latter-harvested green tea called Sencha. Compared to Sencha, it has a subtle sweetness, which can be attributed to a higher L-theanine and lower caffeine content. The rich and vivid tea leaves are also more fragrant and fresher in taste. And the best part? It has higher Vitamin C and antioxidants than regular green teas!

Japanese Green Tea Rice Ingredients

Steamed rice – I like to use white rice like jasmine and short-grain sushi. But you can totally use leftover rice from your fridge! Green tea leaves – In this recipe, I opt for Shincha, sometimes called Sencha, for a complex yet balanced flavor. You can use other types of green tea like Houjicha and Genmaicha for a different flavor profile. Toppings – I wanted this green tea rice recipe to be simple, so I only used thinly sliced scallions and white and black sesame seeds.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.

How To Make Tea On Rice

The Japanese really have a way with comfort food that’s both tasty and healthy. But what I love the most about this tea on rice recipe is how convenient it is to make! A simple green tea rice is one of my go-to for a light meal. But you can also add some Japanese dashi to the rice to jazz up the flavor. Or explore other non-traditional toppings like grilled chicken and mushrooms for variety.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Serve this dish with other Japanese dishes (such as agedashi tofu, chicken teriyaki and salmon teriyaki). For an easy and healthy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes: Tip: Boost the flavor of your green tea rice by using more tea leaves to achieve a stronger brew. Use Japanese dashi instead of salt for more umami flavor. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please share your photo in the Comments section and consider giving it a 5-star rating. I can’t wait to see your creations! Want more easy and delicious recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.