Hibachi Rice: How to Make it Like a Pro

Introduction

Hibachi rice is a popular dish that is not only delicious but also visually appealing. It’s a common side dish served in Japanese restaurants and is often cooked on a teppanyaki grill. The combination of flavours in the dish, along with the interactive cooking process, makes it a hit among people of all ages. If you’re a fan of this delicious dish and want to make it at home, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will take you through the step-by-step process of making hibachi rice, provide some expert tips, and share some recipes you can try at home

A Step-by-Step Guide to Hibachi Rice

To make hibachi rice, you’ll need some specific equipment and ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cooked, chilled rice
• Meat or vegetables of your choice – typically chicken, shrimp, steak, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and peas
• Eggs (optional)
• Butter
• Ginger and garlic
• Soy sauce
• Sake or Mirin
• Salt and pepper
• Oil

Equipment

• A wok or pan with a flat bottom
• A spatula and a wooden spoon
• A stove-top or portable propane grill

The steps to preparing hibachi rice are simple:

1. Cut all your vegetables or meat in bite-size pieces
2. Preheat your wok or pan to high heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Swirl the oil around to cover the bottom.
3. Add the vegetables first and stir periodically until half cooked. Remove from the wok.
4. Add the meat and stir-fry until it’s almost cooked. Remove from the pan, and place it with the vegetables.
5. Melt a tablespoon of butter, add cooked rice, and toss until the rice is lightly coated in butter.
6. Make a well/indentation in the centre of the wok or pan and add two lightly beaten eggs. Scramble the eggs and mix them with the rice.
7. Re-add the vegetables and meat on top of the rice in the wok or pan, and add garlic and ginger.
8. Add soy sauce, sake/ Mirin, salt, and pepper into the wok or pan. Stir a few times and let everything cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes. Keep stirring until the liquid evaporates.
9. Remove from heat, and your hibachi rice is ready to serve.

Some tips to ensure your hibachi rice is perfect:

• Refrigerate, precook and chill the rice beforehand so that the grains don’t touch each other when you cook.
• Marinade your chosen meat or seafood before frying to make it more flavourful.
• For better presentation, use thinly sliced vegetables.
• Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce sodium content.
• When stir-frying, frequently toss the ingredients so that they cook evenly.
• Add sesame oil into the mix for that classic Japanese taste.

Top 5 Hibachi Rice Recipes

Here are five recipes that you can try at home:

1. Traditional Hibachi Rice – as described in the previous section.
2. Garlic Hibachi Rice – stir in minced garlic halfway through cooking for a stronger garlic flavor.
3. Spicy Hibachi Rice – add red pepper flakes or chili oil when stir frying or add a little Sambal Olek to the soy sauce mixture.
4. Vegan Hibachi Rice – use cooked tofu or tempeh for the protein, or substitute it with extra veggies.
5. Shrimp Hibachi Rice – swap out the meat for shrimp, and marinate them with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic for an hour before cooking.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Hibachi Rice

Mistakes happen when cooking, and making hibachi rice is no exception. Here are some common mistakes that people make and how to avoid them:

• Using freshly cooked rice – freshly cooked rice is warm and damp, which causes the fried rice to become too moist and sticky. Use leftover rice that has been chilled in the fridge for a couple of hours.
• Not using enough heat – high flames help keep the rice evenly cooked and prevent it from sticking to the pan. Low heat, on the other hand, makes it mushy and undeveloped.
• Overcrowding the pan – when stir-frying the vegetables, overcrowding the pan can lower the temperature and make the veggies get soggy.
• Not marinating meat before frying – It’s essential to marinate the meat, seafood, or tofu as it makes it tastier.
• Skipping the butter – the butter is responsible for seasoning and moisturizing the rice.

Tips to Make Hibachi Rice like a Pro

The secret to making perfect hibachi rice is essential cooking skills and the right equipment. Here are some tips to make Hibachi rice like a pro:

• Use a large wok or pan – a bigger pan ensures enough heat is distributed to all the ingredients evenly, and it also stops the ingredients from being overcrowded in the pan.
• Keep the ingredients restrained – a mere one cup of uncooked rice yields enough cooked rice for 2-3 adult servings. Use restraint with the vegetables, protein, and seasonings.
• Take the time to chill the rice – cooked rice that gets chilled in the refrigerator dries out a little, making it crispier when stir-fried.
• Get Smoky or Charred – finish by cooking the rice for an additional minute under the broiler without stirring. This will impart a slight smoky and charred flavor to the rice.
• Keep your focus on the rice and not the side ingredients – don’t focus too much on the side dishes that accompany the rice, instead, pay attention to the cooking, tossing and flavoring process of the rice.

Hibachi Rice 101: Beginners’ Guide to Making this Delicious Dish

If you’re a beginner wanting to try your hand at making hibachi rice, here are some easy-to-follow instructions:

1. Start by cooking 1.5 cups of uncooked rice and let it cool.
2. Chop your choice of veggies and meat and marinate it in a sauce of soy sauce, Mirin, or sake, ginger, and garlic for 30 minutes.
3. Cook the seasoned meat and veggies in vegetable or canola oil and set aside.
4. In a large pan, heat some butter and sauté one diced onion. Add a cup of cooked rice, followed by two scrambled eggs.
5. Stir the rice, egg and onions over high heat until the eggs are cooked.
6. Add the cooked meat and veggies to the wok or pan on high heat and stir-fry until everything is well-cooked and heated thoroughly
7. Add soy sauce, salt and pepper, and serve.

As a beginner, remember to use restraint with the ingredients, avoid using warm rice, and not to overcrowd the pan.

Secrets of Hibachi Rice

In Japanese restaurants, Hibachi rice stands out as one of the most popular dishes. A lot goes into making it perfect, aside from the right ingredients, cooking methods, and techniques. Here are some secrets and insider tips to take your hibachi rice to the next level:

• Butter – use it in the right amounts to create a distinctive flavor and texture.
• Key Ingredients – lobster sauce, garlic butter, and teriyaki sauce are some secret sauces restaurants use to boost the inherent taste of the dish.
• Clams –adding handfuls of small clams to the dish will enhance the seafood taste, and the brackish liquid of clam can add depth to the flavor.
• Garlic – try adding dry-roasted garlic instead of fresh garlic for an exquisite taste.
• Broth – instead of water, use chicken broth for more in-depth and richer flavors, or beef broth for a hearty flavor.

Adding these secret ingredients will elevate your hibachi rice to restaurant standards.

Conclusion

Hibachi rice is a simple yet delicious dish that can be customized according to your preferences. By following this step-by-step guide, we hope you now feel confident to make it at home. Remember to keep it simple, use restraint with the ingredients, and chill the rice beforehand. Experiment with the ingredients, add some secret sauces and see what works for you. With practice and patience, you can make your hibachi rice stand out and become the family’s favorite dish.