Rice with grated yam!? Unique and delicious “tororo-rice”

photo by giracafe

Three most loved Japanese rice dish by the Japanese are “natto-rice”,”raw egg rice” and “tororo-rice”. First two seem to be well known among foreigners as well, but what is “tororo-rice”? “Tororo” is grated Chinese yam that is very nutritious and delicious when mixed with little of soup stock and seasoning. Its unique taste and texture makes you kind of addictive. So, let’s explore more about “tororo-rice”.

How to make “tororo-rice”

Making “tororo-rice” is easy. Peel and grate a piece of yam, add some broth, “mirin”, soy sauce or raw egg to make it smoother and pour it over hot steamed rice. Some aonori-seaweed, chopped seaweed, chopped shallots or wasabi can be added if you like. Eating tubers in raw statement is uncommon in many other countries. Grating tubers and serve it with rice is very unique cooking method of Japan. There are many types of yam including wild mountain yam “jinenjo”, farm grown “naga-imo” and “yamato-imo” as well as “icho-imo” and “tsukune-imo” that are similar kind of farm grown ones. “Jinenjo”, among others, is very sticky nature and it creates fluffy texture once grated and mixed with some broth. This slimy sticky runny texture is expressed “tororo”. “Tororo” over rice steamed with barley (mugi) is called “mugi-toro”. People used to mix rice and barley for their everyday meals because rice was very expensive. The light taste of rice with barley is perfect match with “tororo”. Accordingly, “mugi-toro”, one of Japanese soul foods, has a quite long history and it was used in a famous old poem and Hiroshige’s woodblock print.

Amazing health benefits of yam

Yam used to make “tororo” is rich in enzyme, vitamin B1 and C, calcium and pottacium. Also, mucin that causes yam’s sticky texture helps absorption of proteins. In addition, this mucin has a great soothing effect on fatigue, however, it is easily destroyed by heat and lose its effect. Therefore eating grated yam in raw statement is very practical way to consume it. Huma body requires digestive enzyme to digest food. An enzyme called amylase in yams helps digestion and absorption, and mucin protects the mucosal layer of the stomach. Moreover, this fiber rich food cleans inside of intestines, relieve constipation, and rejuvenate a body and create beautiful skin. It helps to prevent bowel cancer and high blood pressure. Also, a rejuvenating hormone diosgenin is reported to improve Alzheimer’s disease. As you can see, yam is a super healthy food with lots of benefits and rich in many healthy components.

More “tororo” variations

Gooey “neba-neba-rice”, which is combination of “tororo”, chopped okura and natto over hot rice, is well known for a great soothing effect on heat exhaustion. “Tororo” has been often served with barley rice since the old days, and “mugi-toro” has been often served with beef tongue. In Sendai, where is famous for beef tongue dishes, beef tongue and “mugi-toro” is a favorite combination of lunch menu. Once you try beef tongue with “mugi-toro”, you will understand how good these two marry. By the way, when “tororo” is combined with soba noodles, it is called “Tororo-soba” or “yamakake-soba”. There are variety of soba noodles menu depending on each shop such as a bowl of warm soba noodles with “tororo” on top, cold soba noodles served with a cup of dipping soup or self-pouring style of “tororo-soba”. Also, shopped raw tuna with “tororo” is everyone’s favorite in diners.

Quick “tororo” experience at “Negishi”

If you are interested in trying “tororo-rice” once, but can’t be bothered with getting and grating a yam by yourself, you can drop by “Nagishi”. This restaurant chain runs 36 shops that serves beef tongue menu within Tokyo and Yokohama area and earning outstanding popularity. Perfectly charcoal grilled thick beef tongue, collagen-and-flavor-rich beef tail soup and delicious “mugi-toro” using best yam sent by drop shipping, many fans make a long queue at lunch time for this golden combination. There are other lunch menu and the average pricing is around JPY1,500. You can add salad or extra meat to satisfy your stomach as you wish. Extra barley rice is free of charge.

Do try it

Sticky slimy “Tororo” might look a little yucky at the beginning, but actually, with no odor like natto, its runny texture and light taste is quite addictive once you get used to it. It is so tasty that you may eat too much. But don’t warry, yam is rich in a digestive enzyme amylase that helps your digestion, so no need to think about having sour stomach. Why don’t you add healthy “tororo-rice” in your everyday diet for younger body and brighter skin.

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