Niji no Kirameki, which means "rainbow glow" is a lustrous rice with large grains and a flavor that is fresh and rich in umami and sweetness. Despite its lower price, it is very efficient and the quality is the same as Koshi-hikari rice. It is perfect not only served as a daily addition to a meal, it is also great for onigiri - Japanese rice balls, because it is less malleable than Koshihikari.
A method of preparing:
Basic information:
- Cooking with gas is more practical than an electric stove.
- You will need a clear glass lid
- Ceramic or iron pots are preferred.
① Rinse the rice well with water.
② Add 220 ml of water to 150 g of rice.
③ Soak in water for about 30 minutes in summer and about 1 hour in winter.
④ Then cook, covered, for 15 minutes.
* It is necessary to bring the water to a boil quickly, but immediately switch to a smaller fire to maintain a temperature that will not spill the water.
⑤ After cooking for 15 minutes, keep warm and wait 15 minutes.
* You should never remove the pot lid while cooking rice.
⑥ Remove the lid and stir. The rice is ready to eat!
Niigata Prefecture is famous for its water quality and the Japanese rice grown there is extremely expensive. Its sweetess and umami, as well as fresh and stretchy texture, makes it completely different in quality from foreign rice.
Unfortunately, despite the manufacturer's premium quality, the quality continues to deteriorate from the polishing process. Finding Japanese rice of the same caliber as Japanese rice in Europe is practically impossible. This is because many importers transport polished rice in Japan in non-temperature controlled containers where it is then stored for 1-2 months in unsuitable premises.
In order to maintain the best possible condition, ground rice in Japan is vacuum packed, transported in a temperature-controlled refrigerated container and stored in a refrigerated warehouse. Quality control is essential to keeping the rice in its original condition. The quality of the same Niji no Kirameki rice from Niigata sold by other companies is completely different from that of SAKAMOTO-YA.
