Nanakusa-Gayu ( Seven Herbs Rice Porridge)

Nanakusa-Gayu with side dishes.

Nanakusa-Gayu or Seven Herbs Rice Porridge is served on a January 7 of the year to promote the health and rest the stomach after heavy eating of Osechi new year foods. 

Seven herbs consist of Seri ( waterdrop wort), Nasuna (Shepherd's purse), Gogyo ( Cudweed), Hakobera ( Chickweed), Hotokenosa (Nipplewort), Suzuna or Kabu (turnip), and Daikon (Radish). It is sold in a pack at the supermarket so you do not have to worry of what to buy and look for the seven herbs. It's available as early as from 3 January. There is also in a dry-type, most easy way just add them in a boiled rice before serving. But I recommend using fresh herbs as they are better flavor and more nutritional benefits.

Simple Nanakusa-Gayu

Ingredients (4 servings)

1 cup uncooked rice
7 cups of water
1 pack of nanakusa (seven herbs)
Little salt or soy sauce

Nanasuka (seven herbs)

Nanakusa (seven herbs)

1. Wash well and chop it to 2cm size. Separate the turnip and radish with the leaves.

2. Pre-boil it in a hot water for 1 minutes for radish and turnip, 30 second for green leaves.

3. Drain well and keep it aside ( wash it with cold water if not use it immediately to keep a nice green)

For cooking rice porridge, 

1.  Wash rice well for 3-4 water and soak it for 30 minutes. 
2. Put the rice into cooking pot, add water 7 cups (1:7ratios) 
3. Bring it to boil and simmer it for 30-40 minutes.
4. When it becomes soft add Nanakusa and continued boiling for a while.
5. Add little sauce or soy sauce to liking and serve hot. 

Note: I cooked my rice porridge with a rice cooker with porridge setting. For this, add boiled nanakusa and lid on for a while then serve hot. Add salt and soy sauce as liking.

Nanakusa-Gayu