RECIPE: Nori Doria (Seaweed Rice Gratin)

Doria is a comforting rice gratin dish in Japan with vegetable and/or protein cooked in a white or tomato sauce poured over steamed rice then baked. This version includes chicken in a creamy umami nori tsukudani and dashi white sauce.

Servings: 2-3

Ingredients:

Chicken

• 3 pieces (~160g) chicken breast filet (cut into thin strips)
• 1 Tbsp mayonnaise　　
• 1 Tbsp powdered cheese (or pinch of salt)
• Handful shredded cheese

White sauce:

• 30g butter 　
• 30g flour
• 400ml milk 　
• 1½ Tbsp raw nori tsukudani
• ½ Tbsp dashi powder　　
• Pinch of salt

Rice

• 300-350g cooked rice　　
• 5g butter 　
• 1 tsp mentsuyu　
• Shredded nori (seaweed) (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place the butter, flour, milk, nori tsukudani, dashi and salt in a frying pan over medium heat and stir until the ingredients have dissolved and the sauce becomes sticky. 
2. Separately, mix the cooked rice with butter and mentsuyu and spread in a baking dish. Top with the sauce from step 1.
3. In a bowl, coat the chicken strips with mayonnaise and powdered cheese and place on top the sauce and rice from step 2. Cover with a generous handful of shredded cheese and bake in an oven at 220℃ for about 20 mins. Top with shredded nori if deserved before serving.