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Saucy Japanese Greens with Sticky Sesame Rice Recipe


  • Author: Ben
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A vibrant and flavorful Japanese-inspired dish featuring tender stir-fried long-stemmed broccoli, baby pak choi, and spring onions tossed in a rich miso-sesame sauce, served alongside sticky sesame-flavored sushi rice. This meal combines the sweetness of mirin and brown sugar with the earthy depth of miso and the bright heat of red chili, offering a perfectly balanced and wholesome vegetarian dish.


Ingredients

Scale

Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp brown miso paste
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • 2 tsp finely grated ginger
  • 1 red chilli, deseeded and diced
  • 1 tbsp water

Rice

  • 140g sushi rice
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp sesame oil

Vegetables and Cooking Oil

  • 250g long-stemmed broccoli (such as Tenderstem or purple sprouting)
  • 90g pack baby pak choi, halved lengthways
  • 6 spring onions, halved lengthways
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, stir together the brown miso paste, mirin, rice wine vinegar, soft brown sugar, finely grated ginger, diced red chilli, and 1 tablespoon of water until well combined. Set the sauce aside.
  2. Cook the rice: Bring a large pan of water to a boil with the caster sugar and ½ teaspoon salt. Add the sushi rice and boil for 15 minutes or follow the package instructions until just cooked. Drain the rice well and return it to the pan. Sprinkle over the toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil, then cover and set aside to keep warm.
  3. Stir-fry the vegetables: Heat the sunflower oil in a wok over high heat until very hot. Add the long-stemmed broccoli and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until almost tender, adding splashes of water occasionally to create steam and prevent burning. Add the halved baby pak choi and spring onions, stir-frying for another 30 seconds.
  4. Add the sauce and finish cooking: Stir in the prepared miso sauce and continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to coat the vegetables evenly and heat the sauce through.
  5. Serve: Spread the sticky sesame rice evenly over two plates. Divide the saucy stir-fried vegetables over the rice and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

  • Using water to steam the broccoli helps retain its bright color and crisp texture.
  • You can adjust the chili amount to suit your preferred spice level or omit it for a milder dish.
  • To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure the miso paste and mirin are certified gluten-free.
  • Leftover rice can be gently reheated with a splash of water to restore moisture.
  • For extra protein, consider adding tofu or cooked chicken strips during the stir-fry step.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stir-frying
  • Cuisine: Japanese

Keywords: Japanese, stir-fry, miso sauce, sesame rice, broccoli, pak choi, spring onions, vegetarian, quick dinner