Rice porridge with 7 spring herbs | 七草粥

Slightly late blog but…..

Rice porridge with 7 spring herbs to be taken January 7th (Breakfast).

7日の朝に食べる『七草粥』:

Rice Porridge with 7 Herbs :

After our New Year Celebration, to soothe and rest our stomachs and digestive system; we have a tradition of eating NANAKUSA KAYU (Rice porridge with 7 herbs) on January 7th.

The herbs are first boiled in light salt water and chopped added to the rice porridge.

The effects of the herbs are as follows :

The 7 Herbs :

1. Water dropwort (芹 : せり seri) is rich in iron, good for red eye and dizziness.
2. Shepherd’s Purse (薺 : なずな nazuna) conditions the digestive function.
3. Cudweed (御形 : ごぎょう gogyō) will help you stop coughing and loosen phlegm.
4. Chickweed (繁縷 : はこべら hakobera) contains relatively many protein and minerals, used as medical herb. It will also reduce stomach irritation and help delicate stomach.
5. Nipplewort (仏の座 : ほとけのざ hotokenoza) relieves muscle pain.
6. Turnip (菘 : すずな suzuna) regulates the stomach and intestines, and reduces fever.
7. Radish (蘿蔔 : すずしろ suzushiro) also helps workings of your stomach and intestines.

『春の七草セット』を買ってきてお粥を焚いてみました。

①「芹(セリ)」…川辺や湿地に自生、せり合って生えるのでセリ。
②「薺(ナズナ)」…別名ペンペン草、三味線のバチに似た実がつく。
③「御形(オギョウ)」…古名は母子草(ハハコグサ)、草餅に入れた。
④「繁縷(ハコベラ)」…別名ハコベ、小さな白い花を咲かせる。
⑤「仏の座(ホトケノザ)」…葉の形が仏様の座る蓮華座に似ている。小鬼田平子(コオニタビラコ)、田平子(タビラコ)ともいう。
⑥「菘(スズナ)」…蕪(カブ)。
⑦「蘿蔔(スズシロ)」…大根(ダイコン)。

How to make :

Rice porridge (Okayu) is made from the proportion of rice 2 & water 7 (2:7)

Boiled in low heat for approx. 1 hour, occasionally making sure that the water does not dry.

The herbs are quickly boiled in light salted water and are chopped and added to the porridge at the very last-minute, adjusting the taste with some (minimal and very light) salt.

See also

AppetizerFruitJapanese Authentics| WashokuJapanese Dishes | TofuRecipeVegan Food

Tofu Dressing with Persimmon | 柿の白和え

The actual herb looks as follows –

(from the left)

1. Water dropwort (芹 : せり seri) is rich in iron, good for red eye and dizziness.
2. Shepherd’s Purse (薺 : なずな nazuna) conditions the digestive function.
3. Cudweed (御形 : ごぎょう gogyō) will help you stop coughing and loosen phlegm.
4. Chickweed (繁縷 : はこべら hakobera) contains relatively many protein and minerals, used as medical herb. It will also reduce stomach irritation and help delicate stomach.
5. Nipplewort (仏の座 : ほとけのざ hotokenoza) relieves muscle pain.
6. Turnip (菘 : すずな suzuna) regulates the stomach and intestines, and reduces fever.
7. Radish (蘿蔔 : すずしろ

1時間ばかり土鍋で炊き込んだ後 (水 7 : 米 2 位の割合)

The rice porridge (congee) after boiled in low heat for approx. 1 hour.