Hayashi rice facts for kids
A plate of hayashi rice
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|
| Course | Main |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Region or state | Ikuno |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Rice, beef, onions, mushrooms, red wine, tomato sauce |
Hayashi rice is a super popular Japanese dish. It's sometimes called "hashed beef rice." This tasty meal is known as a yōshoku dish. Yōshoku means a Japanese food that was inspired by Western cooking.
Hayashi rice usually has tender slices of beef, onions, and button mushrooms. These ingredients are cooked in a rich, thick sauce called demi-glace. The sauce often includes red wine and tomato sauce. This yummy sauce is served over or next to steamed rice. Sometimes, a little fresh cream is drizzled on top for extra flavor! Some recipes might even add soy sauce and sake.
Where Does It Come From?
Hayashi rice first came from a town called Ikuno in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This town used to be a mining town. In 1868, a French engineer worked at the mine and helped improve it. This dish shows a Western influence because it uses demi-glace sauce and often red wine. However, it's not a well-known dish in Western countries.
Hayashi rice uses ingredients that are very popular in Japan. These include slices of beef, especially since Hyōgo Prefecture is famous for its Kobe beef. It also uses rice and the rich demi-glace sauce. You can compare it to other popular Japanese dishes. For example, it's similar to Japanese-style hamburger steak with demi-glace sauce. Another fun version is omuhayashi. This dish combines omurice (an omelet with rice) and hayashi rice. It also looks a lot like Japanese curry and is often found on menus right next to curry dishes.
What About the Name?
People aren't completely sure how Hayashi rice got its name. There are a few different ideas:
- One idea is that the name came from Yuteki Hayashi. He was the first president of a publishing company called Maruzen.
- Another idea is that a cook named Hayashi gave the dish its name. This cook often served this meal to staff at the Ueno Seiyōken restaurant.
- Perhaps the most common idea is that the name "Hayashi" (ハヤシ) simply comes from the English phrase "hashed beef".
How Do People Eat It?
Hayashi rice is one of Japan's most loved Western-style dishes. It's super easy to make at home! You can find hayashi rice mix, which comes in blocks like roux, at Japanese supermarkets. You can also buy prepared demi-glace sauce in cans. Because these ingredients are so easy to get, hayashi rice is a common meal in many Japanese homes. Just like Japanese curry, people usually eat hayashi rice with a spoon.
See also
In Spanish: Arroz hayashi para niños
