Mame gohan is a Japanese rice dish that is popular in springtime. In general terms, it refers to steamed rice cooked with beans or peas. The beans can be anything from edamame, lima beans, green beans, fava beans, or in the case of this recipe, green peas.

In most Japanese family kitchens, mame gohan immediately conjures the image of white rice steamed with green peas and it is easily associated with springtime menus in traditional Japanese cuisine.

These days, the popularity of brown rice has surged, and with varieties such as easy cooking whole grain brown rice, which can be cooked in a traditional rice cooker (as opposed to one with a specific brown rice setting), it is easier than ever to incorporate healthier grains with fresh spring vegetables as is the case in this recipe.

Of course, brown rice is optional (may be substituted with short grain white rice) as is the use of frozen peas over fresh. 

Mame gohan can be made two ways: 1) steaming the green peas with the rice; or 2) cooking the green peas separately and then mixing them with the cooked rice.

By steaming the green peas with the rice, the peas, especially if they are fresh, truly impart a wonderful green pea flavor and aroma throughout the rice. However, one caveat is that the peas may become slightly discolored. This is especially the case when frozen peas are used.

If the green peas are cooked separate from the rice, and later mixed with the cooked rice, the fresh green color of the peas are preserved, but the compromise is that it lacks the green pea flavor and aroma.

In this recipe, the green peas were cooked separate from the rice, and mixed together after both were cooked. (See photograph above.)

See Also

Edamame Brown Rice

Bok Choy Vegetable Rice

Basmati Rice and Vegetable Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown rice, uncooked
• 1 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• Water

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes

• Total Time: 70 minutes
• Yield: 2 to 4 servings

Preparation

1. Wash brown rice and soak for 30 minutes. Drain once more and then add water according to your rice cooker's instructions. Sprinkle salt over salt and water, then cook.
2. Shuck fresh green peas (if using), or place frozen green peas in small pot.
3. Boil water in a small pot and add fresh or frozen peas. Cook for three to five minutes until tender. Drain and immediately rinse with fresh water to preserve its fresh green color.
   

1. Once the rice is cooked, add in the cooked peas and gently mix the rice and peas together. Serve immediately.