Om-Rice: An Easy Japanese Recipe

by Pamela Carinci 04/13/2020

Photo by Sophy Chen from Pexels

Like many Japanese words, om-rice is a portmaneau -- a new word created from combining two other words. In this case, it comes from “omelette” and “rice”, and the popular dish consists of fried rice with ketchup wrapped in an egg omelette. 

Made from basic ingredients like rice, ketchup, and hot dogs or chicken, it’s sure to be a hit. We break down the basics for you, then give some tips on how to change things up.

Ingredients (per serving)

  • ½ diced onion

  • 1 cup cooked rice

  • ½ hot dog, sliced into thin circles or cooked shredded chicken

  • 2 t olive or vegetable oil, divided

  • ½ t garlic powder

  • 1 T ketchup

  • Sprinkle of black pepper

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • Additional ketchup for garnish

  • Procedure:

    Heat the oil in a frying pan. 

    Toss the diced onions into the pan, stirring frequently.

    Add the meat when onions are almost translucent. Cook for about a minute, stirring frequently.

    Add the rice to the pan. Mix with the onions and meat. Make sure to break up the clumps of rice.

    Add the garlic powder, black pepper, and ketchup. Mix everything together so that the ketchup is spread evenly over the rice.

    Transfer the fried rice to a bowl.

    Add oil to the pan and let it heat up.

    Pour the beaten egg into the pan. Tilt the pan to spread the egg around in a thin layer.

    When it looks mostly cooked, flip to cook the other side.

    Spoon the fried rice into the center of the egg. Using your spatula, bring the sides of the egg up to cover the rice. It should look a bit like a burrito.

    Transfer the om-rice to a plate with the open side facing down.

    Garnish with more ketchup on top of the egg, if desired.

    Make It Simpler

    Wrapping the rice in the egg omelette can take some practice. If you're looking for a simpler presentation, spoon the rice into a bowl then lay the egg omelette on top tucking the edges down into the bowl.

    Additionally, the onions, garlic powder, and black pepper could make the dish a bit too spicy for some. You can leave some or all of them out if you'd like a milder flavor.

    Dress It Up

    We’ve made this recipe simple but you can make several changes to adjust to your taste. For instance, if you use fresh garlic rather than garlic powder, it will enhance the flavor. Green onions can give it a different taste.

    You can also change some of the ingredients to make use of what you have on hand. Instead of using hot dogs or chicken, use ground beef or diced ham. You can even add some vegetables, such as chopped cabbage or frozen peas.

    This recipe is simple, but delicious. Give it a try tonight.

    About the Author
    Author

    Pamela Carinci

    Hi, I'm Pamela Carinci and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.