Now that you have made a fresh batch or purchased your koji rice, the next step is what to do with it. Many people use koji-kin to make saké, amasaké, or miso. However, what other ways are there to turn koji rice into something extraordinary? Here are a few recipes to get you started.

Basic Amazaké Ferment

Used in Japan as a sweetener, beverage, or a simple alcolholic drink.  Amazake is one of the best known cultured and fermented items from Japan.   There are several recipes for amazake that have been used for hundreds of years. By a popular recipe, kōji is added to cooled whole grain rice causing enzymes to break down the carbohydrates into simpler unrefined sugars.  As the mixture incubates, sweetness develops naturally.
By another popular recipe, sake kasu is simply mixed with water, but usually sugar is added.
In this recipe, amazake becomes low-alcohol beverage if given time.

Amazake can be used as a dessert, snack, natural sweetening agent, baby food, added insalad dressing or smoothies. The traditional drink (prepared by combining amazake and water, heated to a simmer, and often topped with a pinch of finely grated ginger) was popular with street vendors, and it is still served at inns, teahouses, and at festivals.  Many Shinto shrines in Japan provide or sell it during the New Year!

What is needed…

3- cups cooked brown rice

1- cup light koji rice

Yield: 4 cups of fermented rice to use as a sweetener or 3 quarts Amazaké drink

Incubation Temperature: 120-140 F (50-60C)

Start by cooking the brown rice and allowing it to cool to at least 140 F (60C).  Once cooled, stir in the koji rice and mix well.  Place mixture into a glass or stainless steel container that will allow an inch of “headroom” to allow for expansion during the fermentation process.  Cover container and incubate, stirring every couple of hours to prevent heat build up.  The finished product can take as little as 6 hours with quality, fresh (not dried) koji-kin at optimum temperatures, after 6 hours start tasting the ferment to see if the cycle is complete.

When finished the ferment should thicken like porridge with a mild sweet taste.  The sweetness will increase up to a point after which it will change and start to become sour.  Once the taste is to your liking, place into a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 to 5 min., stirring frequently.  Boiling will stop the fermentation process keeping the amazaké sweet.  For a smother amazaké consistency purée the mixture in a blender until smooth.  Refrigerate any ferment not used right away.  If not, the amazaké will become very sour.

Amazaké Sweetener: Use ¼-cup ferment for each tbsp of sweetener called for in your favorite recipes and reducing the cooking liquid by 3 Tbsp.  Baked goods will be rich and moist with a more subtle sweetness.

Amazaké Drink: For HOT amazaké, heat one part ferment and two parts very hot water.  Add a dash of shoyu and a grating of fresh ginger root.  Serve blended mix in heated mugs.  For a cold drink, blend 1 part amazaké ferment and 2 part fruit, fruit juices, soymilk water and/or flavoring of your choice.

Doburoku: For simple “grog”, leave the amazaké ferment in the incubator for several days, stirring and tasting occasionally, until it develops a heady, alcoholic aroma.  Blend as above, traditionally served in Japan as a thick and creamy drink or dilute to taste.

Mellow Pickled Cabbage

In Japan, pickled vegetables come with many meals, as a condiment or side dish.  In Japan it is called ‘Kyabetsu no asazuke’.  Unlike normal pickles this recipe is a fermented pickled delight.  Like German style sauerkraut, pickled veggies are uncomplicated to make into a fermented snack or condiment!

What is needed…

1 – pound organic cabbage of your choice or a mix of green and reds. Use American style or napa/Chinese styles
2 – Tbsp non-iodized salt (Kosher or sea salt)
¼-cup koji rice
¼-cup warm water
½ tsp honey or other sweetener
A japanese tsukemono pickle press

Start by removing the center core and shred the cabbage coarsely.  Mix well with the salt and pack into a glass bowl.  Put a small enough plate to fit inside the bowl and weight it down with water filled glass jar or non-metal container. Refrigerate for 3 days.

After 3 days, draw off the liquid from the cabbage but do not rinse. 
TIP: Save the liquid brine for other uses. Dissolve the honey/sweetener in the warm water and add the koji rice.  Set aside until the koji has dissolved the liquid and softened.

Next, mix the soaked koji and cabbage, mixing well.  Pack contents into a straight-sided container,  Add a plate and weight to keep everything under the liquid. Submerging the cabbage keeps the mixture from contamination with unwanted bacteria. Allow 4 to 5 days for the flavor to develop then refrigerate.  Use within a week or two.

For those who do not wish to mess with jar and weights, a Japanese pickle fermenter is a great investment. EBay and specialty shops have the Japanese tsukemono pickle press. See photos for recommended styles.

 

Koji Rice Pickled Vegetables Condiment

  Here is another great recipe for using your new tsukemono press (if you have one).
It is a mix of seaweed and root vegetables with a lot of umami flavor.

What is needed…

½ oz dry kombu, wakamé, or sea palm. Should yield about ½ cup after soaking
1 to 1 ½ cups daikon, baby burdock root, or carrot. We enjoy a combination of all three.
Try using any type of herbal roots, too.
¼ cup naturally fermented soy sauce, shoyu, or tamari
¼ cup mild vinegar, plain or flavored
¼ cup mirin or saké. Mirin imparts a sweet component to the mix and saké a dry alternative, extremely recommended!

Start by soaking the Kombu and/or other sea vegetable for 10 to 20 min. in just enough water to cover, soak until softened.  Reserve ¼ cup of the soaking water and cut the sea vegetables into slivers or short ribbons.  Next, scrub the root vegetables to remove any soil and cut them into thin slivers.  Place the root vegetables, sea vegetables, and reserved soaking liquid into a saucepan and bring to a low boil.  Add soy sauce and vinegar and return to a low boil. Cover and remove from heat.

When the mixture has cooled to 110F (45C) (warm, but not too hot to touch) transfer to a glass bowl or jar and stir in the koji-kin, mirin, and saké. Let the mixture mature for 4 hours at a cool to moderate room temperature, stirring occasionally from time to time.

The pickled vegetables are ready to consume now or refrigerate the unused portion, which will continue to mellow and enhance the flavors even more over time. Enjoy a bowl with your favorite grains!

To purchase koji spores or fresh made koji-kin please visit our webstore: 
Buy Japanese Koji Spores

As Always…Happy Culturing