Recipe: Japanese simmered Hijiki. Great way to eat this super food; high in iron and fiber!

I was surprised to see DAISO (Japanese $1 store) in San Francisco selling hijiki! 

Hijiki is a very well known healthy ingredient in Japan; it's high in fiber, iron and calcium. The most popular dish which is made using this ingredient is a simple simmered dish. It's a side dish, not a main dish. People like to throw in carrots, garbanzo beans and even konnyaku. All of which can be found in the US. The ingredients are simmered in a sweet broth made of dashi, soy sauce and sugar. It's simple, tasty and very good for you. Great to pack in your obento too.

Hijiki is usually sold in its dried state. You'll have to soak it in water for 20-30 minutes. The amount will increase by 7 to 8 times; it's fun to watch :) 

Ingredients (This makes a substantial amount, maybe around 6-8 servings) 

• 1 bag of hijiki (40g) 
• Carrots
• 1/2 cup of garbanzo beans 
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2-3 tbsp sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)
  
• 3 tbsp Japanese sake
• 1.5 tsp Hondashi soup stock
• 1 cup of water
• (Optional) 3 tbsp mirin

Steps

1. Put the dried hijiki in a bowl of water and see it increase its mass by 7 to 8 times. Rinse and wash thoroughly.
2. Heat a pan on MEDIUM heat. Place some oil and stir fry the carrots, garbanzo beans and hijiki until heated through.
3. Add the soy sauce, sugar, sake, soup stock and water (optional: mirin)
4. Place a otoshi-buta on the pan (Use foil as a lid and place directly on the ingredients, this helps the ingredients soak up the goodness). Heat until most of the broth is soaked up.