Takikomi Gohan Recipe (Japanese Mixed Rice) – Easy One-Pot Comfort Meal

Takikomi Gohan is one of those dishes that instantly makes me feel at home. It’s simple, comforting, and full of umami from ingredients simmered together with rice.

In Japan, it’s sometimes called Gomoku Gohan - which literally means “five-ingredient rice” - and this case I used (gobo, carrot, konjac, aburaage, and shiitake). But honestly, it’s more about the feeling than the number.

This is the kind of dish I make when I want something nourishing, easy, and family-friendly. Everything cooks together in one pot, and the flavors soak right into the rice… so every bite is packed with goodness.

What is Takikomi Gohan?

Takikomi Gohan is a Japanese seasoned rice dish where uncooked rice is cooked together with vegetables, protein, and a savory broth. Unlike fried rice, everything is cooked together - which gives it that deep, layered flavor.

Tips for the Best Takikomi Gohan

Don’t mix ingredients and rice before cooking → prevents uneven rice texture
Use shiitake soaking liquid → adds natural umami
Cut ingredients small and thin → helps even cooking
Adjust saltiness with soy sauce depending on your taste

Variations

Add chicken for protein, it’ll taste similar to torimeshi
Use mushrooms only for a kinoko gohan version
Add bamboo shoots for a seasonal spring twist

RECIPE

Servings: 4-5

Time: 90 min

Ingredients:

Rice + Seasoning Base

2 rice-cups rice
2 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 1/4 cup water (for soaking shiitake, and use it for the broth)
1/2 tbsp dashi powder
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp mirin

Mix-ins

1 small carrot
1/3 cup gobo (burdock root), cut into strips
1/3 cup konjac, sliced
1 aburaage (fried tofu pouch)

Instructions:

Make Shiitake Dashi
Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in 1 1/4 cup water for about 10 minutes.
Remove mushrooms and save the soaking liquid—this becomes your umami broth.
Season the Broth
Add dashi powder, soy sauce, and mirin into the shiitake soaking liquid.
Mix well.
Prepare the Rice Base
Pour the seasoned liquid over rinsed rice in your rice cooker or pot.
Let the rice soak while preparing the ingredients.
Prep Ingredients
Thinly slice gobo, carrot, rehydrated shiitake, konjac, aburaage (pour hot water over it first to remove excess oil)
Cook the Rice
Place all ingredients on top of the rice (do not mix yet)
Cook:
- Rice cooker: Mixed rice mode if available, or regular mode
- Stovetop: Bring to boil (10–15 min), then low heat for 15 minutes, with the lid on the whole time
Steam & Fluff
Let the rice sit for 10 minutes after cooking.
Gently fluff and mix everything together.