It’s January 7th and the day of “Nanakusa gayu” in Japan!
Today I want to share a recipe for Nanakusa gayu here!
Nanakusa gayu (rice porridge with seven herbs)
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9310.jpg)
This is the “Nanakusa gayu” I made today.
Nanakusa gayu is rice porridge with seven herbs.
In Japan, we eat Nanakusa gayu to pray for good health on January 7th.
And you can find a package of seven herbs at supermarkets in this season.
Are you interested in the seven herbs?
Here’s the picture of the herbs.
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9084.jpg)
Seven herbs for Nanakusagayu
Seri
Nazuna
Gogyo
Hakobera
Hotokenoza
Suzuna
Suzushiro
I wrote about the seven herbs before, so please read this article if you are interested in each herb.
Recipe for Nanakusa gayu with rice cake
I made Nanakusa gayu with rice cake this year.
So I’d love to share the recipe.
(Even if you don’t have rice cake, don’t worry! It’s not essential.)
Ingredients (For 2 people)
Rice 180ml
Water 1200ml
Rice cake (If you want)
Umeboshi (If you have)
Recipe for Nanakusa gayu
Wash rice and put it into a pot with water and start cooking.
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_4974.jpg)
When it starts boiling, stir it softly from the bottom.
Put the lid over and leave a small space open and cook it on low heat. (You don’t need to close the lid firmly)
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9216.jpg)
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If you have rice cake, start cooking. (We used Yomogi-mochi)
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9238.jpg)
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Wash the seven herbs and cut them. (I usually don’t care the size)
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In 30 or 40 minutes, after you start boiling the rice, it will be soft.
So put root vegetables first.
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9232.jpg)
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And add the other part of seven herbs.
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9243.jpg)
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Add the rice cake at the end, and it’s done!
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9245.jpg)
Nanakusa gayu (rice porridge with seven herbs)
![](https://vidaennippon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_9301-コピー.jpg)
The taste is so simple.
So I recommend you to eat it with Umeboshi or Shio-kombu.
My husband and I ate them up very quickly.
I’m pretty sure we will have a healthy year because we ate this!
If you can get 7 herbs, please try this for your meal on January 7th.