Kitchen Wench

In American restaurants, the kids menu tends to consist of things that are fried, white in color, or both (see chicken fingers, french fries, mashed potatoes). In Japan and Korea, kids get to eat something called omurice or omu-raisu. I saw this dish for the first time during Tampopo, a bizarre Japanese send up to noodle shops and food fetishes from the 1980s. (If that plot line sounds even remotely intriguing to you, Netflix it now. You won’t be disappointed.) I actually ate omurice for the first time at a tiny Korean restaurant near Dulles airport. My friend explained that this was “kid’s food”, but she had a craving, so we ordered it anyway.

For the uninitiated, omurice is a omelet filled with fried rice and topped with a few artistic squirts of ketchup. I know the ketchup part sounds a little strange, but trust me when I tell you that the ketchup is key; the sweetness of the tomato really brings the whole thing together. There is also something incredibly comforting about eating omurice; even if you didn’t grow up with it, the flavors and textures have a simplicity that practically screams home cooking.

A few weeks ago, I developed my own acute hankering for omurice. I followed this recipe from Just Hungry, substituting as needed (I didn’t have any meat, but I threw in some spinach and scallions). The technique is very simple. Saute your veggies, add pre-cooked meat, a little ketchup, and rice until heated through. Remove from pan, pour in lightly beaten eggs, cook until barely set, then flip over the rice mound. Apply ketchup designs as desired. Technically, you should put the rice back in the pan and fold the egg over, but that’s a little trickier, as the recipe explains. It tastes just as good without making the full omelet fold. Watch the omurice-making scene in Tampopo for some complex omelet folding action.

I love this recipe because it’s really quick, easy, and is a great way to use up leftover rice. It makes a hearty meal for one, or a great late night snack. Next time, I want to try it with some peas, carrots, and ham. However, for a true throwback to my childhood, I think I would have to use Spam. Yes, I used to eat fried rice with Spam as a kid. And, like omurice, it was delicious.