Steps

1. In a heatproof container, add 350ml of water and 1 dashi pack, and let it sit for 10 minutes. This is the key! Kombu's umami is enhanced when gently heated. This 10-minute resting period is crucial as it significantly impacts the flavor, so be sure to do it.
   🕒 00:40
2. Prepare a colander and a bowl. Lightly rinse 300g of rice under running water. Discard the first rinse water immediately, then gently rinse 2-3 more times. It's okay if a little cloudiness remains.
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3. Drain the rinsed rice thoroughly in the colander, transfer it to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This is the key! Soaking the rice slowly allows the water to penetrate evenly, resulting in fluffy rice. Since "takikomi gohan" absorbs seasonings quickly and can easily become undercooked, soaking for 30 minutes prevents the rice from being hard.
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4. Heat the heatproof container with the dashi pack (that has been resting for 10 minutes) in a 600W microwave for 4 minutes if using a glass container, or 3 minutes if using a plastic container.
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5. After heating, let it sit for another 5 minutes to steam.
   🕒 03:33
6. Open 1 can of corn (net weight 155g) and carefully reserve the liquid without discarding it. This is the key! Corn liquid is concentrated with the sweetness and umami of the corn, making it a crucial element that deepens the overall flavor of the "takikomi gohan". Be sure to use it.
   🕒 04:28
7. In a separate bowl, combine 2 tbsp of corn liquid (approx. 30g), 1 tbsp of soy sauce (approx. 15g), 1 tbsp of mirin (Sweet Rice Wine) (approx. 18g), and the prepared 280ml of dashi broth. Mix well. The ratio of liquid to rice is approximately 1.2 to 1 by weight (340g in this case). Accurate measurement prevents mistakes.
   🕒 05:11
8. Open 2 cans of tuna over the colander used for rinsing the rice and lightly drain the oil. This is the key! Too much oil can make the rice dry and clumpy. Using tuna in oil, rather than water, enhances the tuna's natural flavor.
   🕒 07:16
9. Add the soaked rice to the rice cooker pot. Pour in the prepared seasoning liquid and mix gently. Smooth the surface of the rice.
   🕒 08:15
10. Arrange the corn and drained tuna on top of the rice. Do not mix the toppings with the rice at this stage; place them loosely over the surface. This is the key! Mixing the toppings with the rice can cause them to get between the grains, preventing the rice from cooking evenly and resulting in an undercooked texture. Place the toppings on top without mixing.
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11. Since the rice has already been soaked, cook using the "quick cook" or "speedy" mode. If your rice cooker doesn't have this option, use the regular cooking mode.
    🕒 09:09
12. Once cooked, gently mix everything without crushing the tuna, and let it steam for another 10 minutes. This is the key! The final 10-minute steaming allows the temperature inside the rice cooker to equalize, ensuring the rice is fluffy all the way to the center. Do not skip this step.
    🕒 09:44
13. If eating on its own, a pinch of salt sprinkled on top before serving will further enhance the flavor.
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