Last week, my daughter was sick with a cold so I made her the ultimate Japanese comfort food when you’re ill — おじや (ojiya). Ojiya is a Japanese rice soup that is simple and easy to make, and tastes delicious! If you live in Japan, it’s highly likely you have all the ingredients you need on hand, so if you have a sick baby or toddler who doesn’t feel like eating anything, this is a lifesaver.
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Ojiya (Japanese Rice Soup) Recipe for Babies and Toddlers
This recipe is recommended for babies 7 months and up.
Yield: About two servings (depending on how young your child is and how much they eat)
Prep Time: <5 minutes
Cook Time: ~8 minutes
*Total time: under 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of water
- 1/2 teaspoon of powdered dashi (use dashi for babies if your child is under 1 or reduce the amount to 1/4 teaspoon)
- Around 110 grams of cooked rice (if your baby is under 1, use komegayu/rice porridge appropriate for their age)
- 20-40 grams of chopped tofu (how much you add is completely up to you!)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- Soy sauce
The amount of soy sauce varies depending on the age of your child:
□ omit for babies 7-8 months
□ one to two drops for babies 9-12 months
□ 1/4 teaspoon for toddlers one to 1.5 years
□ 1/2 teaspoon for toddlers 1.5 years and up - Optional: chopped green onions and/or nori for garnish
Directions
- Boil the water in a pot with the powdered dashi
- Lower the temperature of the stove to medium-low and add the cooked rice. Stir occasionally and cook until it is soft.
- Add the tofu. Stir.
- Add the beaten egg. Stir until everything is combined and the egg is cooked.
- Add the soy sauce and stir again until combined.
- Remove the pot from the stove, add the ojiya to a bowl and garnish with green onions and/or nori.
- Enjoy!
If your child doesn’t eat everything, you can keep the remainder in the fridge for about 24 hours.
Ojiya Hack!
For an even easier way to make ojiya, try using Japanese powdered baby food. This is an English translation of a recipe by Wakodo.
- In a bowl, combine a 5-gram package of powdered vegetable komegayu with 2.5 grams of powdered dashi for babies.
- Add 45 ml of hot water and mix.
- Cover with saran wrap for about 2 minutes.
- Serve!
Looking for more recipes for your little one? Then check out my section on Japanese recipes for babies and toddlers!
