How to Use and Rehydrate Dried Burdock

This is a very convenient dried burdock, shredded for quick use in cooking, and requires noアク抜き (removing bitterness). You can enjoy the rich aroma reminiscent of burdock with soil, and a plump umami flavor as if it has been aged.

This time, we will introduce three ways to rehydrate dried burdock. We will also tell you about the textures and recipes you can enjoy with each method, so please use them as a reference.

【Add Directly】 Recommended for Mixed Rice

Mixed rice made with canned tuna, mackerel, or salad chicken, common ingredients for quick recipes, is easy to prepare. If making kinpira gobo or burdock salad, rehydrate in hot water to achieve a palatable softness.

【1 Hour Rehydration】Crispy Texture

After rehydrating for 1 hour, the burdock will have a firm, crunchy or crispy texture. In this state, it is ideal for dishes that highlight the burdock's texture, especially salads, stir-fries, and deep-fried dishes where a pleasant crunch is desired. The natural aroma and crispness of the burdock remain, adding a textural accent to the entire dish.

• Burdock Salad: By mixing 1-hour rehydrated burdock with mayonnaise, you can make a burdock salad with a delightful crunch. The creamy mayonnaise and crunchy burdock maintain a perfect balance, giving the salad a satisfying bite. Adding a little sesame or vinegar will deepen the flavor.
• Kinpira Gobo: Stir-frying it with carrots and seasoning it sweet and savory makes the crispy texture of the burdock stand out. The flavors of soy sauce and mirin intertwine beautifully, making it an excellent accompaniment to rice.
• Deep-Fried Burdock: Dredge in potato starch and deep-fry for crispy outside and crunchy inside deep-fried burdock. The natural flavor of burdock combined with the savory aroma from frying makes it perfect as a snack or side dish.

【Half-Day Rehydration】Burdock's Original Texture Intact

After rehydrating for half a day, the burdock becomes softer overall while retaining a slight crunchy texture. In this state, the burdock absorbs seasonings and broth thoroughly, allowing flavors to infuse quickly, making it suitable for simmered dishes and stews. Especially in simmered dishes, the burdock's flavor spreads gently, offering a rich taste.

• Simmered Dishes: When added to simmered dishes, half-day rehydrated burdock thoroughly absorbs broth and seasonings. The slight crunch of the burdock remains, and its texture, which breaks down pleasantly in the mouth, adds umami to the entire dish. Since the burdock absorbs flavor, it becomes well-seasoned even with short simmering times.
• Beef Shigure-ni: When simmered with beef, the tenderness of the burdock and the umami of the beef harmonize, creating an exquisite texture that melts in your mouth. Adding ginger further enhances the flavor. A richer seasoning makes it an excellent match for rice.

Recommended Recipes
Using Dried Burdock

1. Dry Curry with Plenty of Vegetables: One of the dishes you crave in summer is curry. This is a vegetable-packed dry curry where you can enjoy the crunchy texture of dried vegetables. Recipe here

2. Sweet and Savory Stir-fry of Burdock and Hijiki: Easily make a regular side dish with dried vegetables and seaweed. As the main ingredients are cooling, they help cool a heat-flushed body and have a detoxifying effect that releases excess water from the body. Recipe here

   ※Please cook thoroughly before eating.

【Summary】Enjoy the Concentrated Umami of Dried Burdock

While fresh burdock can have a bitter or astringent taste if not pre-treated, dried burdock has no unpleasant flavors and is packed with pure umami. It is slowly dried at a low temperature to preserve its fresh aroma.

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