UME OKAI (Salted Plum Rice Gruel)
3 to 4 large ume (salted plums)
2 to 3 pkgs. shaved, dried bonito
1 Tbsp. sake (rice wine)
1 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. shoyu
Remove seeds from ume and mash ume. Combine ume with all the other ingredients. Serve with okai.
MISO VARIATION:
Substitute 4 tablespoons miso and 1 heaping tablespoon sugar in place of the sugar, sake, and shoyu.
