This delightful rice dish offers a harmonious blend of warm and chilled elements, ideal for a quick summer lunch or an easy weeknight dinner. The combination includes warm, buttery rice paired with a chilled cucumber sauce, tangy pickles, and soft-centered eggs, where the interplay between hot and cold ingredients delivers both refreshment and comfort.
To prepare, start by making the pickles. Slice 200g of baby cucumbers into rounds, sprinkle them with one teaspoon of flaky sea salt, and toss well in a heatproof bowl. In another bowl, mix 75ml of freshly boiled water with three tablespoons of caster sugar and 75ml of white-wine vinegar. Pour this over the cucumbers and let them pickle while you prepare the rest of the dish.
Next, rinse 200g of Japanese short-grain rice under cold water until clear. Drain and cook it using a rice cooker or a saucepan with 250ml cold water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then cover and reduce to low for about eight minutes. Remove from heat and leave covered for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile, create the cucumber sauce by blending a large peeled and deseeded cucumber with 100g of crème fraîche, a generous pinch of flaky salt, and one garlic clove until smooth. Keep the sauce chilled in the refrigerator with an ice cube.
While the rice is cooking, prepare the eggs by boiling them for seven minutes, then rinse under cold water and peel. Drain the pickled cucumbers and mix them with one tablespoon of olive oil, a small handful of chopped fresh dill, and half a teaspoon of dried mint. To assemble, divide the warm rice into two bowls, topping each with 40g of soft salted butter to melt over the rice. Spoon the cucumber sauce around the rice, and add the pickled cucumbers. Halve the peeled eggs, place them on top, and garnish with finely sliced spring onions. Season the eggs generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Serve this dish immediately to enjoy the delightful contrast of warm rice and eggs against the chilled cucumber sauce and crisp pickles. This meal is not only light and flavorful but also satisfying without requiring complex preparation, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a quick yet delectable dining experience.