Butter and Soy Sauce Rice is the ultimate easy comfort food, beloved in Japanese households. It is perfect for when you are just a little hungry or craving something delicious without having to cook a full meal.

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What is Butter and Soy Sauce Rice?
Butter and Soy Sauce Rice is a simple dish made by placing butter on top of warm rice and drizzling it with soy sauce. As the butter melts into the warm rice, it blends with the flavor of the soy sauce, resulting in a delicious combination. The preparation takes less than a minute.
It is a great choice when you have rice but don’t feel like cooking anything else, or when you have finished all the other dishes and only have rice left. While it is easy to make and delicious, it is important not to eat this dish on its own every day. To stay healthy, make sure to include protein and vegetables in your diet.
Use warm rice
There is just one thing to keep in mind when making this dish: use warm rice.
By placing butter on warm rice, it melts and enhances the flavor. It is best to use freshly cooked rice, but you can also reheat leftover rice in the microwave. In any case, make sure the rice is warm.
This recipe calls for cooked white Japanese rice—do you know how to make it? If not, please refer to the page on How to Cook Japanese Rice, where you can learn how to cook it on the stove.
Choosing the right butter
Butter comes in both salted and unsalted varieties, but for this dish, salted butter works better. Its saltiness pairs well with the rice.
If you use unsalted butter, I recommend adding a bit more soy sauce to enhance the flavor.
Topping suggestions
This dish is typically served with just butter and soy sauce, which is the simplest way to enjoy it.
However, you can enhance its flavor by adding extra toppings. In Japan, it is also common to add shaved bonito flakes (katsuobushi) or shredded nori seaweed. Feel free to customize it to your taste and enjoy it in various ways.
📋Step-by-step recipe
Ingredients
- 5.6 oz warm cooked Japanese white rice
- 0.35 oz salted butter
- 1 tsp soy sauce
Toppings (optional):
- shaved bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- shredded nori seaweed
Instructions
🕒 Total: 1 minStep 1
Place the butter on a bowl of warm rice and drizzle soy sauce over it. Mix everything together and enjoy.
Step 2 (optional)
If desired, sprinkle some shaved bonito flakes or shredded nori seaweed on top.
To store
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Please consider leaving a review and star rating in the comments below. If you enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate it if you shared it with your friends.
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Recipe card

Butter and Soy Sauce Rice
Ingredients
- 5.6 oz warm cooked Japanese white rice
- 0.35 oz salted butter
- 1 tsp soy sauce
Toppings (optional):
- shaved bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- shredded nori seaweed
Instructions
- Place the butter on a bowl of warm rice and drizzle soy sauce over it. Mix everything together and enjoy.
- (Optional) If desired, sprinkle some shaved bonito flakes or shredded nori seaweed on top.
Notes
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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