This is Nanakusa Gayu.
Nana means seven, kusa means leaves (or herbs), and Gayu (Kayu) means rice porridge.
It’s Japanese tradition from old times, to eat this Nanaksa Gayu on Jan.7th every year, wishing for good health and no disaster during the year.



Instead of going to field and picking up all seven herbs, which is impossible in most city areas, we can find the Nanakusa set including everything. What you need to oprepare beside this is, rice, water and some salt. (Easy isn’t it?)



Now, let’s start cooking. Cut the herbs apart.



Boil the rice with water (rice:water=1:5) in the deep large pan, with the cover closed. First with high heat, after rice starts boiling make it low. Keep the low heat level for 20 to 30 minutes, until it becomes like this. (Please keep in mind not to open the cover, or mix the rice during this process. It needs some patience.)



This is OK.

Now, Nanakusa Gayu is not only being cultural, but also is healthy. The traditonal New Year Food (Osechi-Ryori) people eat around Jan.1 to 3 has many fatty and heavy dishes, so Nanakusa Gayu is very gentle to our stomach, helps digestion, and also, has low calories. You see, the caloriy of rice porridge is equal to 1 third the volume of the usual rice.