Doria

Yesterday I made Zuppa Tuscana, and today I have another dish for you. DORIA.



Doria is essentially, a rice Au gratin like dish. It is served many different ways with different ingredients. But it has two main essential parts, rice and white sauce. The recipe I am using (and made up based on lots of others) is a shrimp, mushroom and veggie with a red sauce version.

For you whom have never been to Japan, you should know that Doria is the quintessential Japanese-ified Italian/French Food, almost the same as Pizza is to America. Italian or French, that is the big question with Doria, as I was explained to by a few of my Japanese friends. Some said it was a bastardization of the Au gratin with rice and therefore French, and other said it was actual an Italian Dish. An the restaurants of Japan was no help in this question either, as Family Restaurants, three French restaurants (I read the menus of , and the two Italian restaurants served it.

The Internet says both; it was an Italian Dish, which originated in Paris, France (there are so many in the US alone I thought to clarify) in an Italian restaurant. In the 1920’s (most sources say 1926) Doria entered Japan at the one of the most famous hotels in Japan the Yokohama New Grand Hotel, by a Swiss (though some sources say Swedish) chef as being French cuisine. Interesting history, doria has, either way on its birth culture, its biggest ground, like Pizza is not in its birthplace, but in a foreign land where it was thoroughly embraced.

What really matters is it is one of the most amazing yummy, hearty, sinful foods I ate in Japan, its right up there with omurice as my all-time favorite foods. I am so happy, that Gabe recommended we try it, because honestly, I doubt I would have ever tried it on my own; much less spend two hours, hunting down recipes to make my own version of this wonderful dish.

Today was both good and Bad. Good in that I got a lot done on my business essays: meeting my advisor for the last year, which I had never met, but seem to talk to about classes every two week; got research materials for the essays; clarified the topics. I even talked to the foreign language technical advisor and lab director at my University (I didn’t know we had such a person).

Sadly the one plan for today, which was to figure out and possible start my Japanese class makeup sessions for leaving Japan never happened, and won’t begin for a week and a half! Issues came up and my sensei won’t be available until then. Though I do get to start working on my Japanese reading and writing work!

NOW TO THE FOOD!

Emily’s A-Doria-able Doria
Serves 4 (Japanese) or 1-2 American guys that are starving!

Ingredients:

“Body”:
½ an Onion chopped finely
2 Mushrooms (or so) [ I used button]
½ a carrot, finely chopped (optional, I have lots of carrot)
2.5 cups of Cooked rice (can be pre-fried rice)
30-bite size shrimp, defrosted (mine were pre-cooked)
1 cup DRAINED chopped tomatoes, or tomato sauce

THE WHITE SAUCE:
1 cup half and half (or heavy cream if you have it)
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup of cheese (if in Japan use “cheese” *you know what I mean*, outside I used mozzarella)

Topping:
½ cup of cheese (see above)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.

WHITE SAUCE:
1. Melt Butter in a sauce pan, until completely melted but not browning
2. In Bowl mixed half and half and the egg, mix well.
3. Add Egg mix to butter, and stir and stir and, oh yeah, STIR! For about 5 minutes until sauce thickens up.
4. Add Cheese and STIR some more, until the cheese totally melts into the sauce. Set aside but don’t let get cold.

BODY:
1. Fry the rice a bit if not already done so (I used left over fried rice from breakfast).
2. Sautéed onions, and carrots until soft but not caramelized.
3. Throw in mushrooms, and cook until mushrooms are done (3-5 minutes)
4. Add in rice, and stir for a minute. Set aside for assemble

ASSEMBLE:
1. Place rice in greased casserole dish or caste iron skillet (for best taste).
2. Place tomatoes or tomato sauce on top evenly.
3. Place white sauce evenly over the top of this.
4. Sprinkle cheese over top evenly.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350. Then for a yummy brown top, turn it up to broil until brown speckled.

Wait at least 5 minutes to serve. Eat. Enjoy. Laugh at the happiness.