Vegetable-Packed Lunches: A Solution to Rising Rice Prices

Tackling Rising Rice Prices with Vegetables

In response to the ongoing rise in rice prices and concerns about supply stability, Oisix and Shidax have collaborated to promote a new lunch option—Kasa Mashi Veggie—since May 26 at the Amehare Shokudo located in Gate City Osaki, Tokyo. This initiative has proven popular, with the lunch selling out daily.

The current landscape surrounding rice has been tumultuous. Since last autumn, the price of rice has escalated, prompting governmental intervention through the sale of stockpiled rice. Nevertheless, disruptions in distribution and increased demand for refrigeration logistics as summer approaches continue to complicate the situation. To address these challenges, there has been a growing focus on providing accessible recipes that ensure the effective use of stockpile rice in home cooking experiences.

Making Rice Enjoyable and Healthy with 'Kasa Mashi'

Oisix has long championed ways to support farmers struggling with crop yields by offering misshaped or surplus vegetables at reasonable prices. This year, the brand launched the Kasa Mashi Veggie initiative, blending rice with seasonal vegetables to improve flavor while addressing food waste.

Beginning May 26, diners at Amehare Shokudo can choose between Kasa Mashi Veggie rice or traditional white rice as part of their meal. This innovative approach uses leftover vegetable scraps and unevenly shaped products to create a colorful and nutritious meal—one that has attracted considerable acclaim from patrons, resulting in sold-out offerings daily.

The dish features a variety of vegetables, including radishes, broccoli, carrots, new onions, tomatoes, and corn, cooked together with rice, allowing diners to savor the natural sweetness and flavors of the vegetables. The cooked vegetables can easily be fluffed and mixed with the rice, ensuring that even less-than-perfect produce is delicious.

Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with patrons exclaiming, “Surprisingly, it pairs well with sides and is tasty,” or “The radish veggie rice was delicious, and I want to try other flavors!” Many have found satisfaction in the generous serving of vegetables. Oisix pledges to continue supporting both producers and families through its initiatives.

Recreating 'Kasa Mashi Veggie' at Home

For those eager to try Kasa Mashi Veggie at home, here are some simple recipes:

With Broccoli:

1. Wash 2 cups of rice and soak it in the required water.
2. Add a teaspoon of consomme and two pinches of salt.
3. Remove the tough parts of the broccoli, placing the stem at the center of the rice.
4. Cook as usual, then fluff and mix.

With Carrots:

1. Add a tablespoon of noodle soup base.
2. Place 1-2 carrots on top of the rice.
3. Cook as usual, fluff, and mix. Optionally, add chopped fried tofu or tuna.

With Asparagus:

1. Add two pinches of salt and 20g of butter.
2. Cut three asparagus stalks into bite-sized pieces and place them on the rice.
3. Cook as usual, fluff, and mix.

With New Onions:

1. Add a teaspoon of consomme and two pinches of salt.
2. Hide a knife cut on the lower side of the new onion and place it at the center.
3. Cook as usual, fluff, and mix, adding chopped parsley on top for garnish.

With Tomatoes:

1. Add a tablespoon each of noodle soup base and olive oil.
2. Place a whole tomato on top of the rice.
3. Cook as usual, fluff, and mix, garnishing with perilla leaves and pepper.

With Corn:

1. Add a teaspoon of salt.
2. Peel one ear of corn and cut off the kernels, placing them and the cob atop the rice.
3. Cook as usual, remove the cob and fluff.

Restaurant Details

- Name: Amehare Shokudo
- Address: 1-11-1 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Gate City Osaki West 3F
- Access: 3 minutes on foot from JR Osaki Station
- Phone: 03-3779-2575
- Hours: Lunch from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Last Order: 1:30 PM), Dinner from 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM (Last Order: 9:30 PM)
- Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
- Seating: 286 seats

About Oisix

Established in 2000, Oisix provides a subscription service focused on delivering organic and specially cultivated vegetables, along with minimally processed food products, without additives whenever possible. As of March 2025, Oisix served over 354,000 members across Japan. Its meal kits, Kit Oisix, launched in July 2013, have shipped a cumulative total of over 200 million servings as of August 2024.

Conclusion

Oisix and Shidax’s initiative addresses pressing food supply issues while promoting sustainability and nutrition through innovation in dining. As they move forward, their commitment to supporting agriculture and making healthy eating accessible remains a priority.