🍚 Katemeshi (loaded rice)

Katemeshi, or loaded rice, is a local dish of Sagamihara City that has been passed down over many years. It is a kitchen-sink meal made by mixing together white rice and broth-simmered vegetables. At one time, much of Sagamihara's soil was covered in volcanic ash and sterile. Rather than rice, sweet potato and wheat were widely cultivated. Katemeshi is a dish that adds vegetables like radish and potato to rice in order to make the most of that precious ingredient. The name “katemeshi” comes from it being a food (meshi) that provided sustenance (kate) for farmers working in the fields. On special days, such as festivals or during the Higan holiday period, loaded rice is served packed full of ingredients.