The first time I encountered the recipe for what I now call the “Eldritch Ebisu Rice Bowl” was during a peculiar journey into the heart of New England. This was no ordinary vacation; it was a pilgrimage of sorts, driven by the lure of ancient secrets buried within the coastal town of Innsmouth. My fascination with Lovecraftian tales had led me to believe that there was more to the myths and legends of those eerie coastal towns than one would find within a mere fictional narrative.
### The Discovery of the Eldritch Ebisu
Several years ago, I found myself wandering through windswept lanes and dilapidated wharfs, where the air was thick with mist that curiously seemed to form shapes and patterns just beyond the reach of rational comprehension. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, ominous shadows over the derelict buildings, I stumbled upon a tiny, almost-hidden eatery named “The Sunken Temple.” Its ancient wooden sign was so weathered it was almost illegible, but the warm light spilling from its windows promised refuge from the cold.
The interior of the eatery was far more inviting than its exterior. The place smelled of rich, exotic flavors that felt almost otherworldly. The walls were adorned with strange artifacts, including unusual deep-sea relics and cryptic symbols that seemed to pulse with an ancient energy. An elderly woman, her eyes sharp and penetrating, welcomed me. When I explained my interest in local lore and cuisine, she offered me a seat by the hearth and said, “You must honor Ebisu tonight.”
Ebisu, I soon learned, was a god revered in certain Japan coastal villages, known for blessings of prosperity and good fortune. The wise woman, whose name I never caught, shared with me the recipe I now offer you, though she warned me that it brought both blessings and curses if misused. With a mysterious smile, she handed me a tattered recipe card, inscribed with ingredients exotic but familiar, and instructions that seemed almost alchemical in their complexity.
### Ingredients
– 2 cups short-grain rice
– 1½ cups water
– 2 tbsp rice vinegar
– 1 tbsp sugar
– 1 tsp salt
– 1 tbsp soy sauce
– 1 tbsp mirin
– 200g sashimi-grade tuna, cubed
– 200g sashimi-grade salmon, cubed
– 1 avocado, diced
– 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
– 2 tbsp pickled ginger
– 1 sheet nori (seaweed), cut into thin strips
– 2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
– 4 tbsp furikake seasoning
– Fresh chives, finely chopped
– Sprouts for garnish (optional)
### Instructions
1. **Prepare the Rice**: Rinse the short-grain rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Place the rice and 1½ cups of water in a rice cooker, set it to cook. Once done, let it stand for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
2. **Season the Rice**: In a small saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Heat gently until dissolved. Pour this mixture over the cooked rice and fold gently to incorporate without mashing the grains.
3. **Marinate the Fish**: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and mirin. Add the tuna and salmon cubes, tossing to coat. Let them marinate for 10 minutes.
4. **Assemble the Bowl**: Divide the seasoned rice into two bowls. Top each with equal portions of marinated tuna and salmon. Distribute the avocado, cucumber, and pickled ginger evenly between the bowls.
5. **Add Final Touches**: Sprinkle the nori strips, sesame seeds, and furikake seasoning over the bowls. Garnish with fresh chives and sprouts, if using.
6. **Serve**: Present the bowls to your guests or savor it yourself in reverent silence, acknowledging the mystical energy locked within each bite.
### The Final Blessing
As I sat in The Sunken Temple, savoring the delicate and ethereal flavors of the dish, I felt an indescribable calm wash over me. The woman nodded approvingly as if some ancient rite had been completed. “Honor Ebisu well, and he shall honor you,” she whispered. I left the eatery that night with a full stomach, and a sense of having brushed against something much larger and older than myself.
Perhaps the Eldritch Ebisu Rice Bowl is just a meal, or perhaps it embodies a fraction of the elder energy that pervades our world, whispering secrets through the medium of taste. Either way, it is a dish that melds both the mundane and the mysterious in every mouthful.
The Eldritch Ebisu Rice Bowl is a vibrant, visually captivating sushi bowl that melds tradition with a hint of mystery.