Takikomi Gohan with Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1 to 2 tablespoons hijiki
• 1 1/2 cups short-grain rice
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup less-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sake
• 1 to 2 tablespoons mirin
• 1 to 2 tablespoons crushed bonito flakes ((optional))
• 2 boneless chicken thighs ((about 12 ounces; trimmed of fat and diced))
• 1 carrot ((diced or cut into matchsticks; about 1/2 cup))
• ¼ cup roughly chopped oyster mushrooms
• ½ (3 1/2- to 4-ounce) pack beech mushrooms ((cut in half crosswise))
• Mitsuba leaves (wild parsley)
• Toasted sesame seeds ((try wasabi sesame seeds))
• Sliced scallions
• Sliced or diced pickled vegetables ((such as plums, radishes, or cucumbers))