Natto Brunch
Ever since our Japan trip last year, I’ve been a converted natto fan. Last week, I ordered some from Weee to fuel my workouts. There were a few brands to choose from, so I just picked one at random, not really knowing what to look for. It turned out to be delicious. One bite and I was right back in Japan. See my natto redemption story.
My version is gloriously lazy — taking less than 10 minutes to pull together. If you want a fancier experience, pair it with some miso soup and pan-fried salmon for a classic Japanese breakfast spread.
One more thing worth mentioning: natto is incredibly affordable. I got a small pack of three for ~$2.50, that’s three meals for less than a dollar each.
Natto Rice Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 small box of natto, defrosted
- 1–2 eggs
- ½ avocado, sliced
- a serving of cooked rice
- a sprinkle of sesame seeds
- nori sheets, for serving (optional but highly recommended)
Instructions
- 1.Tip the natto into a bowl along with its pre-packaged soy sauce and mustard sachets. Stir vigorously until that signature, slightly gelatinous slime forms — it looks alarming, but that's exactly what you're going for.
- 2.Heat the rice until it's piping hot. Temperature really does matter here; warm rice pulls the whole bowl together in a way that lukewarm rice simply won't.
- 3.Cook your eggs however you like — fried, scrambled, or soft-boiled all work beautifully. A note: in Japan, raw egg over rice is completely standard. With typical US grocery store eggs, I wouldn't take that risk; fully cooked is the safer and still very satisfying call.
- 4.Spoon the natto over the rice, then layer on the egg, avocado slices, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
- 5.Serve with nori on the side. Scoop a little bowl into a sheet, fold it up, and enjoy.
Notes
The natto package usually comes with a small sachet of soy sauce and mustard — use both. Don't skip the stirring; developing that slime is exactly the point.
Summary
Honest Verdict
“Delicious, but not quite the same as eating natto fresh in Japan — there's something about that setting that's hard to replicate at home. That said, I'm genuinely glad this is now part of my rotation. It takes under ten minutes, costs less than a dollar a serving, and my gut always feels fantastic afterwards. A small, effortless superfood habit.”
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