Serves 1

1/2 cup cooked short-grain brown rice

2 tablespoons dried wakame seaweed rehydrated for a few minutes in 1 1/2 cups of very hot green tea (sencha, hojicha or genmaicha are best; matcha is not generally used for ochazuke, but I've used it when I don't have the others)

1/2 tin water or olive-oil packed sardines, drained (I love the sardines available online from Vital Choice)

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of Sriracha or other hot sauce- optional