Soba mai are buckwheat seeds that have been prepared to make them more convenient to use: raw buckwheat is peeled, washed, steamed, and then dried. The resulting product, known as buckwheat rice, does not need additional washing and is incredibly quick to cook. Buckwheat has a nutty and earthy flavor and is a good source of fiber, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium. Soba mai can be cooked quickly with liquids to make porridge or cooked with rice.
Uses: Wash rice, add a scoop of soba mai, and cook rice as per your rice cooker's instructions. Cook soba mai with water or stock while stirring to make a porridge similar to oatmeal.