Yum Your Face Off!

Wasabi-ha わさび葉

2010-03-26T21:46:00.000+09:00

Tis the season for lots of fresh greens! I noticed today that wasabi leaves are officially on the market, a specialty of the prefecture I live in. Wasabi leaves are similar to arugula in that they have a bit of a spicy bite to them but they're not as bitter as arugula. If you can't find wasabi leaves in your local market arugula makes a decent substitute. Of course you could always try growing your own wasabi if your area is wet enough!

How to Prepare

Personally I'm not a fan of how wasabi leaves are usually prepared in Japanese cooking, stewed to hell and back. Instead I go for the fresh approach; chop them up and throw them in a salad or wilt them in a pasta. Just make sure to rinse them before you eat them.

Easy Wasabi Leaves Recipe

This recipe is as easy as it gets, seriously!

Pan Seared Salmon with Wasabi Leaves

Makes 2 servings

Prep Time: About 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 salmon fillets
lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
2 sprigs fresh dill, chopped (optional)
3 cups wasabi leaves, chopped
2/3 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Preparation:

1. Toss salmon with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and dill. Marinate 15 minutes.

2. Cook salmon, skinside down, in a frying pan over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to carefully lift the salmon from the pan from time to time to keep it from sticking.

3. Reduce heat to medium. Cover the pan and cook the salmon for another 3-4 minutes, or until it's cooked to your liking. I usually cook my salmon medium rare; cook it a bit longer and it will be medium.

4. While salmon is cooking, toss wasabi leaves, tomatoes, and red onion together. Just before serving, toss with olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.

5. Place salad on plate. Top with salmon. Serve with brown rice or some sort of pasta.

6. Finished!

Seri セリ

2010-03-18T19:42:00.001+09:00

Man have I gotten bad about updating. I apologize. If anyone can figure out a way for me to be able to post from work I'm all ears!

Seri, known as Japanese parsley or Chinese celery, is a springtime vegetable found for only a few short weeks here in Japan. Seri is high in vitamins C and A as well as potassium. It tastes great fresh just thrown in a salad and can also be used in stews, stir-fries, and soups.

How to Prepare
Make sure to select seri that is bright in color and not wilted or musty looking. It should look similar to cilantro or other leafy herbs. From there just chop it up and throw it in your recipe!

Easy Seri Recipe

While seri is best known for its role in the traditional spring dish nanakusa no sekku, all seven of those vegetables can kind of be a pain to get a hold of. Instead will make a tasty fresh salad with our seri!

Seri and Chicken Salad
Makes 4 servings

Prep Time: About 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 bunch of seri
300 grams chicken breast
1/2 a red onion
40 grams harusame (super thin rice noodles)
4 tablespoons peanuts, crushed
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons and 2 tablespoons vinegar, divided
2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice
4 tablespoons fish sauce (also known as nam pla)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 togarashi pepper, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried togarashi
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

Preparation:

1.     Roughly chop seri. Thinly slice the red onion and place into cold water.
2.     Cook harusame according to package directions, then place in cold water to stop from cooking further. Drain and chop into bite sized strands.
3.    Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Season with pinch of salt and 2 teaspoons vinegar. Cook in microwave for two minutes or until cooked through.
4.    Mix together remaining vinegar, lemon juice, fish sauce, sugar, togarashi, garlic, and ginger.
5.   Drain red onions. Toss together seri, onion, harusame, chicken, and dressing.
6. Place into small bowls and garnish with peanuts.
7. Finished!

Kogomi コゴミ

2010-02-19T20:18:00.002+09:00

I'm on a roll so why not post another recipe lol.

Kogomi are the tender sprouts of the ostrich fern or fiddlehead fern. It might weird you out to think of eating a fern but these are one of the most delicious plants you can sink your teeth into in the spring! But you can usually only get them for about 3-4 weeks once you see them start popping up in the supermarket so make sure you grab them when you do see them!

They taste like a cross between asparagus and brussel sprouts, making them an easy addition to pastas, sautes, and so on (as my students would say). In Japan they tend to be included in salads, tempura, and stewed dishes.

How to Prepare
With kogomi you want to cut off the bottom inch of the stem where it has hardened and then give them a quick rinse. From there you can fry, saute, stew, basically any way you would prepare asparagus you can also prepare kogomi.

Easy Kogomi Recipe

Garlic sprouts are easy to include in just about any recipe. This stir-fry recipe is super easy and only takes about 45 minutes to make including marinating time.

Kogomi Pasta
Makes 2 servings

Prep Time: About 45 minutes

Ingredients:

8-10 kogomi heads
enough pasta for 2 people (about 150 grams)
5-6 small shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and sliced, or maitake mushrooms, chopped
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Preparation:

1.     Add kogomi to a large pot of boiling salted water. Cook until just crisp-tender. Transfer to bowl of cold water using slotted spoon. Cool kogomi slightly to stop it from cooking and drain.
2.     Add pasta to same pot of water and boil until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain well.
3.    Heat olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add onions and saute until starting to brown.
4.    Add garlic and saute 1 minute.
5.   Add mushrooms and lemon juice and saute until just starting to become tender.
6. Add kogomi and pasta. Stir well.
7. Add cheese and stir until full incorporated.
8. Finished!

Ninniku no Me にんにくの芽

2010-02-19T19:52:00.001+09:00

Ninniku no me is the Japanese name for garlic sprouts. These greens are super tasty with a light garlic flavor. They are usually sold in packs in the refrigerated section and are a versatile vegetable.
How to Prepare
Garlic sprouts are similar to asparagus in texture and can be used in the same ways. Simply cut them down to whatever size you want and start cooking. Garlic sprouts can be a little tough when raw so it’s best to cook them first, though if chopped finely they can be thrown in with salad or fresh spring rolls. I most often use them in stir fries and sautés cut into bite sized pieces.

Easy Garlic Sprouts Recipe

Garlic sprouts are easy to include in just about any recipe. This stir-fry recipe is super easy and only takes about 45 minutes to make including marinating time.

Garlic Sprouts Stir-fry
Makes 2-3 servings

Prep Time: About 45 minutes

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar　米酢
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil　ゴマ油
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper とうがらし
about 200 grams chicken, cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch　コーンスターチ

2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
6 shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps quartered
1 colored bell pepper, cut into strips
1/2 package garlic sprouts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 cup matchstick sized carrot strips
1/2 cup broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces

Preparation:

1.     Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
2.     Add chicken and stir to coat; let marinate 30 minutes.
3.     Drain, reserving marinade in small bowl. Whisk 1/4 cup water and cornstarch into marinade.
4.     Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
5.     Add chicken and sauté until golden, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chicken to plate.
6.     Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to skillet.
7.     Add mushrooms and stir-fry until tender, about 3 minutes.
8.     Add carrots, broccoli and garlic greens; stir-fry 2 minutes.
9.     Add bell peppers; stir-fry 2 minutes.
10. Add garlic and ginger; stir-fry 30 seconds.
11. Return chicken to skillet; drizzle reserved marinade mixture over everything.
12. Stir-fry until marinade thickens slightly, about 30 seconds. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
13. Finished!

Gobo ごぼう

2010-02-19T19:46:00.001+09:00

Sorry I haven't posted in ages! Things have been pretty hectic here with the end of the school year coming up. To make up for it I'll do two posts tonight :)

Gobo is Japanese burdock and the big, dirt-covered root things you see in the supermarket. It has a nice crunch and almost nutty flavor. You'll often see it in school lunch and in Japanese restaraunts in various forms. My personal favorite is fried gobo you will sometimes find in izakayas. If you are lazy like me, you can find gobo that has already been cleaned and julienned in bags near the bean sprouts and bamboo shoots. But it's kind of expensive to buy it that way so it's really better to buy it fresh and prepare it yourself.

How to Prepare
It's important to thoroughly clean gobo before you use it. Scrub the gobo with hot water until you have gotten most of the dirt off of it. Then you want to take a knife and scrap off the outer skin of the gobo to remove any remaining dirt. Usually gobo is cut into matchstick sized pieces but you can also chop, dice, etc. It will just take longer to cook done that way.

After you have cut your gobo up into matchstick sized pieces, it's important to allow the gobo to soak in water for at least 10 minutes. If you don't do this, the gobo will have an overwhelmingly strong taste. 10 minutes should do the trick but it's okay to allow it to soak for longer.

Easy Gobo Recipe

There are tons of ways to use gobo, though you will usually find it in soups, stir-fries, and Japanese-style salads. Here is a simple vegetable soup that can be made with gobo. From start to finish, this soup takes about 25 minutes to prepare.

Kenchin Soup
Makes 4 servings

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 block tofu
6cm length of daikon radish
1/2 a carrot
3 shiitake mushrooms
1/3 stalk gobo
1/2 block konnyaku こんにゃく
1 sheet fried tofu 油揚げ
3 taro roots 里芋 (can substitute baby sized potatoes)
1/2 bundle Japanese mustard spinach 小松菜
2 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons dashi (fish stock)
1.5 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sake

Preparation:
1.     Drain water from the tofu.
2.     Cut daikon and carrot into thin half moon shaped slices.
3.     Destem the mushrooms and cut caps into quarters.
4.     Cut gobo into thin, round slices and place in water for 10 minutes. Drain water.
5.     Peel the skin from the taro roots, salt the outside of the taro, allow to sit for a minute and then wash the taro.
6.     Cut the konnyaku into large bite-sized pieces. Wash thoroughly.
7.     Place the fried tofu into boiling water until most of the oil has been removed from the tofu. Remove from the water and cut into bite-sized pieces.
8.     Heat oil in the soup pot over medium-high. Add daikon, carrots, mushrooms, gobo, taro, konnyaku, and fried tofu to the pot. Stir fry for about two minutes.
9.     Add dashi and water to the pot. Bring to a boil, then lower heat so the water is simmering. Skim the top of the soup once every couple of minutes to remove any scum that rises to the top.
10. While soup is simmering, cut the drained tofu into 4cm blocks. Separate out the bunch of Japanese mustard spinach.
11. Add tofu and spinach to the pot. Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper to the pot.
12. Remove pot from heat once tofu has heated through.
13. Finished!

Konnyaku こんにゃく

2010-01-28T21:20:00.000+09:00

Konnyaku is a curious thing. Is it a vegetable, an animal, an amorphous blog of atoms? Turns out it actually is a plant, and an ugly one at that. I'd be curious to know why the first human who ate it decided to even approach the thing. Maybe he was starving and delirious in the jungle. Apparently it's called konjak in English, but as I've never heard that word in my life, I'm content to call it konnyaku. Konnyaku doesn't have much of a taste and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of them gelatinous in nature. You can also get konnyaku that has been infused with such things as mushrooms and cayenne pepper. My favorite is the spicy konnyaku, particularly the noodle shaped one.

As far as nutrition goes, you know the cabbage diet? The one where you eat lots and lots of cabbage because it has very little calories or nutritional value so you can eat as much as you want? Konnyaku is Japan's answer to the cabbage diet. It's fat free, contains next to nothing in calories, and has lots of fiber. So it's a great filler food but don't rely on it as your sole sustainance. Probably the greatest thing about konnyaku is it's cheap, so you can throw it in to just about any recipe to bulk it up without affecting its flavor.

How to Prepare
Konnyaku comes packed usually in fish broth so you'll want to drain that. You can find varieties that are packed in water as well. Once it's drained it's ready to go! If you buy a big block you can cut it into any shape you want. Or you can buy ones shaped as noodles, balls, on a stick, if you can imagine it, konnyaku has been shaped into it. Konnyaku can be eaten hot or cold, stewed, steamed, boiled, frozen, just about any way you want.

Easy Konnyaku Recipe

My favorite way of eating konnyaku is in nabe, but you can also throw it into stir-fries and other dishes easily.

Pork and Konnyaku Miso Stir-fry

Makes 4 servings

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 sheets of konnyaku, cut into triangles
150 grams pork, cut into 4 cm strips
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 small pack shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and cut into halves
2 green peppers, cut into strips
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 cups cabbage, chopped
3 tablespoons cooking sake, divided
2 tablespoons soy sauce, divided
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 teaspoons ginger paste
1 teaspoons togarashi
1 tablespoon water
30g miso paste 味噌

Preparation:
1. Mix together 2 tablespoons sake, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, miso paste, sugar and water. Add pork and konnyaku to the marinade. Allow to marinate for about 20 minutes.
2. In a frying pan, heat sesame oil over medium high. Add onions to frying pan. Saute until starting to become translucent.
3. Add green peppers, cabbage and mushrooms to frying pan. Saute for 3-4 minutes, or until green peppers being to soften.
4. Add garlic, ginger, togarashi, remaining sake and soy sauce. Saute for 1 minute or until fragrant.
5. Add pork, konnyaku, and sauce. Saute until pork has browned and sauce has begun to thicken.
6. Serve with rice.
7. Finished!

Dekopon デコポン

2010-01-21T19:35:00.003+09:00

It's officially dekopon season! Dekopon are the sweetest, juiciest citrus you will ever have the pleasure of consuming. It's like someone took a tangerine and jumbofied it. Delicious!

The story goes that back in the 70s the Japanese were trying to create a citrus that could compete with navel oranges. Scientists worked hard crossing this fruit with that, but the results were paltry at best and the experiment abandoned. But not all hope was lost! A farmer from Kumamoto stole a branch from one of the experimental trees and started his own experiments. Soon, he got this fruit yielding to commercial levels, gave it a vaguely sexual name, and ever since it's been a big success!

How to Prepare
Peel and devour!

Easy Dekopon Recipe

To be honest, a dekopon rarely makes it outside of its rind before I've destroyed it in my mouth. But on the off-chance you do have dekopon laying around, here's a great and super easy recipe.

Dekopon and Honey Jello
Makes 2 servings

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 dekopon
5 grams powdered gelatin
1 - 2 teaspoons honey
1 dash lemon juice
1/2 cup water

Preparation:
1. Mix 2 tablespoons water with the powder gelatin. Mix well.
2. Peel dekopons. Break into segments. Take 3/4 of the segments and remove the pith as well as you can from the segment. Cut into bite-sized chunks. Set aside.
3. Juice the remaining dekopon segments into a measuring cup.
3. Add lemon juice and enough water to the dekopon juice to equal 300mL or 1 1/4 cup. Pour the juice mix into a small, microwave-safe bowl.
4. Add honey, 1/2 teapoon at a time, and mix well. Add honey until desired sweetness is achieved.
5. Microwave the dekopon mixture for one minute. Add gelatin to the heated mixture and whisk until gelatin has dissolved.
6. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Place the small bowl with the jello into the ice bath. Stir the jello occasionally. Once jello begins to jiggle, remove the bowl from the ice bath.
7. Layer the chunks of dekopon and jello into small glasses.
8. Finished!

Mikan みかん

2010-01-15T23:14:00.003+09:00

Right now it's peak season for mikan, those little citrus fruits that I could eat by the dozen if I'm not careful. In English they're known as clementines or satsuma oranges depending on where you live. I've heard the term satsuma orange has to do with one of the areas where mikan are grown in Japan, but the only place I know of where mikan are worth their snuff is Wakayama. Like most citrus, mikan are packed with vitamin C so grab a couple if you want to ward off the scurvy, yarr!

How to Prepare
One of the best things about mikan is they're so easy peel. I actually loath dealing with navel oranges now after having lived with mikan so for long. The peel of mikan is also great for cooking and especially baking, so don't let it go to waste!

Easy Mikan Recipe

This may sound like a funky combo for a salad but it's actually delicious! As an added bonus, endives are one of those random vegetables that for some reason are cheaper in Japan than in the US. I don't really get how that one works.

Citrusy Endive Salad

Makes 4 servings

Prep Time: About 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 to 5 mikan, peeled and segmented
2 to 3 endives (エンダイブ or チコリー)
2 inner ribs of celery (the pale white looking ones), including leaves
1/4 cup black olives, pitted and cut into slivers
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup chopped parsley or loosely packed flat-leaf parsley

Preparation:
1. Whisk together vinegar, honey, and salt in a small bowl until salt are dissolved, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking well. Season with pepper.
2. Remove the pith from your mikan segments but don't worry about being anal retentive, just remove the biggest chunks.
3. Halve endives lengthwise, then cut out and discard the cores. Cut endives diagonally into 1/2-inch-wide strips and put in a large salad bowl.
4. Separate celery leaves from ribs and cut ribs diagonally into very thin slices.
5. Roughly chop the celery leaves. Add the leaves, ribs, olives, onions, parsley, and mikan to the endives.
6. Whisk dressing, then gently toss salad with enough dressing to coat.
7. Finished!

An easy salad for a light weeknight meal!

Renkon れんこん

2010-01-13T18:38:00.000+09:00

Renkon is known as lotus root in English, that funky root that looks like a flower and packs some crunchy goodness. You can do just about anything with lotus root cooking wise, just make sure to choose ones that are firm and a light brown color. The smaller the lotus root the more tender and crispy it will be, so don't pick ones that are too big! Lotus root is low in calories and high in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6. Right now lotus root is in season so it's the best time to try it!

How to Prepare
If you're lazy, you can buy pre-soaked lotus root in the same section of the supermarket that has the prepared bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, etc. If you want to prepare it yourself, first thoroughly wash the root. Then peel the outside layer of the root with a peeler. Slice the lotus root into thin rounds and soak in a mixture of 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon vinegar for about 30 minutes. This will cut the bitterness in the lotus root. From there you can cut it up anyway you please and stew, stir fry, boil, fry, etc.
Easy Lotus Root Recipe

This traditional Japanese recipe is about as easy as it gets. Chop everything up and let it stew for awhile!

Chikuzenni 筑前煮

Makes 2 servings

Prep Time: About 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 a chicken breast　鶏もも肉
1/2 a carrot
4cm length of lotus root
50 grams soaked bamboo shoots (can buy already packed in water)　ゆでたけのこ
1/2 a length of burdock root ごぼう
2 shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and quartered
2 tablespoons mirin　みりん
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preparation:
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
2. Cut vegetables into large, bite-sized pieces.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a medium sized pot on medium heat. Add chicken, carrots, shiitake, bamboo, lotus root, and burdock root. Stir fry until chicken begins to change color.
4. Add enough water to the pot to just cover the ingredients. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
5. As scum rises to the surface of the water, use the strainer to catch the scum.
6. Once scum seems to be mostly clear, add mirin and soy sauce. Bring to a boil once more.
7. Once liquid has reduced to about 1cm to the bottom of the pot, remove from heat.
8. Finished!

Of course you can add just about anything to this recipe, such as onions, konnyaku, etc. Try it out!

Soba そば

2010-01-11T13:23:00.001+09:00

Soba, those thin buckwheat noodles often seen in Japanese restaurants, are one of the foods you're supposed to eat for the new year in Japan. They're supposed to represent a long life and considering their health benefits, that might not be far off from the truth! Soba is basically a fat free food that is also surprisingly high in protein considering it's a noodle. Soba is also believed to help with high blood pressure due to the bioflavonoid present.

How to Prepare
You can find dried soba noodles at almost any supermarket. Shiga has some particularly good dried soba made in Ibuki that can be found at most Heiwados. Fresh soba noodles taste better and can usually be found in the fridge section of the market. In the States, you should be able to find soba at any Asian market.

If you're feeling really adventurous, make your own soba noodles! Mix equal parts wheat flour and buckwheat flour in a bowl. Make a small indentation in your mixed flour and add a small amount of water. Mix the water in with the flour. Add enough water until you can make a fairly dry ball of dough. When you pinch the dough together it should feel like you're pinched your earlobe. If your dough is too wet or sticky, simple add some more buckwheat flour.

You should knead the dough for a long time. 20 minutes or longer. You want the dough to fully form its gluten chains and to have no air pockets when you form it into a ball. When you've think you've kneaded it for long enough, knead it for another 5 minutes to make sure.

Lightly flour your counter with katakuri starch (片栗粉) or potato starch. Flour your rolling pin with the starch as well and roll out your dough. You want a large sheet like this:

Next you will fold the dough into third with lots of starch to make sure it doesn't stick:

On a cutting board, cut the dough into thin strips to make the noodles. Make sure your knife is sharp!

Finally you'll boil the noodles for about two minutes, then immediately wash them in cold water to stop them from cooking further. Your noodles are done!

Easy Soba Recipe

Here's a non-traditional take on soba noodles, salad style!

Spicy Soba Noodles

Makes 4 servings

Prep Time: About 45 minutes

Ingredients:

450 grams chicken breast, skin removed
250 grams soba noodles
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons black vinegar 黒酢
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon chili oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 carrot, julienned
6 small shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 bunch mizuna 水菜, chopped (can substitute arugula)
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 cup cooked edamame beans, pods removed

Preparation:
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Grill chicken until fully cooked (about 8 minutes each side). Cut into thin strips and set aside.
2. While chicken is grilling, cook noodles according to package directions. Drain noodles in a colander and rinse well under cold water to cool, then drain well. Toss noodles with sesame oil in a large bowl.
3. Stir together vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, garlic, sugar, and salt in another bowl until sugar is dissolved, then add to noodles and toss until coated.
4. Add chicken, carrot, mushrooms, bell pepper, mizuna, scallions, and edamame to the bowl of noodles. Toss together.
5. Finished!

Brown Rice 玄米

2010-01-04T21:00:00.007+09:00

Happy New Year!!

To celebrate the new year, my fiance and I are making a pledge to eat healthier. People assume that Japanese food is healthy but really it can be just as junk ridden as food anywhere else in the industrialized world. You wouldn't believe the amount of products with HFCS and the like in it. So let the healthy eating begin!

Brown rice might seem like a lame thing to be posting about, but you still have entire nations that don't know that brown rice kicks the ass of white rice any day of the week. White rice is just as bad as bleached flour, a bunch of essentially empty carb calories. But with brown rice your stomach gets an instant injection of thiamine, magnesium, iron and more. In fact, if you want to avoid Beriberi Disease, brown rice is the way to go!

So what makes brown rice brown and white rice white? Brown rice is basically the rice straight off the stalk; just the husk has been removed. White rice has the bran and germ removed, which is where the vast majority of rice's nutrients come from. So why the heck do we eat white rice? Probably for the same reasons we eat white bread and deep fried Coca Cola, we're idiots!

One important thing to remember about brown rice (and whole grains in general) is they do go rancid quickly. If you don't think you'll use your brown rice often, keep it in the fridge or cook large batches in advance and freeze them into individual servings.

How to Prepare
Hopefully you have a rice cooker. If you do, just fill your rice cup with brown rice, dump it in the cooker, and fill the water to the brown rice line. Push start and you're good to go! If you don't have a rice cooker, you should run out and buy one RIGHT NOW. But in the meantime, boil four cups of water, throw in one cup of brown rice, cover, and cook for 40 minutes or until the water has disappeared like magic and you have fluffy rice.

There's also the GABA system, which most modern rice cookers have a button for. You basically stew the brown rice in warm water for 20 hours before cooking, causing the rice to germinate and release more nutritional goodness. I've never tried this since my rice cooker is ancient and needs to be put out to pasture but once I buy a new rice cooker I definitely plan on getting one with a GABA function.

Easy Brown Rice Recipe

For this recipe, we're going to cheat altogether and use puffed brown rice. Normally a bland cereal your hippie aunt would force you to eat, we're going to transform it into magical deliciousness.

Homemade Granola Bars

Makes about 24 bars

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 cups oats
1/2 cup wheat germ OR rice bran (if you live in Japan, you can pick this up for free at any Ookini Shokudou!) OR ground flaxseed etc etc (this is going to help act like cement for the bars)
1 cup puffed brown rice 玄米パフ (can find in the cereal aisle of Japanese supermarkets and Whole Foods)
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds OR sunflower seeds OR shredded coconut
1 cup crushed almonds OR peanuts OR walnuts (I think you're getting the idea)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
3 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
large handful of dried cranberries OR raisins OR chocolate chips blah blah etc etc

Preparation:
1. Mix together the oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and nuts in a baking dish with sides. Toast them in the oven for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes so that they don’t get burned. (If you don't have an oven, toast them on your stove with your frying pan).
2. Line a glass baking dish with parchment paper.
3. Put the brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt into a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until it begins to thicken. Stirring is important, you don't want it to burn!
4. Mix everything together in a large bowl. Your toasty goods, your gooey goods, and your fruity goods.
5. Mix everything like you're making Rice Krispies Treats. The better you coat everything with the sugar mix, the better your granola bars will hold together. Next, put your mix onto your prepped parchment paper.
7. Just like Rice Krispies Treats, spread everything out evenly in the dish with a wooden spoon. Then use another piece of parchment paper to press down on the bars like you're attempting to make diamonds out of them. The tighter you press them together, the better they'll hold up!
8. Wait 2-3 hours until the bars have cooled down completely. Remove the top layer of parchment paper, and lift the granola out onto a cutting board.
9. Cut it up into bars and wrap them up for chowing on whenever you need a snack!
10. Finished!

This recipe can be modded easily for whatever your tastes are. I've made them with peanut butter and chocolate chips and I've made them with toasted soy nuts and dried figs. Whatever you fancy can be done!

Bunashimeji ぶなしめじ

2009-12-30T16:03:00.001+09:00

Sorry about the long hiatus! I took a trip out to Saipan and then spent the past week just catching up on relaxation. I can't remember the last time I had a week to sit around and do nothing. I hope everyone else had a good holiday season!

Amanda requested I talk about shimeji mushrooms and here they are. I personally love shimeji and will throw them in just about any recipe where mushrooms can be added. They usually come in a big bunch and can be found in brown and white varieties. Their firm texture make them perfect for stews and stir fries since they won't break up like other varieties of mushrooms tend to. Shimeji are also low in calories and high in niacin; they're also believed to have anti-tumor agents in them!

How to Prepare
You'll want to cut off the bottom section where the mushroom was growing. Then break up the mushroom into chunks or individual stems.

Easy Shimeji Recipe

If you've never had sukiyaki before, now's the time to start! Sukiyaki is big in Japan, especially during the cold winter months.

Sukiyaki

Serves 4

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

300g shimeji mushrooms (1 package)
1/3 head Chinese cabbage 白菜
2 leeks
400g beef (ask your butcher to thinly slice the beef like deli meat, or if you're in Japan look for うす切り牛肉. It should look like the picture)
Shirataki, one bag drained (shirataki is a type of konnyaku. It looks like translucent noodles before it's cooked. It can be found at most Asian markets as しらたき. If you can't find it, it can be omitted)
1 block grilled tofu 焼き豆腐, drained (can be found at most Asian markets. If you can't get pre-grilled tofu, buy firm tofu and grill it yourself).
4 eggs, beaten

Sukiyaki Broth

1 package powdered kombu broth 昆布だしの素 (can be found at Asian markets and Whole Foods)
1 cup hot water
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon soy sauce

Preparation:
1. In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the sukiyaki broth. Set aside.
2. Cut bottom off the shimeji mushrooms and cut into small sections.
3. Cut the Chinese cabbage into bite-sized chunks. Cut bottom and dark green parts off the leeks. Cut into bite-sized slices.
4. Drain tofu and cut into 1 inch cubes. Drain the shirataki.
5. In a nabe pot or medium sized heavy pot, add the sukiyaki broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the mushrooms, cabbage, leeks, tofu, and shirataki. Spread everything out evenly in the pot.
6. On top of all that, spread out the slices of beef evenly.
7. Once the beef begins to change color, add the beaten egg to the sukiyaki. Cook until the vegetables are to your liking.
8. Finished!

Sukiyaki is a very easy weeknight meal. Try it out!

Shishito ししとう

2009-12-16T14:06:00.002+09:00

Shishito, the longer, skinnier cousin of the green bell pepper. Shishito also happen to be much tastier than Japanese green bell peppers and I use them whenever I can in recipes that call for bell pepper. The most famous of the shishito are manganji tougarashi. These are shishito grown exclusively in Kyoto, so lucky for you if you're in the Kyoto area. Other shishito are just as tasty and can be readily found at the farmers' markets. For those outside of Japan, you can try looking in Asian supermarkets, or standard green bell peppers are a close enough substitute. And like bell peppers, shishito are a great source of vitamins C and A.

How to Prepare
With the smaller shishito, you can cook them whole, which is what I usually do because I'm lazy. Even the stems of shishito can be eaten so simply cut up the shishito however you want.

Easy Shishito Recipe

The snow-filled winds are encroaching on Shiga so pots of hot, tasty goodness are where it's at!

Jambalaya

Serves 4-6

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 package of shishito, chopped or 1 large bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 celery stocked, diced
3 tablespoons parsley, minced
1 small package sausage, cut into bite-sized slices. (For people in Japan, I recommend going to Amica or the Brazilian market to buy sausage. Otherwise, the "chorizo" at the regular supermarket will do the trick)
1 chicken breast, skin removed and chopped
1 large bay leaf
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can beans, drained
1 can tomato sauce
3/4 cup brown rice, uncooked
1 package medium sized shrimp, peeled
2 cups chicken broth

Preparation:
1. Add oil to a large saucepan.
2. Over medium heat, sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery until onion is translucent.
3. Add parsley, sausage, chicken, bay leaf, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes (with juice), tomato sauce, and 2 cups chicken broth. Gently simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
5. Pour rice and beans into the pan and stir well. Bring mixture to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, 45 minutes or until rice is cooked and absorbs most of the liquid.
6. Stir in shrimp and cook 5 minutes more.
7. Remove bay leaf. Season to taste with cayenne pepper and salt.
8. Finished!

Miso 味噌

2009-12-13T16:15:00.001+09:00

Miso isn't technically a plant, but it's made from plants, and most of us have no idea how to use it other than in miso soup. Miso is made from soybeans, salt, and the colonel's blend of secret spices to make a versatile paste that can be added to many recipes for salty goodness. They make white miso, red miso, chunky miso, smooth miso, miso that climbs on rocks. They each have their own merits and it's worth trying out different kinds. Personally I like white miso when you're looking for a subtle miso taste and the darker misos for in your face miso explosion. Best of all, miso doesn't really seem to expire so you don't really have to worry about it spoiling on you.

How to Prepare
If you are adding miso to a sauce, marinade, soup, etc, add a small amount of warm water to the paste and whisk it with a fork until smooth. This makes it much easier to mix into whatever your making. Or you can be like me and just dip vegetable sticks into it for insta-dip.

Easy Miso Recipe

This recipe requires the best miso known to man, habanero miso (make sure to get the red one for this recipe). If you don't have time to go down to Kyoto and discover the amazing habanero store, you can sub any red miso paste for the miso and chili oil for the sesame oil. If chicken isn't your thing, I have also made these using fried tofu squares and it's just as tasty.

Sticky Sesame Chicken Wings

Serves 4 for main dish, 8 for appetizer

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 large garlic clove, crushed and minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons habanero miso + 1 teaspoon warm water to make smooth
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Pinch of togarashi
800 grams chicken wings or drumsticks
1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 scallion, chopped

Preparation:
1. Place chicken in a baking dish, evenly spread. Bake at 180 degrees Celcius for 20 minutes or until mostly cooked. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
2. Mince garlic and mash to a paste using a large heavy knife.
3. Transfer garlic paste to a large bowl and stir in soy sauce, miso, honey, oil, and cayenne.
4. Add wings to sauce, stirring to coat. Allow to marinate for about an hour.
5. Either using your fish grill or a BBQ grill, grill wings until full cooked and sauce is just beginning to char.
6. Transfer wings to a large serving bowl and toss with sesame seeds and scallion.
7. Finished!

I have made these several times for BBQs and potlucks and they have always been a big hit!

Kaki 柿

2009-12-13T12:33:00.002+09:00

If you're in Japan, by now you've seen a bajillion persimmon trees around town and if you're lucky you'll start seeing the fruit appear on your desk too. Persimmons have a thick skin and sweet, almost creamy inside that lend themselves well to dessert dishes. They're also a nice accompaniment to braised pork, salads, and other savory dishes you would put apples or cherries in. Traditionally in the US persimmons would be used to make a baked pudding, similar to fruitcake. Japanese persimmons are high in vitamin C and fiber so they make a good breakfast choice.

How to Prepare
You can just bite into one like an apple or slice it up and enjoy the slices if you want a fast snack. Otherwise you treat it the same as an apple in cooking. Most persimmons you buy in the store will be seedless or have tiny seeds, so you generally don't need to worry about deseeding them. Just cut off the top and start cooking!

Easy Persimmon Recipe

This is a recipe that a middle school girl I used to tutor many years ago taught me. I'm amazed I was able to find it again! To make your pudding extra fancy, cut off the tops of the persimmons and hollow out the insides so that they become little cups. Fill the cups up with the warm pudding and place in the fridge to set. Impressive presentation that takes little effort!

Persimmon Tapioca Pudding

Serves 4-6

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 cup small tapioca pearls
4 cups milk or coconut milk
2 large, ripe persimmons, the insides scooped out and chopped (or peeled and chopped if you're not making the cups)
4 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger paste
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
pinch turmeric (for color) OPTIONAL

Preparation:
1. In a large pan, soak the tapioca pearls in the milk for about 40 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan, add the cut persimmon, cinnamon powder, ginger and 2 tablespoons honey, and place the pan over heat. Stir well, cover and cook on low till the fruit softens. Remove from heat and put aside.
3. Place the pan with the tapioca soaked in milk over heat along with 2 tablespoons honey and the cardamom. Bring everything to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 5-7 minutes, stirring all the time.
4. Add 3/4 of the cooked persimmons along with the turmeric and continue to cook till the tapioca pearls are completely done and the mixture has thickened. Keep stirring frequently.
5. Spoon into bowls or persimmon cups. Top with the reserved cooked persimmons. Serve warm or chilled.
6. Finished!

Maitake 舞茸

2009-12-12T21:38:00.001+09:00

You've probably noticed that the supermarkets have stepped it up in the mushroom department recently. Fall means shrooms in Japan and the variety here is impressive. This week we'll talk about maitake, which has weird, gross-sounding names in English like "Sheep's Head." I don't know what kind of sheep the guy hangs out with that came up with that name but my sheep tend to be less mutated. Like most mushrooms, maitake is a good source of selenium, B-vitamins and potassium. It's also been shown in studies to help boost the immune system of cancer patients, so if you think you might have cancer stock up on maitake!

How to Prepare
Cut off the base of the mushroom where it still has some growing medium left on it (yuck). After that, do whatever you feel like with it! Chop, dice, shred, boil, steam, grill, the possibilities are endless.

Easy Maitake Recipe

One of my favorite recipe for autumn. It's easy to modify with whatever you have on hand.

Mushroom Barley Soup

Serves 10 bajillion people (seriously, you'll get 8-10 servings easy from this)

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 ribs celery with leaves, diced
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small package maitake mushrooms, chopped
1 small package enoki mushrooms, bottom 1/3 removed
1 small package shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and sliced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, leaves removed from stems
1 tablespoon flour
8-10 cups water
2 beef or vegetable bouillon cubes
1 cup whole barley

Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a stockpot and sauté the onion, celery, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, carrot, garlic, thyme and fresh mushrooms until soft, about 5 minutes.
2. Lower the heat and add the flour, stirring every 30 seconds for about 5 minutes or until thick.
3. Add the water and bouillon cubes to the pot, constantly stirring, until vegetables are immersed.
4. Turn the heat to high, and add the barley. Stir well and add salt to taste.
5. Simmer, covered, for about an hour or until the barley is tender and the soup is thickened, stirring often.
6. Add additional chopped parsley, mix thoroughly, and adjust seasonings.
7. Finished!

You can add and subtract just about anything from this recipe. I often like to skip the carrots and add zucchini when I can findthem on sale.

Nashi 梨

2009-12-12T21:31:00.002+09:00

Asian pears: crispy, juicy, delicious. And because they are much firmer than their European counterparts, can be used as a substitute for apples in most recipes. Asian pears are high in fiber as well as vitamins K and C.

How to Prepare
You can prepare an Asian pear the same way you would apples. Just decore and start cooking!

Easy Asian Pear Recipe

The first year I was in Japan there were some Asian pears hanging out in the clearance bin of my local supermarket. Regardless of the fact that I had eaten Asian pears plenty of times in the States, for some reason I was under the delusion they were apples. So I bought them with the intention of making some applesauce with them. Even when I got home and was decoring and chopping up these "apples" I was thinking, "Gee, these are some juicy apples!" It wasn't until I had finished making the "applesauce" that I realized they were Asian pears. A really dumb moment in my kitchen but it turned out to be delicious!

Pearsauce

Serves 4

Prep Time: About 30 mins

Ingredients:

6-8 large Asian pears, peeled, cored, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom or cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

Preparation:
1. Combine all ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Cover, bring to boil.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until apples are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
3. Cool slightly.
4. Smush pears with a potato masher or a pork for chunky sauce. For smooth sauce, transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.
5. Finished!

One thing my great-grandmother would always do when she made homemade applesauce was to serve it warm with a dollop of sour cream on top. It's just as delicious when done with this pearsauce.

Beni-imo 紅芋

2009-12-10T20:55:00.005+09:00

In Japan, schools often take their class trip to Okinawa, a subtropical island a stone's throw from Taiwan. One of the better known vegetables from Okinawa is purple sweet potatoes, known as beni-imo or murasaki-imo in Japanese. I found them at the market today so they're officially in season! Purple sweet potatoes are awesome because they're bright purple. How many natural foods can claim that? They have a milder taste than orange sweet potatoes but can be used in all the same ways. I've even made purple sweet potato pie from these potatoes which made the pie look like it was radioactively glowing. Kick ass!

Outside of Japan, I have heard more and more markets are carrying purple sweet potatoes. So take a look around or ask your local farmers at the farmers' market. Maybe if you pique their interest enough they'll look into growing them!

How to Prepare
Same way you would any potato:

Easy Beni-imo Recipe
When your star ingredient is such a cool color, you want a way to showcase it!

Jazzed Up Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Serves 2-3

Prep Time: About 30 mins

Ingredients:

2 large purple sweet potatoes, either roasted in the oven or cooked in the microwave
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon togarashi
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1.5 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro OPTIONAL

Preparation:
1. Cut open sweet potatoes and scoop out their innards into a bowl.
2. Add rest of the ingredients. Mash together until well blended.
3. Serve!

I really like these potatoes with some pork chops or chicken that has been marinated in some sort of cumin marinade.

Kabosu かぼす

2009-12-09T21:27:00.001+09:00

Continuing with the citrus theme, let's take a look at kabosu. Kabosu is grown widely in Oita prefecture but more of an oddity up here in Shiga. Kabosu is considered a sour orange and has a taste similar to limes and shikwasa. The lighter in color the kabosu becomes, the sweeter it will taste, but when cooking you want it on the sour side so don't let them become too yellow. If you can't find kabosu where you are (and if you're outside of Japan that's a good possibility) key limes make a good substitute.

How to Prepare
Just like any citrus, juice it and zest it! Kabosu tends to have lots of small seeds so be prepared to fish them out of the juice.

Easy Kabosu Recipe
This recipe is about as easy as it gets!

Red Snapper with Chili Kabosu Butter

Serves 4

Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh kabosu zest
1 teaspoons fresh kabosu juice
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh cayenne pepper or 1/4 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried lemongrass or fresh lemon balm OPTIONAL
4 pieces snapper fillets with skin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation:
1. Stir together butter, shallot, zest, kabosu juice, chile, salt, and lemongrass in a bowl.
2. Score skin of fish in 3 or 4 places with a thin sharp knife to prevent fish from curling (do not cut through flesh)3. Pat fish dry and sprinkle with salt.
4. Heat oil in a skillet over moderately high heat until just smoking, then sauté fish, turning over once with a spatula, until golden and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes, and transfer to a plate.
5. Serve each piece of fish with a dollop of chile lime butter.
6. Finished!

Serve this fish with a side of rice and some steamed veggies for a quick weekday dinner!
If you can't find snapper, any firm white fish will suffice. Cod is a good choice here in Japan but be sure to thoroughly rinse the fish before cooking as it's usually heavily salted.

Daikon 大根

2009-12-08T20:23:00.001+09:00

The giant white radish you find in so many dishes here in Japan. Daikon can sometimes have a strong sulfury taste, particularly when raw, but when cooked most of that taste goes away. Daikon is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, and supposedly helps cure hangovers. I don't know if that last part is true, but next time you pull an all-nighter in Osaka eat a cup of shredded daikon in the morning and tell me how it goes.

When buying daikon, choose ones that are firm and on the smaller side. Sometimes you'll find daikon that are lavender or bright pink in color. I have no idea what the difference is between those and regular daikon other than their psychedelic tendencies.

How to Prepare
First you'll want to scrub the outside of the daikon to get rid of any dirt that's hanging out. Chop off the top 2 inches of the daikon as that part is very tough and not worth eating. Slice the daikon into large section and use a peeler or knife to take off the outer skin of the daikon. Then soak the daikon in ice water to get it nice and crispy. You can also just shred the daikon, dice it, etc at this point.

Easy Daikon Recipe
This is my own take on borscht, the Eastern European soup that usually incorporates beets.

Daikon Winter Soup

Serves 4
Prep Time: About 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped leeks
1 teaspoon minced garlic
about 1/2 of a small daikon, peeled and shredded
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 cup diced beef
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
5 small potatoes, diced
4 cups beef broth
1/4 head of cabbage, shredded
sour cream for garnish

Preparation:
1. Heat oil and butter in a saucepan. Add leek and garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes.
2. Add vegetables except cabbage, sugar, vinegar, tomatoes, beef and salt.
3. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes.
4. At the same time, add potatoes, water, and boullion to the soup pot. Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are just tender.
5. Add cabbage and vegetables from the saucepan.
6. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20-30 minutes.
7. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
8. Serve garnished with sour cream.
9. Finished!

Natto 納豆

2009-11-26T11:17:00.006+09:00

Natto is the product of leaving your soybeans out for too long so they start to ferment and become questionable. Natto is a rich source of protein and contains pyrazine and nattokinese, thought to prevent blood clotting and thrombosis. Natto conspiracists even tried to claim natto would make you lose weight, causing the Great Natto Shortage of 2007, but it was soon found out the entire thing was made up. As many people in the Kansai area will tell you, its sticky texture and overpowering smell makes it better suited for a trashcan than your mouth but I suppose it's something everyone should try at least once.

How to Prepare
Open the package, hold your nose, and stir it up!

Easy Natto Recipe
Here is a recipe that takes care of the two issues most people have with natto, the texture and the smell.

Natto Fried Rice
Serves 2-3
Prep Time: About 30 mins

Ingredients:

2 cups of cooked rice or brown rice
1 pack (50g) of natto
Approx. 1 cup chopped scallions
Approx. 1 cup chopped vegetables, whatever you have on hand - peppers, carrots, greens, broccoli, etc.
1/4 cup shredded pink pickled ginger 紅生姜
1 tablespoon sesame oil ゴマ油
1 teaspoon togarashi
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
1. Chop up all the vegetables.
2. Heat up a wok or large non-stick frying pan with 1/2 of the sesame oil. Add the green onions and the vegetables, and sauté until the vegetables are a little limp.
3. Add the natto and 1 Tbs. of soy sauce. Sauté until the stickiness of the natto has dissipated.
4. Add the rest of the oil, the ginger and the rice. Stir-fry until the rice and the other ingredients are evenly mixed. Push the mixture to one side, and add the rest of the soy sauce to the bare surface of the pan. Stir-fry a couple of minutes more until everything looks and smells toasty.
5. Season with pepper (probably needed) and salt (probably not needed - taste some before adding!)
6. Finished!

Kuri 栗

2009-11-25T21:26:00.002+09:00

American chestnuts may be all but extinct, but chestnuts are alive and well in Asia. You often find chestnuts in sweet and savory dishes this time of year and they probably remind your grandma of Christmas and the Rat Pack. Roasted chestnuts have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor that lends itself well to soups, pastas, rice, and desserts. Unlike other nuts, chestnuts are low in fat and are very similar in nutritional makeup to brown rice. Maybe that's why chestnut rice is so popular here in the fall.

How to Prepare

The easiest way to deal with chestnuts is to buy a bag of them already roasted. Every supermarket has them this time of year. If you're Stateside, I've heard you can buy them at Trader Joe's. If you decide to use fresh chestnuts, shell the nuts, cut them in half, and boil them until soft. They won't have the same roasted taste but work just as well in soups and desserts.

Easy Chestnut Recipe

While chestnut soup is amazing, it can be time consuming for those not used to working with cream soups. So instead I decided to post this delicious pasta dish.

Pasta with Chestnuts, Prosciutto, and Sage

Serves 4

Prep Time: About 30 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup prosciutto, chopped 生ハム
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage (can substitute 2tsp dried if your Heiwado doesn't stock fresh herbs)
1 cup crumbled roasted chestnuts
1 cup chopped mushrooms
225 grams dried flat pasta such as fettuccine (you can find fettuccine at Amica or Belsie, among other places. If you can't find, just use the biggest mm spaghetti available at your store)
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or 1/2 cup of the powdered Parmesan cheese.
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Cook onion and mushrooms in olive oil, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add garlic and 1 tablespoon sage and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
3. Stir in chestnuts and prosciutto, remove from heat.
4. Cook pasta until al dente.
5. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander and add veggie mixture in skillet.
6. Add 1 cup reserved cooking water along with cheese and butter and cook, tossing constantly, over high heat until pasta is well coated (add more reserved water if necessary), about 1 minute.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve sprinkled with parsley and remaining tablespoon sage.
8. Finished!

Yuzu 柚子

2009-11-25T18:17:00.009+09:00

When I first heard of yuzu, it was in the form of some not-so-pleasant cough drops. The second time I heard of yuzu, it was in an even worse yogurt concoction. As a result, I stayed away from yuzu for a long time and that's a shame! As it turns out yuzu is a delicious citrus that can easily take the place of lemon in most dishes. Kind of a cross between a lemon and a grapefruit but sweeter, yuzu is what gives ponzu sauce its zip. You can also find candied yuzu peels in the yuzu sodas popular in Japanese cafes and one of my favorite drinks to indulge in. Right now you can buy big bags of yuzu for cheap at the farmer's market in Japan, making it a delicious treat.

How to Prepare

Look for fruit that has a firm rind but slightly gives when pressed on. It should also be very fragrant and be free of large, black blemishes. Just like any citrus, you just cut it open and squeeze out the juice. You'll find that yuzu tends to have more pith and less juice than lemon. The zest is also great for flavoring dishes.

Easy Yuzu Recipe

I remember as a little kid receiving a copy of Felicity's Cookbook (remember the American Girl dolls that were all the rage?) and the first thing I made from it was the syllabub. Syllabubs were all the rage in England and its colonies before the advent of ice cream. Now what makes a syllabub different from a mousse I have no idea but syllabub is a fun word to say so I'm sticking with it.

Yuzu Syllabub

Serves 4

Time: About 10 minutes

Ingredients:

grated rind and juice of 2 yuzu
4 tablespoons sweet white wine 甘口ホワイトワイン
6 tablespoons superfine sugar 上白糖
300 ml heavy cream 生クリーム

Preparation:

1. Warm the sugar, juices and zest gently until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow to cool slightly.

2. Add the wine to the yuzu mix and let sit for one hour.

3. Whip the cream to soft peaks.

Tip: To make your life easier, place a metal bowl in the freezer until time to whip the cream. The cold bowl makes whipping much faster. 4. Fold in the wine mixture. 4. Pour into glasses and chill well. 5. Serve decorated with freshly grated yuzu rind.

6. Finished!

One of the easiest desserts you'll ever make and so delicious!

Welcome!

2009-11-25T17:46:00.000+09:00

This blog originally started on another site as a way to share cooking ideas with Japanese ingredients. The thread became increasingly popular and I realized once I left my work in Japan I would no longer have it as a venue to post in! So now I'm sharing my recipes with the rest of the internet. I hope you enjoy :)