In the region in Japan where I grew up, there is a traditional salad dish called ‘Chisha-momi’. ‘Chisha’ is a type of Red Leaf Lettuce and it has a slightly bitter taste. To remove the unpleasant bitterness, leaves are massaged with a small amount of Salt. That process is unnecessary when you use common Leaf …
One day when I was cooking Fish Stew, I discovered that I didn’t have enough milk. I needed to save the milk for next morning’s coffee. Then I decided to use a canned Coconut Milk instead, and the result was OK. Later I learned about a Brazilian fish & seafood stew called ‘Moqueca’, and my …
‘Umeshu’ is a Japanese liqueur made by steeping unripe Ume fruits (similar to apricot) in strong alcohol, such as Shōchū, with Sugar. It has quite high alcohol content. Believe or not, I was allowed to drink it when I was a child. It was mixed with plenty of icy cold water, though. This jelly is …
Based on my ‘Steamed Cream Cheese Cake’, I made a larger steamed cake. As I am such a big fan of Rum & Raisins (Sultanas), I added them to the cake. This ‘Steamed Cream Cheese Cake With Rum Raisins’ is so soft, moist and fluffy like a soufflé. And it is alcoholic, so it’s only …
Nutritious and yummy meals can be made cheaply. To cook this curry, you only need 3 main ingredients, 1 small Canned Tuna, 1 Onion and 1 cup Frozen Peas. I use ‘Tuna in Springwater’ for this dish. If you use ‘Tuna in Brine’, you need to alter the amount of Soy Sauce because the Tuna …
‘Sekihan’, steamed short grain Glutinous Rice cooked with Azuki (Red Beans), is sometimes cooked with Chestnuts as well. But Chestnuts are not commonly available where I live. I looked for a substitute for Chestnuts and I tried some different nuts. Now I can tell you that the best substitute is Cashew Nuts. This ‘Auzki & …
‘Harusame’ are the noodles made from potato starch or mung bean starch. It can be cooked very quickly and I love its delicate texture. Above all, it is very low in calories and I used to cook this soup very often when I was weight conscious, in other words, trying to lose weight. Add Vegetables, …
‘Nizakana’ literally means ‘Simmered Fish’. Fish fillets or cutlets are simmered in Sake (Rice Wine) and Soy Sauce. The sauce is commonly sweetened with Mirin or/and Sugar. This is the easiest and very popular method to cook fish in Japan. Depending on the type of fish, you may wish to add Ginger or Garlic. Today, …
‘Champon’ is a Japanese word that means ‘a mixture of various items’, but most commonly it means a dish of Chinese Style Noodles served in hot soup with stir-fried Pork, Seafood and a variety of Vegetables. I believe the most famous one is ‘Nagasaki Champon’, that originated in Nagasaki. You can cook this delicious dish …
For those who love sweet Azuki (Red Bean) paste, which is a very popular ingredient for many sweets, I introduce a traditional Japanese sweet, ‘Zenzai’. In the region I grew up, ‘Zenzai’ is a sweet Azuki soup, often served with toasted Mochi (Rice Cake). Its smooth version made with ‘Koshi-an’ is called ‘Shiruko’, and I …
Balsamic Vinegar is an essential ingredient for my cooking. I particularly love Aged Balsamic Vinegar that is quite sweet. For this dish, Balsamic Vinegar is used not only for the marinade but also for the sauce. They both need sweetness. If your Balsamic Vinegar lacks sweetness, add some Sugar. Makes 4 Servings Ingredients 500 to …
Thinner noodles are better suited for this dish. If you have ‘Somen’, Japanese Thin Noodles, that’s ideal. But I always use Capellini (Angel Hair Pasta) which is the best alternative for me. The sauce can be made by mixing all the ingredients. Pork slices are cooked in the boiling water with Capellini, so you don’t …
