All posts by Hiroko

  • Bread Dough

    My Bao Buns

    Are Bao Buns supposed to be sweet? Store-bought Bao Buns are too sweet for me. I made less sweet Bao Buns based on my dough for Nikuman (Steamed Pork Buns). Add 1 to 2 tablespoons Sugar. 2 tablespoons is quite a lot, but still much less sweet than store-bought ones. If you bake Bread regularly, …

  • Squid & Octopus Tempura

    Saki-ika (Shredded Dried Squid) Tempura

    Dried Squid is a popular food in Japan. ‘Saki-ika’ is already shredded Dried Squid and it is often seasoned. ‘Saki-ika’ is delicious as it is, but today I made it into Tempura. It is perfect for drinking. Makes 1 Serving Ingredients 20g ‘Saki-ika’ (Shredded Dried Squid)1 & 1/2 tablespoons Plain Flour1/2 tablespoon Potato Starch Flour2 …

  • Tofu & Soy Protein

    Simmered Kōya Dōfu

    ‘Kōya Dōfu’ is freeze-dried Tofu, originated in the mid 16th century in Japan. It is still a very popular food. It looks like a hard dried sponge and you can find at Japanese grocery stores. Similar products can be found at Asian Grocery stores. You need to soak it in warm water before use. This …

  • Clear Soup Fish

    Fish Clear Soup

    My mother used to cook this Fish Clear Soup for special occasions, when she cooked Sushi or special rice dishes. She used a fish called ‘Hamo’ that is really delicious, but it is not available where I live now. I use firm white fish such as Snapper. Clear soup is usually seasoned with Salt and …

  • Spaghetti & Pasta Sweets

    Kinako Macaroni

    More than 50 years ago, in a small town in Japan, the pre-school that I went to was like child day-care, and a hot lunch or light snack was provided every day. The most memorable food I tasted at the pre-school was this ‘Kinako Macaroni’. I still fondly remember the day it was served for …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets

    Lemon & White Chocolate Scones

    Our next-door neighbours are very kind and they regularly share their garden harvests with us. Now I have a bucketful of Lemons! I am so grateful because our lemon trees have never produced fruit and I always have to buy them. Today I baked these Lemon flavoured scones based on Auntie Lorna’s Scone recipe. I …

  • Vegetables

    Red Cabbage & Corn Slaw

    Red Cabbage is very crunchy. For this salad, I slightly soften it first. You can use your favourite Coleslaw dressing, but it shouldn’t be too sweet, as Sweet Corn adds lovely sweet flavour to it. Makes 4 Servings Ingredients 300g Red Cabbage *1/6 of large head1 Carrot1/2 teaspoon Salt1/2 cup Corn Kernels *Frozen Kernels are …

  • Bread

    Cinnamon Sultana Raisin Bread

    My ‘Basic Sweet Bread Dough’ is very versatile. Today I added Ground Cinnamon and Sultanas to make this delicious bread. You might wish to use Raisins rather than Sultanas. Orange Peel is a good addition. Loaf Tin Standard Loaf Tin Ingredients 1/2 cup Warm Milk2 teaspoons Dry Yeast1 & 3/4 cups Bread Flour *plus extra …

  • Dipping Sauces Vegetables

    Noodle Dipping Sauce With Fried Eggplant

    Deep-frying is a very popular method to cook Eggplant for this dish, but I would much prefer pan-frying as Eggplant sucks up a lot of Oil. This dipping sauce with meltingly soft Eggplant is absolutely delicious. Chill it and enjoy with cold noodles. Makes 4 Servings Ingredients 1 medium Eggplant *about 250g1/2 Green Capsicum *optionalOil …

  • Baked & Fried Sweets

    Chinbing (Muscovado Crepe)

    Japan’s southern island Okinawa has a traditional sweet called ‘Chinbing’. It is a thin pancake similar to Crepe, but its texture is similar to Mochi. It’s a very simple sweet, but absolutely delicious. Makes 12 Pancakes Ingredients 1 cup Self-Raising Flour *OR Plain Flour & 1 teaspoon Baking Powder1 pinch Salt1/2 cup Muscovado *firmly packed1 …

  • Mazegohan

    Asparagus & Egg Mazegohan

    My ‘Asparagus Butter Takikomigohan’ is delicious, but Asparagus turns quite soft as it is cooked with Rice. Then I created this Mazegohan version. Asparagus is mixed with cooked Rice, so it retains crunchiness. It is Butter & Soy Sauce flavoured. I am very happy with the result. Makes 4 Servings Ingredients 2 cups (*180ml cup) …

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