When I first heard about ‘Kimu-Taku Rice’ which is very popular in Nagano prefecture, Japan, I thought it was related to a Japanese star Kimura Takuya aka ‘Kimu-Taku’ who is an actor and also a member of an idol group SMAP. I was very wrong. ‘Kimu-Taku’ stands for ‘Kimuchi (Kimchi) and Takuan (Japanese pickled daikon …
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) leaves are available from Asian grocery stores. Shungiku has quite strong flavour which I didn’t like when I was young but I love it now. This salad can be made with Spinach or other green, but this strong fragrant vegetable is the best with this creamy dressing. Makes 4 servings Ingredients Shungiku …
A Korean grocery store nearby sells many ingredients very similar to Japanese ones and I can purchase dried Wakame. The dried Wakame are totally shrunk and look like thin twigs or something, but the volume increases a lot when rehydrated. You would better use small amount. My mother used to use Vegetable Oil for this …
Sugar Coated Almonds are often called ‘Candied Almonds’. They are quite expensive to buy. If you once learned how to make them, you would never buy them from stores because it is easy to make. You don’t need the oven. You only need a frying pan OR saucepan. Non-stick type preferred. This is the most …
When you find some Pears in your fruit basket have turned very ripe and too soft and nearly rotten (but NOT rotten yet), what do you do? I always make them into this cake. This recipe is made for two pears. If you use more pears, naturally you need more cake mixture and a larger …
‘Umeboshi’ are pickled Ume (similar to Apricot) fruits. ‘Umeboshi’ are very sour and salty. For health reasons, less salty ‘Umeboshi’ are becoming more popular. They are usually served as a side dish for breakfast or lunch, and used as filling for ‘Onigiri’ rice balls. They are also used as seasoning, and I think the sourness …
How can I translate a Japanese word ‘Otsumami’ into English? It is not ‘Appetiser’ or ‘Snack’. ‘Otsumami’ is something to nibble often with a drink, which is most likely an alcoholic drink. The other day I needed to make ‘Otsumami’ for an unexpected occasion, and this quick & easy ‘Spicy Almonds’ was perfect. Ingredients 1 …
Minced meat is generally cheaper and quicker to cook, thus it is a great ingredient for everyday meals. This is one of my family’s favourite mince dishes. ‘Soboro’ means crumbled meat and my ‘Soboro’ recipes are perfect for busy families. Makes 4 Servings Ingredients Cooked Rice 1/2 bowl eachBeef Mince 500gDried Sliced Shiitake 1 pkt …
For our famous BBQ on Australia Day, this is my lamb marinade recipe. In Japan, mutton BBQ in Yakiniku style is called ’Jingisukan (Genghis Khan)’ which is totally different from Mongolian mutton BBQ. What is Jinhisukan? (Wikipedia)As mutton meat was not popular in the area I used to live, it was a restaurant dish for …
‘Tatsuta-agé’ is a very popular method of cooking chicken, meat or fish. Marinated ingredients are coated with ‘Katakuriko’ which is most commonly Potato Starch these days, then deep-fried. When I tried to cook ‘Tatsuta-agé Chicken’ and discovered I didn’t have enough Oil to deep-fry, I baked it the oven. Let me tell you, it might …
‘Doria’ is a rice dish. Early 20th century in Japan, a Swiss chef created this dish for the first time. Butter rice or pilaff is covered with white sauce and grated parmesan cheese, then baked in the oven. ‘Doria’ is very popular in Japan. I cooked this Prawn Doria using left over prawns (and lobster) …
‘Kimpira’ is a Japanese style dish of vegetables that is stir-fried and seasoned with Mirin (Sugar) & Soy Sauce. Commonly root vegetables such as Gobo (burdock root) and Renkon (lotus root) or Carrot are used. The vegetables need to remain crunchy texture after cooked. Because it is too hard to find Gobo or Renkon where …
