Renkon Manju: Lotus Root Dumplings
First some etymology: “renkon” is what we call the root of the lotus flower plant, while manju, less poetically, means something like “round bun”. What we have here, in fact, is a shrimp-infused...
View ArticleHiyashi Somen: Chilled Noodles with Sauce
Boy, it’s hot in Montreal…really hot! Yesterday we had 34 degrees, but with 96% humidity it felt more like 40. With this weather, there’s only one Japanese dish you think of: an ice-cold noodle...
View ArticleVegetable Agebitashi: Marinated Deep Fried Vegetables
It’s still hot in Montreal, so we’re still doing refreshing summer recipes. This one uses the same somen sauce we wrote about the other day – actually, we’re using leftovers here. This is one of the...
View ArticleHiyashi Chuka: Chilled Noodles with Ham, Egg and Vegetables
Walk down any main street in Japan at the start of the summer and you’ll see these little signboards hanging from restaurant shingles saying “We’ve Started Making Hiyashi Chuka” (Hiyashi Chuka...
View ArticleSaba Nitsuke: Simmered Mackerel
Nitsuke is a very simple simmering technique that yields a deep, sweet, salty, gingery, umami main dish in just a few minutes. A mainstay of everyday Japanese home cooking, Saba Nitsuke is definitely...
View ArticleKocha-buta: Mock Pork Roast with Tea
Do you like pork roast? Of course you do, it’s delicious! It’s also greasy and heavy and, all things considered, probably not the healthiest meal around. So what if you want a lighter, healthier...
View ArticleHiyashi Udon: Chilled Udon Noodles with Sauce
As you may have noticed, chilled noodles are a summertime favorite in Japan: an understandable reaction to the oppressive heat that falls over the country at this time of year. This version is not too...
View ArticleThree Color Torisoboro Gohan: Minced Chicken and Garnish over Rice
Hello loyal readers! Sorry for disappearing but I’ve been really busy with my non-cooking life. I don’t want the blog to stay dormant forever, though, and my husband really wanted me to add this recipe...
View ArticleGomokuzushi: Sushi Rice with Vegetables
Hello everyone, long time no see! Since I started this blog, a key goal has been to show that Japanese cooking is much more than sushi. For that reason, I’ve mostly avoided sushi recipes – the only...
View ArticleHakusai and tuna fish nimono
Japanese food has this image as fussy and sophisticated, but of course busy Japanese people need quick-and-easy recipes to feed hungry families just like anybody else. This braised dish is one way my...
View Article