Japan Eats

Kizami Udon

This dish is a particularly healthy combination of deep-fried tofu, udon noodles and green onion. There are two kinds of udon dishes that use deep-fried tofu as a garnish. One is kitsune udon - in which the deep-fried tofu is soaked in a soup of sweet sauce before being used to garnish udon in dashi soup. The other is kizami udon, where the deep-fried tofu is toasted rather than soaked in a sauce. The result is a light, fresh and textured dish - the crispyness of tofu balancing the soft udon. [caption id="attachment_1119" align="alignright" width="230" caption="Kizami Udon"][/caption] Ingredients (serves 2) 2 portions fresh ...

Chirashizushi

Chirashizushi is the perfect thing for your next party or celebration. It's best known as a dish with which to celebrate momo no sekku or hinamatsuri (the Japanese Doll Festival). Every year on the 3rd of March, Japanese parents display dolls for their daughters - a tradition dating back to the Heian period (1200 years ago). At that time the (then) paper dolls were viewed as a talisman - evil spirits were thought to possess the dolls and they would be destroyed in order to protect the health of young girls. The tradition continues to this day, although Japanese now display ...

Asazuke

This wonderfully fresh pickled 'salad' makes an excellent winter side-dish. I like to serve this together with any kind of nabe (Japanese hotpot) or beside salmon or mackerel, the yuzu-flavored pickles helping to balance the oiliness of the fish. It also makes excellent otsumami (Japanese tapas) served alongside beer, shochu or sake. This particular recipe calls for Chinese cabbage, but you can also use a mixture of Chinese cabbage and the regular variety. [caption id="attachment_958" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Flavored with yuzu, a citrus fruit found in China, Korea and Japan. "][/caption] Ingredients (serves 8 as a side dish) 300g Chinese cabbage (3-4 leaves) ...

Inarizushi

Inarizushi are commonly served as part of a sushi bento (Japanese lunchbox). They are also great for picnics, or as finger food for guests. This particular recipe uses roasted sesame seeds to flavour the rice, but you can also add finely sliced ginger that has been pickled in sweet vinegar. In summer, use boiled edamame (green soybeans) to flavour the sushi rice. [caption id="attachment_876" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Throw a couple of these into your next bento!"][/caption] Ingredients (serves 4) 2 cups of rice 8 sheets of deep-fried tofu 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds Sushi vinegar 3 tablespoons of vinegar 2 tablespoons of sugar 1/2 teaspoon of ...