Beef sukiyaki is the perfect recipe to have in winter. It’s a one pot dish that’s cooked and served at the table, making the clean up easier for busy cooks. It’s also a fun way to engage the family and guests together in the cooking process. Origins of Sukiyaki Nobody really seems to know theRead On >
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Sweet Summer Spoonful: Mizu-Yokan: A Cool, Traditional Japanese Dessert Jelly
What the Japanese originally called kashi first came to Japan from China during the Nara period (710-93) in the form of fresh or dried fruit. Although not our modern idea of what a sweet should be, fruit was still referred to as kashi right up until the Muromachi period (1333-1573). Later, sweets made of riceRead On >
Somen Time: When the Slurpin’ Is Easy
THERE IS NOTHING MORE RESTORATIVE in summer than a slurp of cold somen, Japan’s thinnest noodle, made from wheat. As a hot dish, somen is known as nyumen; cold, it’s called hiya-somen or hiya-mugi, and is traditionally eaten from early July to mid-August. The word “somen” is derived from the Chinese sakumen, meaning “cable noodles”Read On >
Chawan-Mushi: Japan’s Savory Custard
A Savory Surprise from Japan Until I began my love affair with Japanese food, at the age of fifteen, I wasn’t very thrilled to be served custard of any form or flavor. For me, the word “custard” conjured up a vile, sickeningly sweet concoction that was best consigned to the garbage. But chawan-mushi, Japan’s delectableRead On >
Bamboo Shoots: A Kyoto Spring Specialty
Bamboo shoots are often seen as a seasonal treat so it’s worth having recipes on hand to know what you’re going to make should you come into fresh shoots. (Don’t forget to check out my other equally popular bamboo shoots recipe too Bamboo Shoot, Chicken and Fried Tofu Mixed Rice Japanese Recipe.) Boiled Bamboo ShootsRead On >