Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (update and expanded: 2010/05/30)

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo: all about Japanese whisky!
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Yamaonna by an Aussie girl in Tokyo but also other regions!
About Food in Japan by a Japanese Tokyoite!
Go Ramen in Tokyo
Ramenate by Nate in Tokyo
Ramen Adventures in Tokyo and Japan
Ramen Tokyo in Tokyo
Ando Ryokan Blog in Tokyo
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon by Marya in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu all in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (Englis & French)
Dominique Corby In Osaka (in French, but can answer and read in English)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Navigator by Ad Blankestijn in Kyoto.

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prefecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Fukuoka Dreaming in Fukuoka prefecture

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Fukuoka Dreaming in Fukuoka

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa

Tofu Recipes Compilation

Natto Manofu!

Mabodofu in Japanese or Mapo Doufu in Chinese Mapo doufu, is a popular Chinese dish from the Sichuan (Szechuan) province. It is a combination of tofu (bean curd) set in a spicy chili- and bean-based sauce, typically a thin, oily, and bright red suspension, and often topped with minced meat, usually pork or beef. Variations exist with other ingredients such as water chestnuts, onions, other vegetables, or wood ear fungus, but these are rarely considered authentic Sichuanese.

The Japanese sometimes combine it with natto to create a vegan recipe!

Natto Manofu!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~ people

-Natto: 2 standard packs
-Tofu (silk to fu): 1 standard block/300~400 g
-Leek: 1/2 finely chpped
-Fresh ginger: 3×3 cm cube, finely chopped
-Garlic: 1 clove, finely chopped
-Salad oil or seasme oil: as appropriate
-Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
-Mirin/Sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Japanese sake: 1 tablespoon
-Doubanjiang/豆板醤: 1 tablespoon
-Shichuan pepper (if a vailable): a little

RECIPE:

-Mix the natto with its tare/sauce. If tare is not provided, mix it with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Press water out of tofu. Cut tofu into small pieces (size of the pieces is up to your preference actually!).

-In a bowl mix soy sauce, Japanese, mirin and Doubanjiang into seasoning sauce. Set apart.

-Heat oil in a frypan. Throw in the chopped leek, ginger and garlic. Stir fry for a while.

-Once the leek have become half transparent throw in natto and the seasoning sauce. Mix and heat quickly for a short while.

-Add tofu, Fry until natto has mixed with tofu.

-If there is not enough water to your preference, add some hot (not cold!) water. Sprinkle with Shichuan pepper and serve atop freshly steamed plain rice!
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Vegan Natto & Aburage Tofu

Tofu and natto are both made from soy beans and can be easily combined into vegan recipes!

Natto & Aburage Tofu!
If you have any problems with quantities, look at pics or experiment!

INGREDIENTS: For 2 people

-Abrage/deep-fried tofu: 1 standard pack/2 blocks
-Natto: 1/2 standard pack
-Natto tare/sauce/dresing (sold with pack): as appropriate
-Miso: 2 tablespoons
-Leek: 1/2 chopped
-Soy sauce: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Sponge water the oil and humidity off the aburage with some kitchen apaper. Cut through as to be able to open and stuff the tofu. The best method is to cut at an angle as shown in above picture, leaving half closed. Actually, you had better experiment, although you must keep in mind that the tofu should not be completely cut!

-Add some chopped leeks and the tare/sauce to the natto and stir until sticky. Add remaing chopped leeks and stir well.

-Paste the inside of the tofu with miso. Use a spoon. Stuff each tofu block with half of the natto. Secure with a toothpick.

-Fry until tofu attains a nice toast colour. No need to use oil!
You can also grill inthe toaster!

-Cut to size of your preference or serve it whole. Provide soy sauce for more seasoning if needed.

-Aburage as sold packed in Japan, although you will find them freshly made at any good large supermarket here!
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Vegan Edamame Tofu

This is the season for fresh edamame and there are so many ways to accomodate them!
Have you ever thought of creating a vegan recipe with them and tofu.
Here is a simple way to please everyone!

Vegan Edamame Tofu!

INGREDIENTS: For about 6 people, unless you have a big appetite!

-Kinu Tofu/Silk Tofu: 400 g
-Edamame: 1 cup (boiled in salted water and extracted from their pods)
-Agar agar: 8g
-Water: 385 CC/about 2 cups
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
-Mirin/sweet sake: 1 tablespoon

-Vegan konbu dashi/seaweed soupstock: Check RECIPE: 1 cup/200 cc/ml
-Mirin/sweet sake: 3 tablespoons
-Soy sauce: 3 tablespoons
-Grated wasabi: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Soak the agar agar in the water for at least two hours or overnight.

-Peel off the thin skin of each edamame. Borin work, I must admit, but worth it!

-Place the tofu over a bamboo strainer/zaru to take as much water off as possible.
Press the agar agar strongly to drain it of any water.
Drop the agar agra in 400 cc of water and simmer on a weak fire until completely dissolved.

-Drop the edamame, tofu, salt and mirin in a mixer/food processor.
Turn until you attain a smooth paste.

-In a large bowl pour the tofu mixture and add the dissolved agar agar a lttle at a time and mix well until all has been incorporated.
Pour the whole into a rectangular mold you will have wetted beforehand.

-Smooth the surface flat with a gum spatula. Knock down the mold on the working table a few times to ensure homogeneousity.
Let cool and place inside refrigerator.

-Mix the dashi, soy sauce and mirin/sweet sake.
Heat to just before boiling point. Switch off fire and let cool completely.
Keep in thefridge.

-Turn the edamame to fu over a cutting board.
Cut into 8 pieces and place them on serving dish as shown above.
Pour dashi drssing around it.
Decorate with a few edamame and some grated wasabi.

Enjoy!
———————-
Tofu & Vegetable Juice Cake

The great thing about tofu is that you can devise simple and yummy food with few ingredients and little money!

Here is a simple recipe for a healthy cake for adults and children”

Tofu & Vegetable Juice Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For an 18 cm wide mold

-Real 100% vegetable juice: 40 g
-Tofu (Silk tofu): 300 g
-Sugar: 50~80 g
-All-purpose flour: 100 g
-Eggs: 2

RECIPE:

-Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

-Line the mold with an oven baking paper sheet.

-Drop the vegetable juice, tofu, sugar and eggs in a food processor. Mix until smooth.
Add flower and mix again until smooth.

-Pour the lot into the oven mold and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 30~40 minutes.

-Let cool completely.

-Take out the mold and place on a serving dish. Chill it properly inside the refrigerator.

-Cut to size and serve.

-Decorate it with chatilly (beaten cream) cream.

-You can experiment with the taste with liqueurs and so on!

Easy, ain’t it?
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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Yuki Nabe/Tofu Pot au feu

The Japanese have a very simple and healthy tofu recipe called Yuki Nabe/雪鍋 (“Snow Pot) which can be loosely translated as Tofu Pot Au Feu.
By just adapting the dashi soupstock to a vegan seaweed dashi, vegans and vegetarian can enjoy it!

Before reading the ingredients, check:
Vegan Japanese dashi soupstock recipe

INGREDIENTS: For 5 people

Tofu/Kinudofu/Silk tofu: count 1 block per person (1 block is about 300~400 g)
-Freshly grated daikon: 2 cups/400 cc
-Salt: 2 teaspoons
-Dashi: 5 cups/1000 cc
-Mitsuba/Trefoil/Japanese Honeywort: 1/2 cup/100 cc (Chopped). (if unavailable use fresh coriander or thin leeks, although the taste will be a lot stronger. Chopped shiso is fine, too)

RECIPE:

-Lightly press grated daikon to take out excess water.

-In a large Japanese nabe/pot (earthenware pot) pour the dashi/soupstock.

-Heat over a medium fire. Once the dashi starts boiling add the freshly garted daikon. Once it starts boiling again add the tofu cut into fairly bite-sized pieces.

-When it starts boiling again, lower the fire to very low and add the mitsuba and salt (if needed).

-Ask the guests to seve themselves with a ladle into individual bowls. Eat with a Chinese soup spoon (“renge” in Japanese).

-Have some grated lime skin, grated fresh ginger and even grated wasabi ready in small dishes for adults wishing for some more zip!

———————-
VEGAN TOFU CURRY

As I said before, Koyadofu is one kind of tofu that can beasily arranged into all kinds of interesting appetizers in Japanese Homes’ Gastronomy!
Here is a simple suggestsion for a yummy lunch to be eaten by all, vegans, vegetarians aor omnivores:

Vegan (Japanese) Tofu Curry!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Koyadofu: 5 sheets/85 g
-Carrot: 1 medium
-Onion: 1 medium
-Potato: 1 medium
-Shiitake mushrooms: 10 small
-Green peas: the equivalent of 1 small can/60 g
-Curyr powder (of your preference): 1~ tablespoon (I would use 2)
-Soy sauce: 2/3 tablepsoon
-Garan masala powder: 1/2 teaspoon

-Salad oil

-Steamed rice: count a large bowl per person

RECIPE:

-Cut the koyadofu into small bits and let them (if dry) soak in lukewram water until they get soft. Press the water out of them and keep in separate bowl. Finely chop the carrot, onion, potato, and shiitake mushroom. Keep in separate bowl. boil the green peas beforehand if necessary.

-Fry all choped vegetables in salad oil for a while until the onions become translucent.

-Add some water and bring to boil. Remove any unwanted matter if necessary. Add chopped koyadofu. Cook until carrot are sufficently soft. Switch off fire. Add curry powder and mix quickly. Add soy sauce and garam masala and mix quickly. Switch on the fire and cook over small fire until you are satisfied withe the consistency of the whole.

On a dish turn over a bowl of rice and surround it like in the toppicture with curry to which you add the green peas at the last second (on directly “seeded” over it) for good effect.

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Koyadofu Cheese & Bacon Rolls

Koyadofu is one kind of tofu that can beasily arranged into all kinds of interesting appetizers in Japanese Homes’ Gastronomy!
Here is a simple suggetsion for yummy snack to be eaten by all, and with a good beer for adults!

Koyadofu Cheese & Bacon Rolls

INGREDIENTS: For 8 rolls

-Koyadofu: 4 sheets or 80 g
-Sliced cheese: 2
-Flour: as appropriate
-Thin pork belly slices: 8
-Salad oil a little

SAUCE:
-Dashi/Japanese soup stock (if unavailable use bouillon of your choice): 1 cup/200ml/cc
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/sweet Japanese sake: 2 tablespoons
-Sugar: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Soften the koyadofu into lukewarm water. Press water out firmly.
Cut each “sheet” into identical halves

-Cut the sliced cheese into 4 identical parts.

-Cut the koyadofu as shown in picture through 4 fifths of it depth. Insert a pice of sliced cheese inside the cut.

-Roll the koyadofu “sandwich” inside a slice of pork belly and sprinkle with flour.

-Heat some oil in frying pan. Place the rolls together with their “tails” down. Cover with glass lid and cook over medium fire until the meat is conpletely cooked and attained a nice colour.

-Add the sauce ingredients and cook turning the rolls 2 or 3 times until the juices have practically disappeare/evaporated.

-Serve on a plate with some chopped thin leeks and if desired sprinkle with a little chili pepper!

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TOFU CHAWAN MUSHI

Here is another simple tofu recipe you can either serve hot (great in winter) or chilled, although I would go for the former.
Chawan Mushi/Chyawanmushi/茶碗蒸し is a Japanese way to steam a flan/pudding that is not sweet. It makes for great appetizers or full meals if served aplenty.
Great for kids and waistline-conscious people!

Tofu Chawan Mushi!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 ramequins/cups

-Tofu: 1 cup:200 cc/ml (untreated, light type)
-Eggs: 3 medium-sized ones
-Egg yolk: 1
-Dashi (fish or seaweed): 1/2 cup/100cc/ml
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
-Soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
-Mirin/sweet sake: 2 teaspoons
-Chicken soup stock: 50 cc/ml
-Water or dashi: 150 cc/ml
-Cornstarch: 1/2 tablespoon
-Water: 1 tablespoon
-Grated fresh ginger (or yuzu kosho): enough for decoration and taste

RECIPE:

In a bowl beat the eggs and egg yolk. Add tofu, dashi, salt, soy sauce and mirin. Mix well with an electric whisker. Pass through a thin sieve/chinois. Pour mixture inside ramequins/cups.

You can either steam it in a steamer or cook in a bain-marie. Or proceed as shown in picture above. Once the water has ben brought to boil, switch down heat to low and steam for 12~15 minutes.

While you are steamig the tofu chawan prepare the topping sauce. In a pan pour the soup stock and water/dashi. Bring to boil. Mix cornstarch and water, and add it little by little to soup until you have reache da satisfying consistency.

Check if the tofu chawan mushi is well cooked. Pour sauce over each cup. Serve with a little lump of grated fresh ginger. Serving with chopped thin leeks also makes for good combination in looks and taste. One can also season the sauce according to one’s taste and priorities!
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VEGAN TOFU CUISINE: AGEDASHI TOFU

“Agedashidofu” or (Tofu first deep-fried, then served with dashi soup” is a very popular Japanese dish that can easily be adapted to fit vegetarian and vegan priorities!
Moreover, whatever dashi/soup is left can be poured onto a bowl of freshly staemed rice for a fillingand healthy suppelementary dish!

Vegan Agedashidofu!

INGREDIENTS: For 2 people

-Tofu (momen tofu) 1/2 a large piece (can of course be increased!)
-flour: 1 tablespoon (whatever flour as this could add an interesting variation!)
-Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
-Oil for deep-frying
-Freshly grated daikon (to taste)
-Thinly chopped leek (to taste)

-Dashi (konbu/seawed dashi): 100 ml
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/sweet sake:2 tablepoons

-You may add spices of your choice, especially grated ginger and hot chili powder!

RECIPE:

1. Press as much water out the tofu as possible. Cut the tofu into large pieces. Take as much as humidity off their surface by wrapping inside a clean cloth for a while. Mix the flour and cornstarch.
Roll the tofu pieces into the flour and cornstarch so as to cover all sides. If you don’t have enough flour/cornstarch, prepare more.

Drop in deep-frying oil at 170 degrees.

2. Prepare the dashi soup by heating the konbu dashi with the soy sauce and mirin (and extra spices if wanted).

3. Pour the dashi in individaul dishes. Place fried tofu in the middle. Top tofu with freshly grated daikon and chopped leek.

SUGGESTION:

Boil some cut mushrooms in the dashi before serving them together with the tofu!

Easy and healthy, isn’t it?
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TOFU CHOCOLATE CAKE

As I said before, tofu has the great quality that it makes all things lighter, especially cakes.
have you ever thought of combining it with Chocolate?

Tofu Chocolate Cake!

INGREDIENTS:

-Light flour: 80 g
-Baking powder: 10 g
-Cooking chocolate or normal chocolate (the higher percentage in cocoa, the better!): 1 standard tablet/bar
-Eggs: 2
-Margarine or butter: 1 tablespoon
-Cocoa powder: 20 g
-Rum: to taste
-Tofu (light/kinu tofu): 300 g
-Sugar: to taste (depends on people!)

-Fresh cream: 100 ml
-Jam: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Whip the tofu until smooth. Pass it through a fine mesh sieve.

In a separate bowl pass the flour and baking powder through a fine mesh sieve.

-Melt margarine/butter and chocolate on a bain-marie (put the bowl inside a larger one over a fire. Add 50 ml of hot water and the coca powder. Keep mixing until misture thickens.

-Separate egg yolks and whites. Beat the whites in to solid meringue.

-Add flour and baking powder, egg yolks, rum and sugar to chocolate mixture. Mix well. Fold in the egg whites in.

-Check taste. Add flour and cocoa powder if necessary. mix in quickly.

-Line your rice-cooker with a little oil. Pour in the whole mix and switch on the rice-cooker. If you do not have a rice cooker, pour the mixture inside a mold and bake for about 20~25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (check from time to time).

-Wait until cooled down completely before taking out.Serve with whiiped cream mixed wit a little jam of your choice. Plenty of variations possible!
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VEGAN SMOKED TOFU

It is sometimes a hard world for vegans when it comes to find new ideas and recipes, even you love tofu!
Here is a simple way to prepare and enjoy tofu as it was a big piece of cheese!

Vegan Smoked Tofu!

INGREDIENTS: for ? People

-Tofu: a large piece 300~400g or more
-Miso of your liking, as much as you wish
-Soy sauce, not too much (beware the salt)
-Sake or mirin, a little just for the taste
-Spices, if you wish!

RECIPE:

-As the tofu shouldn’t be too soft, choose “momendofu”, or slightly solid.

-Place the tofu on a clean cloth.
-Top it with a clean plate or board.
-Put a heavy weight on top.
-Leave it like this for half a day. The tofu will reduce to half.

-Smear the whole tofu on every face with plenty of a mixture of miso, soy sauce and other ingredients of your choice. The more, the better.

-Wrap it carefully in cellophane paper and leave it in the fridge overnight.

-Take it out of the fridge and take off the cellophane paper.
-Let it dry for 2 hours at room temperature over a piece of kitchen paper.

-Smoke inside a Chinese smoking set for 1 hour.

-Very practical for smoking small quantities!

-Here you are! Enjoy!
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TOFU POUND CAKE

Tofu has the great quality that it makes all things lighter, especially cakes.
Have you ever thought of making a pound cake with it (with a twist added!)?

Tofu Pound Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For a cake 16.5 cm long and a square cut of 7 cm sides

-Egg whites: 2
-Egg yolks: 2
-Sugar: 30 g
-Tofu (after taking some of its water off): 120 g
-Honey (liquid): 2 tablespoons
-All-purpose flour: 50 g
-Baking powder: half a teaspoon
-Soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
-Mirin/sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Milk: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Mix flour and baking powder well.
-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

-In a bowl drop the egg whites with half of the sugar. Beat until solid. Beat 30 more times with a whisk.

-In a separate bowl drop in the tofu, rest of the sugar and egg yolks. Beat with a whisker until smooth. Do not mix too much!

-Add honey, soy sauce, mirin and milk in that order to the egg yols mixture and mix in one each at a time.

-Add and mix in the flour and baking powder mixture little by little with a spatula.

-Add the meringue (beaten egg whites) by folding them in with a spatula in 2 or three sessions.

-Line the mold with baking paper and pour in the whole mixture.
Bake for 40 minutes (the picture above shows the cake baked after 10 minutes)

-Leave the cake inside the oven for 10 more minutes after the oven has switched off after the 40 minutes of cooking. Open the oven, but leave the cake inside for an extra 10 minutes before taking it out.

-Let cool down completely.
Leave inside the fridge for half a day before serving.

NOTE:

You can replace the soy sauce and mirin with cocoa powder (1 tablespoon)!
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TOFU YOGHURT CAKE

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-1

Tofu and yoghurt are two very healthy ingredients that can be easily magicked into a cake for the delight o children and calories conscious adults:

Tofu Yoghurt Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For an 18cm-diameter mold

-Plain yoghurst:500g
-Tofu (kinu tofu or soft tofu): 300 g
-Eggs: 2
-Sugar: 80 g
-Flour: 30 g
-Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-2

-Place a sieve over a bowl. Pour the yoghurt in. Let it drain naturally in the refrigerator for a day.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-3

-Place the tofu in a bowl (no need to cover it). Leave it in a microwave oven (500 W) for 3 minutes.
Place a sieve over a bowl. Pour the tofu inside the sieve. Let it drain naturally in the refrigerator for a day.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-4

-Next day, pre-heat oven to to 180 degrees Ceslius.
Throw the yoghurt and tofu water away.
Drop all the ingredients inside a food processor.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-5

-Blend until smooth. Switch off halfway and stir with a spatula to even up the mixture.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-6

-Pour the mixture inside a mold lined upwith cooking paper. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-7

-Take mold and cake out. Let it cool completely. Chill it inside the refrigerator together.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-8

-Take the cake out of of its mold only when it has chilled well.

TOFU-YOGHURT-CAKE-9

-Cut, serve and enjoy!
You can of course serve it with jam and other toppings.
You can also add liqueurs, fruits and so on to the recipe!
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TOFU LEMON CUPCAKES

TOFU-LEMON-CUPCAKE

Here is another simple Japanese style cupcake recipe made with tofu!

Tofu lemon Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: For about 16

-Tofu (kinu tofu or soft tofu): 100 g
-Sugar: 70 g
-Egg: 1
-Grated lemon pel: 1 lemon
-Flour: 160 g
-Baking powder: 1 and a half teaspoons
-Milk (or soy milk): 3 tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
-Olive oil: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Mix flour with baking powder. Mix grated lemon juice and milk in a separate bowl.

-In another bowl drop tofu and sugar. Mix thoroughly into a smooth paste. Add egg and mix well with a wisker.

-Add lemon juice and milk and mix well until smooth. But don’t mix too long!

-Mix in flour and baking powder with a spatula until the floury look has disappeared but don’t overmix.

-Fill cups (previously oiled) and bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 16 minutes. If the cups are really small 12 minutes should be enough.
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TOFU TERRINE

TOFU-TERRINE

Tofu does have to be food exclusively for vegans, vegetarians and people with special priorities.
I can assure you that monivores like I are very fond of any any combination including tofu!

Here is a simple recipe that will impress your friends:
Tofu Terrine!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 servings

-Tofu (momen tofu, a bit mopre solid than kinu tofu): 300 g
-Wakame seaweed (salted preserves): 15 g
-Carrots: 30 g
-Sugar peas in their pods (or their equivalent. They are called pois gourmands in French, or kinu saya ingen in Japanese): 8
-Salt: a pinch (for boiling the veg)
-Mushrooms (white agarics): 3
-Broad beans (boiled or steamed) for decoration: 4

-Eggs: 2
-Soup stock: 2 tablespoons
-White wine: One and half tablespoons
-Salt: 1/3 teaspoon
-Pepper: to taste
-Salad oil for brushing

RECIPE:

-Break the tofu in large pieces. Boil lightly. Transfer into a large clean cloth and press as much water out as possible.

-Wash the wakame in clear cold water. Boil for a little while. Take out and press water out. Put it inside a clean cloth and press out as much water as possible.

-Chop the carrot fine. Boil a little and take water off as above.

-Take the “thread” off the sugar peas, boil in salted water. Let cool completely. Take off water and chop finely.

-Cut the mushrooms very fine (you may fry or boil them a bit if you wish to).

-Work the tofu in a suribachi (mortar and pestle) to obtain a smooth paste. Add eggs and mix with the pestle (food processing is fine, too). Add wakame seaweed, carrot, sugar peas, mushrooms, soup stock, slat and pepper, and mix.

-Coat the insides of 4 ramequins/oven cups with a very thin layer of salad oil and pour 1/4 of the mixture in each. Flatten the surface with a spatula.

-Place ramequins inside a steamer. Steam on a medium fire for 5 minutes, then 10 more minutes over a low fire.
Let cool down completely.
Wrap them in cellophane and keep in refrigerator until you serve them
Decorate with broad beans.

NOTE:

This is the basic recipe. It is open to all inds of variations!
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VEGAN TOFU LEMON CUPCAKES

VEGAN-TOFU-LEMON-CUPCAKE

This is a slightly different version of the Japanese style vegan tofu cupcake I introduced a couple of days ago. It will give you an idea of how to play on that idea!

INGREDIENTS: For about 16 cakes

-Tofu (kinu tofu): 180 g
-Sugar (of your choice): 0 g
-Soy milk: 3 tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
-Olive oil: 2 tablespoons

-Flour (use chestnut flour if you are wheat allergic): 160 g
-Baking powder: 2 teaspoons

-Grated lemon skin: 1 whole lemon
-Dried English tea leaves, finely chopped ( the contents of 1 tea bag is adequate)

RECIPE:

-Mix flour and baking powder well.
Mix soy milk and lemon juice separately and and set apart.

-In a large bowl drop in the tofu and sugar. Mix well until you obtain a smooth paste. Add the soy milk, lemon juice and olive oil. Mix the lot thoroughly with a whisker.

-Add the all flour and baking powder mixture and mix in with a spatula until floury lumps have disappeared, but don’t mix too much!

-Pour mixture into cups and sprinkle them with grated lemon skin and dried tea.

-Bake inside oven for 16 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius.
If you make mini cupcakes, 12 minutes should sufficient.
keep looking at the colour of your cupcakes!
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VEGAN TOFU CUPCAKES

VEGAN-TOFU-CUPCAKE-1

Cupcakes are the norm all over the world when it comes to bakery and tofu is a must for vegans.
Now, it is possible to make very simple cupcakes for vegans!
Wheat flour allergics can replace the wheat flour with chestnut flour like the Corsicans and Portguese do in their traditional food!
This is only the basic recipe to which you can add fruits and vegetables!

Vegan Tofu Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: For 5~6 cupcakes

-Tofu (kinu toufu): 300 g
-All-purpose flour (for substitutes, read above): 100 g
-Sugar (white, cane, or even honey): 30 g

RECIPE:

VEGAN-TOFU-CUPCAKE-2

-Get ingrediens ready and pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

VEGAN-TOFU-CUPCAKE-3

-Mix tofu and sugar. Mix well.

VEGAN-TOFU-CUPCAKE-4

-Sprinkle flour over tofu and mix roughly so as to leave a little flour on the surface.

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-Bake for 25~30 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius or until desired colour.

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-Dead simple, aren’t they?
Now your skills will reside in what you add!
——————–
Tofu & Chicken stuffed Green Peppers

TOOFU-CHICKEN-PIMAN

Tofu when mixed with other ingredients opens a door on an infinite number of easy recipes!

Here is a very simple Japanes-style snack:
Tofu & Chicken stuffed Green Peppers!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Green peppers: 6
-Kinu tofu: 400 g
-Minced chicken: 175 g
-Japanese Sake: 1 tablespoon
-Soy sauce: 2 teaspoons
-Cheese powder: 1 tablespoon
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
-Black or white pepper: to taste
-Cornstarch: a small amount according to preferences

RECIPE:

-Leave a weight on top of the tofu to drain water and reduce it about two thirds of its volume.
-Wash the green peppers, cut in halves and wipe off humidity.
-In a bowl drop the tofu and minced chicken. Mix well by hand until you obtain a soft smooth paste.
-Add Japanese sake, cheese powder, salt and pepper and mix well.
Sprinkle insides of peppers with cornstach and fill each pepper half with tofu/chicken mixture.
-Place on oven plate and cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.
Serve with a little salt or soy sauce.
——————
VEGAN TOFU CARPACCIO

TOFU-CARPACCIO

I’ve been in tofu recipe search mode for quite a while, and I finally found one to please my vegan friends who can’t boast a carpaccio of their own!
It is ridiculously easy, but it makes for great impression!
Choose the best ingredients!

Vegan Tofu Carpaccio!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu (kinu tofu/silk tofu): as much as you like?
-Salt (Guerande for example): to taste
-Black pepper (freshly ground only, please!): to taste
-Lemon juice (organic lemon, please!): to taste
-Olive oil (EVO): to taste
-Pink pepper/baies roses: to taste

As you can see, it is basically up to you!

Look for some great organic green leaf vegetables to make a “bed” for the tofu.

RECIPE:

-Wrap tofu inside a large piece of kitchen paper.
Put the wrapped tofu inside a tupperware box (no lid, please) and top the tofu with a light weight.
Leave overnight (a full day, if you can) inside the refrigerator.

-Take out the tofu (discard the water).
-Cut it slices and plave it on a bed of leaf vegetables.
-Sprinkle in that order with salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil.
-Srop a few pink pepper grains for decoration and taste.

Simple, ain’t it?
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VEGAN ITALIAN TOFU SALAD

TOFU-VEGAN-SALAD

The Japanese come with some simple and tasty new ideas for Vegans and Vegetarians!
I just discovered this recipe. It is basically a Cabrese-style salad.
The twist is that the cheese is replaced by tofu!

Vegan Italian Tofu Salad:

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu (kinu dofu): half/200g
-Tomato: 1 large
-Sweet basil: 10 leaves

-Dressing:
Wine vinegar (white): 1/4 cup
White wine: 1/4 cup
Salt: 1/3 teaspoon
Whole black pepper: 3 grains, crushed
Garlic: 1/2 clove
Fresh red chili: 1/2

Olive oil (EVO): 1.1/4~ tablespoon
Onion: 15 g, grated

RECIPE:

-Cut tofu into 1 cm thick slices.
-After taking out the stem part, cut tomatoes into half moons.
-Leave tofu tomatoes in a bowl full of iced water.
-Crush and mince garlic. Mix it with the wine vinefar, white wine, salt, pepper and chili. Cook in a pan until the lot has reduced to half. Let cool.
-Take tomatoes and tofu out the iced water (drain as much water as possible) and drop them in a large bowl. Add onion and olive oil. Mix well.
-Place tomatoes, tofu and basil alternately as shown in picture on a srving dish. Pour dressing all over.

NOTE:

-For calorie conscious vegetarians, tofu has almost none while chesse has loads of them!
———————–
Tofu and Egg Dumplings in Sweet and Sour sauce

TOFU-EGG-1

Here is another very easy tofu recipe for the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer and all tofu lovers!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people
-Tofu: 350~400 g
-Eggs: 2
-Soy sauce: 1 large tablespoon
-Dashi/Japanese stock soup. Add a little sy sauce and mirin/sweet sake for taste
-Cornstarch: 1 large Tablespoon
-Trefoil (mitsuba) or available leaves: enough for decoration and taste

RECIPE:

-Drain water from tofu. Put in a bowl and break it up. Break eggs in and add soy sauce. Mix well.

TOFU-EGG-2

-Divide into 4 bowls. Cob\ver ach bowl with kitchen cellophane paper (30 cm wide square).

TOFU-EGG-3

-Turn over bowl and wrap tofu inside cellophane paper. Secure with a rubber band.

-Bring water to boil inside a lare dep pan. Drop tofu dumplings in boiling water and cook for 15 minutes to make sure they properly coked inside.

-Place each dumpling inside its cellophan paper in a serving dish. Cut top of the cellophane paper and carefully pull out the cellophane paper or turn over (whatever way you feel comfortable with.

-In a separate pan prpare the sweet and sour sauce.
Pour in dashi to which you would have added soy sauce and mirin (Taste varies with individuals. Need for a lttle experimentation!).
Heat sauce.
Mix cornstarch in some water and then add to sauce.
Once ready pour over dumpling and serve it decorated with trefoil cut to size.

NOTE:
Take care that cellphane paper does not get in contact with bare parts of the pan as the cellophane paper might melt on contact!
—————————
TOFU AND WAKAME SALAD

TOFU-WAKAME-SALAD-1

Here is another very easy recipe to help you and the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer modify and preserve tofu for all kinds of usages!
I’d like to take the opportunity to apologize to Tinako for my past mistake!
Tofu and Wakame Salad!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~3 people
-Tofu: 300 g
-Salt-preserved wakame: 20 g
If bought dried, let it “come back” in lukewarm water first.
If you are worried about the salt, let them rest in water for a while first and drain.
-Kawaire daikon, or any fresh sprouts available: To taste.
-Ponzu: 2 large tablespoons
-Sesame oil: half a large tablespoon
-White sesame seeds: to taste

RECIPE:
TOFU-WAKAME-SALAD-2

Leave tofu in clean cold water for 30 minutes. Wash and clean wakame seaweed and cut in bite-sized pieces. Cut sprouts in thirds.

TOFU-WAKAME-SALAD-3

In bowl mix seaweed, sprouts, ponzu and sesame oil.

TOFU-WAKAME-SALAD-4

Drain tofu and cut in bite-sized pieces. Mix in.
Place salad in serving bowls and sprinkle white sesame seeds.

Note: You can use either kinu tofu or momen tofu.
You may use green shiso/perilla leaves vinaigrette instead of ponzu.
In summer add cut plum tomatoes.
I personally like to add a little sweet umeboshi/pickled Japanese plums!
—————————
TOFU SHIOZUKE/SALT-PRESERVED TOFU

TOFU-SALT-1

Here is an easy recipe to help you and the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer modify and preserve tofu for all kind of usages!
Tofu Shiozuke/Salt-preserved Tofu!

INGREDIENTS:
-Tofu: 1 “cho”/200 g (Kinu or Momen type)
-Salt: 2g

RECIPE:
TOFU-SALT-2

Take tofu block out of its package and put it kitchen working plank. Sprinkle it with 1 g of salt.

TOFU-SALT-3

Cover with a sheet of kitchen paper.

TOFU-SALT-4

Cover the tofu and its kitchen paper with a plastic Tupperware-type box.

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Turn box and plank over holding them together.

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Take off plank and sprinkle the tofu bottom face with 1 g of salt.

TOFU-SALT-7

Close paper kitchen over tofu.

TOFU-SALT-8

Close the box and leave inside refrigerator in the evening.

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Next morning there should be about 20cc of water having seeped through the kitchen paper. Discard water.

TOFU-SALT-12

Wrap again in new clean kitchen paper. Put back into dry Tupperware-type plastic box and close. Put back into fridge until the next morning.
The tofu will have reduced size by half by then.

TOFU-SALT-13

That’s how it would look. Smaller and firmer. More water should have seeped out. Discard it.

USE SAMPLES:

TOFU-SALT-14

On a bowl of freshly steamed rice serve with with thinly sliced raw okra, preserved chrysanthemum leaves. Then pour hot tea on top!

TOFU-SALT-15

Pickle it with fresh miso for one night and eat it as a snack!

TOFU-SALT-16

Beautiful in salad with avocado slices!

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Served with chopped vegetables and garlic chips!

TOFU-SALT-18

Stuffed inside Aburaage with boiled beans then grilled and seasoned with seaweed dashi/stock and ponzu!
——————————
TIPS FOR EASY SNACKS

TOFU-OIL

I was thinking of the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer) when riding the bu to work this morning. No bicycle these days as we are in the midlle of the rainy season!

The day before the Missus had served a quick snack (see pic above) consisting of tofu on which she poured extra virgin olive oil, coarsely ground black pepper and a little salt.
Very simple. Not very artistic, I admit, but the idea was there.

Now, many vegans and vegetarians like their tofu, but are running out of ideas…

How about, for example, creating a plate (use a large one with “compartments” for better effect!) with an assortment of tofu pieces seasoned with different varieties of oils, ground peppers and other spices, finely chopped vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers for good colouring. I love my tofu mounted with chopped shiso/perilla leaves, umeboshi/Japanese pickled plums meat and a dash of ponzu!
And what about natto/fermented beans with chopped shiso leaves and grated fresh ginger?

You could do the same thing with fried tofu, deep-fried tofu and aburaage.
How about a piece of fsh tofu mounted with freshly cut and fried aburaage, wasabi, grated fresh ginger and ponzu?

Endless bliss!

Will be introducing oils in my next posting!
————————-
Tofu recipe: Tofu Manju with Ankake Sauce/Tofu Dumplings in Sweet and Sour Sauce

TOFU-MANJU-1

Here is another simple tofu recipe dedicated to Elin, all tofu lovers, vegans and vegetarians:
Tofu Manju with Ankake Sauce/Tofu Dumplings in Sweet and Sour Sauce!

INGREDIENTS:
-Tofu (momen tofu style9: 1 “Cho”/200 g
-Carrot: one fifth
-String beans: 2~3
cornstarch: 1 large tablespoon
-salt: a pinch

For sweet and sour sauce:
-Dashi (Konbu dashi/seaweeed stock): half a cup/100 ml
-Soy sauce: half a large tablespoon
-Sugar:2 large tablespoons
-Rice vinegar: 1 large tablespoon
-Cornstarch dissolved in water: to one’s personal liking

RECIPE: For 2 people

TOFU-MANJU-2

Press water out of tofu. Sift it completely. Boil finely cut carrots and string beans until soft enough. Drain all water.

TOFU-MANJU-3

drop tofu and vegetables in a mixing bowl. Mix in cornstarch and salt. Divisde in 4 and make balls. Wrap each individually in cellophane paper. Twist cellophane warap and secure with rubber band or string.
Steam for at least 4 minutes.

Sweet and sour sauce:
Heat dashi stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar, stirring all the time. Mix in cornstarch dissolved in water.
The sauce is ready.

Serve dumplings on plate and cover them with the sauce!
Enjoy!
————————
ABURAAGE RECIPE

ABURAAGE-1
(Aburarage Soup)

Aburaage is basically a deep-fried thin slice of tofu.
It does offer a very versatile option as it can be used as it is, or open as a pouch it becomes the base for inari sushi and many other variations!

Here is a simple recipe:

INGREDIENTS:
Tofu (firm Momen tofu type): 1 large piece/block (Icho in Japanese)
Thick Towel
Cellophane paper
Long wooden disposable chopsticks (wari-bashi)
“Piano string”, or the equivalent
Water drainer
Oil
Oil thermometer (up to 200 degrees Celsius)

RECIPE:

ABURAAGE-2
Make identations or marks on the chopsticks every 5 mm up to the height of the tofu block.

ABURAAGE-3
Tie “piano string” around chopsticks as shown on pic first at 10 mm height (or higher up to 15 mm if you wish), and cut tofu by sliding chopsticks along the cutting table (it should easy, but make sure you cut tofu evenly!)

ABURAAGE-4
Tofu being soft, it is not easy to manipulate.
Later, when you will manipulate it, the best way is to first turn over the whole onto your open palm and have each slice slide away.

ABURAAGE-6
Before manipulating the tofu, first put a 500g weight (anything over a thin wodden plank if you don’t have asushi weight) on top of the tofu for 2 hours to get as much water off as possible.
Transfer slices onto thick towel and leave them there for an hour.

ABURAAGE-7
First frying step: fry tofu slice at 130 degrees Celsius (make sure to keep the temperature constant!) for 6 minutes. This will allow for a uniform heating.

ABURAAGE-8
Second frying step: bring oil temperature to 160 degrees Celsius.
If tofu contains too much water or if you fry in a single step, it will fail to achieve the right shape and quality.

ABURAAGE-9
Aburaage will usually be a bit hard upon frying.

ABURAAGE-10
To make it soft, wrap it in xellophane paper and and heat inside electric oven. As soon as water comes out of aburaage inside the cellopahne paper, take the whole out and unwrap aburaage.

ABURAAGE-11
The aburaage should be soft by then.

ABURAAGE-12
Check if the aburaage needs a second frying (according to your liking).
if you fry it at 130 degrees, it will reduce as the one on the right in the picture.
If you fry it at 160 degrees you will obtain an aburaage like the left one on the picture (longer one).

ABURAAGE-13
To properly open it, cut in half, and then cut inside to form a pouch!
——————————
Vegetarian Japanese Cuisine: Fried Tofu and Vegetables

tofu-recipes-home

The other night, the Missus thought that some healthy food was in order, that is as much for herself as for me, what with her drinking wine and me savouring my Japanese sake!

She used already deep-fried tofu cubes called “nama-age” bought at the nearby supermarket, cut them to bite-size, saute them on a non-stick frypan as they were (no need for oil) with a liberal amount of pizza cheese and served them with a good measure of freshly chopped thin leeks. All the while on another pan she fried slightly boiled renkon/lotus roots slices with eringi mushrooms cut lengthwise and half-cut Brussels sprouts with some olive oil, a litle salt, pepper and a spicy seasoning mix.
Once ready she added themhot on the same plate.

So simple and tasty!
————————–
1): Fried Namaage with Cheese and Ponzu

toofu-recipe-1

This is I hope the first installment of a long series of simple recipes with tofu. Some will be vegan and vegetarian, some vegetarian like this one, others for omnivores!

tofu-kinds-21

This particular one is one one of the Missus’ favorites.
She uses on full “namaage tofu”, tofu that was deep-fried whole and that you can buy either fresh at a Japanese market or packaged.

She cuts the tofu in equal-sized bite pieces about 1 cm thick and fry them in a non-stick pan. No real need for any oil as what is contained in the surface of the tofu will be sufficient.
The point is that she fries them only on side. While they cook she lay a thin piece of mild/processed cheese over each tofu piece, add some black pepper, and cover with a glass lid. When the cheese has nicely melted over the tofu, she takes off the lid, sprinkles the whole with ponzu and fries for another minute. She serves on a dish with the sauce and liberally sprinkles the lot with chopped thin leeks!

Great snack with Japanese sake or beer!
———————
Koyadofu/Pressed Tofu Recipe

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes.  Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.
————————–
Koyadofu/Pressed Tofu Recipe

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes.  Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.
————————–
Koyadofu/Pressed Tofu Recipe

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes.  Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.
————————–

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes.  Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Ideal Party

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sake, shochu and sushi

Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Natto Mabodofu

Mabodofu in Japanese or Mapo Doufu in Chinese Mapo doufu, is a popular Chinese dish from the Sichuan (Szechuan) province. It is a combination of tofu (bean curd) set in a spicy chili- and bean-based sauce, typically a thin, oily, and bright red suspension, and often topped with minced meat, usually pork or beef. Variations exist with other ingredients such as water chestnuts, onions, other vegetables, or wood ear fungus, but these are rarely considered authentic Sichuanese.

The Japanese sometimes combine it with natto to create a vegan recipe!

Natto Manofu!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~ people

-Natto: 2 standard packs
-Tofu (silk to fu): 1 standard block/300~400 g
-Leek: 1/2 finely chpped
-Fresh ginger: 3×3 cm cube, finely chopped
-Garlic: 1 clove, finely chopped
-Salad oil or seasme oil: as appropriate
-Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
-Mirin/Sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Japanese sake: 1 tablespoon
-Doubanjiang/豆板醤: 1 tablespoon
-Shichuan pepper (if a vailable): a little

RECIPE:

-Mix the natto with its tare/sauce. If tare is not provided, mix it with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Press water out of tofu. Cut tofu into small pieces (size of the pieces is up to your preference actually!).

-In a bowl mix soy sauce, Japanese, mirin and Doubanjiang into seasoning sauce. Set apart.

-Heat oil in a frypan. Throw in the chopped leek, ginger and garlic. Stir fry for a while.

-Once the leek have become half transparent throw in natto and the seasoning sauce. Mix and heat quickly for a short while.

-Add tofu, Fry until natto has mixed with tofu.

-If there is not enough water to your preference, add some hot (not cold!) water. Sprinkle with Shichuan pepper and serve atop freshly steamed plain rice!

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Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Ideal Party

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

Japanese Chicken Ham: The Recipe

CHICKEN-HAM-SALAD

Following renewed queries about the Missus’ Chicken Ham included in some of my bentoes, I decided to post again the recipe for my friends’ benefit!

CHICKEN-HAM-ROLL1

Now, the following recipe is for Chicken Ham in the shape of a “ham”.
Naturally, you can, like the Missus, keep the original shape of the chicken breast.

CHICKEN-HAM-SALAD-2

You can slice or shred the chicken as shown above in the combination chicken/avocado salad. Variations are almost endless!

INGREDIENTS:
-One large chicken breast: 250g
-Sugar: 1 large tablespoon
-Coarse salt-black pepper mixture: 1 large tablespoon

RECIPE:

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-1

Get rid of all skin and fat.
“Puncture” chicken shallowly on both sides.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-2

Sprinkle sugar on both sides and

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-3

Throughly brush it in on both sides.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-4

Repeat procedure with coarse salt-black pepper mixture.
Water will start oozing out.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-5

Tightly seal inside zip-lock type vinyl envelope and leave it 48 hours inside the fridge (get as much air out as possible before sealing!).

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-6

After the first 24 hours inside the fridge, throw out the water that has accumulated, reseal and put back inside the fridge.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-7

That’s how it looks when you take it out of the fridge after 48 hours.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-8

Take chicken ot, clean lightly with running water, and then let it rest in clear water for 30 minutes to get rid of the excess salt.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-9

Take out of water and carefully get the chicken rid of water with kitchen paper.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-10

“Roll” the chicken breast into a “ham” shape and secure it with a wooden toothpick (avoid any contact with naked metal!).

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-11

Bind the chicken with cooking thread tightly until you have attained a ham shape. Take toothpick out and discard.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-12

Wrap tightly into cellophane paper.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-13

Wrap into foil paper twice.
NOTE: the Missus does not wrap it into anything and just slowly and directly boil the chicken into chicken bouillon.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-14

In a big enough pan bring water to boil.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-15

Put the foil paper-wrapped chicken inside water and switch off fire.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-16

Cover with lid and leave it as it it is for 7~8 hours.
Take chicken out with its foil paper and let it rest inside fridge for 24 hours.
NOTE: The Missus will put the chicken and the whole broth inside a Tupperware box before puttin it inside the fridge.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-17

Get Chicken ham out. Discard foil paper and thread.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-18

Cut it to your liking.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-20
Serve.

That is when the fun starts!
Great as salads, in sandwiches and of course bentoes!

NOTE: The Missus sometimes, as an extra last step, smokes the whole chicken in green tea leaves!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat

Please check the new postings at:
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French Cake by Bernard Heberle: Mystral

My good friend, Bernard Heberle, the owner/chef of Abondance in Hamamatsu City has recently been elected the best patissier in Shizuoka Prefecture (4,000,000 souls) by the biggest Food Blog Community in Japan, namely Tabelog!

He was kind enough to send me his latest creation before taking some well-earned holidays back home in Alsace with the following comments in French:

“Voici la dernière nouveauté avant pour départ pour mes vacances , Mystral , non non ce n’est pas une faute d’orthographe ni de frappe , le mariage entre Myrtilles et Mistral car après avoir dégusté ce gâteau c’est comme une tornade de bien être qui envahie tout le corps et l’esprit.
La combinaison entre la verveine et ces myrtilles qui sont cultivées spécialement pour Abondance est un délice.
Le tout dans une crème diplomate verveine et une génoise mousseline au cassis.
Bonne dégustation !!!!”

“Here is my last creation before leaving on a long holiday:
Mystral. No, there is no mistake or typo in the name (usually written “mistral”). It is a marriage between Myrtilles/Blueberries and Mistral/Mistral wind blowing very hard down the Rhone Valley. After having tasted this cake, one feels like taken away by a tornado which spreads such great well-being through the body and mind!
The conbination of verveine with blueberries (especially grown for Abondance) is a delicacy!
The whole included inside a mousseline genoise perfumed with cassis!
Enjoy!”

Abondance
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
Homepage

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat

Please check the new postings at:
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Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Norteastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Yamaonna by an Aussie girl in Tokyo but also other regions!
About Food in Japan by a Japanese Tokyoite!

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon by Marya in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu all in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (Englis & French)
Dominique Corby In Osaka (in French, but can answer and read in English)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prefecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Fukuoka Dreaming in Fukuoka prefecture

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Fukuoka Dreaming in Fukuoka

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa

Health & Nutrition Facts in Japanese Food 7: Apples

As demonstrated by many food bloggers, cooking and creating great foods and drinks have become incomplete and unsatisfying when not considering the benefits or adverse effects of the same foods and drinks regardless of their taste.
I do not intend to delve into counselling or consulting, but only to offer some knowledge about the good sides of Japanese foods and drinks. I will not extoll on its possible lacks and negative aspects. After all, the Japanese are not the longest-living people in the world for no reason!
I will also offr at least one nutritious or healthy recipe at the end of each posting.

Health & Nutrition Facts in Japanese Food 7: Apple/Ringo/林檎

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away!”
Well, the Japanese have taken the precept to the letter, and since the apples were first introduced in this country in the second half of the 19 th Century, they have already created more than 17 hybrids and are still coming with new ones!
The only problem may be that the Japanese do not always eat the skin which contains so many nutrients!
Do remember to wash the apples before you eat them, flesh and skin!

For each 100g (edible parts) it contains:
-Energy: 54 kcal
-Water: 84.9 g
-Proteins: 0.2 g
-Fats: 0.1 g
-Carbohydrates: 14.6 g
-Ash: 0.2 g
-Natrium: 110 mg
-Calcium: 3 mg
-Magnesium: 3 mg
-Phosphorus: 10 mg
-Vitamin B1: 0.02 mg
-Niacin: 0.1 mg
-Vitamin B6: 0.03 mg
-Vitamin C: 4 mg
-Dietary (roughage) fibre: 1.5 g

HEALTH FACTS & TIPS:

-Combined with Pineapple, or with Chickory, or with trefoil, or with yma, will strengthen the digestive system, help prevent cancer and recover from diarrhea and constipation.

-Combined with konyaku/Devil’s Tongue Tuber, or with wakame seaweed, or with enoki mushrooms, or with grapefruit, will will help combat obesity, prevent cancer and help with blood quality

-Combined with kikurage/jew’s Ear mushroom, or with asparaguses, or with onion, or with egg-plant/aubergine, will help lower blood cholesterol, and help prevent heart diseases and cancer.

-Combined with tomato, or with broccoli, or with Qing geng cai (Chingensai/青梗菜 in Japanese), or with nori/dry seaweed, will hlep prevent cancer, will help combat aging, will help recover from illness and prevent obesity.

RECIPE:

Here is a recipe to help lower cholesterol and help prevent heart disease:

Apple: 1 large
Pork: 1 thin cutlet
Garlic: 1 clove (finely chopped)
Salt & pepper: a little
White wine: 1/2 cup/100 cc/ml
Salad oil

Take core out and peel skin (the latter only if you want so!). Cut into thin slices. Cut shallow indents along the cutlet to prevent it from shrinking and curling.
Season cutlet with salt and pepper according to preference.

Heat oil in frypan. Throw in the chopped garlic. Once the nice smell of the garlic comes out add the cutlet and apple and fry.

Fry the pork on both sides until it reaches a satisfactory color.
Add wine, reduce fire to medium and simmer for a while to allow the wine to season the whole!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat

Please check the new postings at:
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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Fried Spicy Natto & Daikon

Since I started this series on natto, (Lou Ann, keep your eyes open!), I seem to have found more vegan recipes for it!

Fried Spicy Natto & Daikon:

INGREDIENTS: For 2~3 people

-Daikon: 10 cm long piece (peeled, bear in mind that the bottom tip is hotter!)

-Natto: 2 standard packs
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/Sweet sake: 1 tablespoon

-Seven Flavor Chili Pepper/Shichimi Togarashi (Shichimi)/七味唐辛子/: as much as you like!

RECIPE:

-Cut the daikon into 1~2 cm square pieces.
Mix the natto with the tare and other condiments provided in a bowl. Put aside.

-Pour some oil in a frypan. Fry the daikon pieces over a medium fire until they become half transaprent.

-Lower the fire. Add the natto to the daikon and mix well while cooking until the natto has become less sticky.

-Add soy sauce and mirin. Stir. Check taste and add seasoning if needed.
Last add Shichimi and mix.
Serve with beer or Japanese sake!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Ideal Party

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

Health & Nutrition Facts in Japanese Food 6: Celery

As demonstrated by many food bloggers, cooking and creating great foods and drinks have become incomplete and unsatisfying when not considering the benefits or adverse effects of the same foods and drinks regardless of their taste.
I do not intend to delve into counselling or consulting, but only to offer some knowledge about the good sides of Japanese foods and drinks. I will not extoll on its possible lacks and negative aspects. After all, the Japanese are not the longest-living people in the world for no reason!
I will also offr at least one nutritious or healthy recipe at the end of each posting.

Health & Nutrition Facts in Japanese Food 6: Celery/セロリー

Celery in Shizuoka Prefecture is a major vegetable as our Prefecture produces no less than half of the total National crop!

It is much appreciated in Japan for many reasons.
They love it raw for its crunchy and juicy bite with plenty of flavour.
It is known to be a very healthy vegetable and also possess a calming influence on quick-tempered or stressed people.

The Japanese are also very fond of its “cousin”, the white celery also called celery sprout, which makes for beautiful and tasty decoration!

For each 100g (edible parts) it contains:
-Energy: 15 kcal
-Water: 94.7 g
-Ash: 3.2 g
-Natrium: 28 mg
-Potassium: 410 mg
-Calcium: 39 mg
-Magnesium: 39 mg
-Phosphorus: 79 mg
-Iron: 0.2 mg
-Vitamin B1: 0.03 mg
-Vitamin B2: 0.03 mg
-Vitamin B6: 0.08 mg
-Folic acid: 29 microg
-Vitamin C: 7 mg
-Dietary (roughage) fibre: 1.5 g

HEALTH FACTS & TIPS:

Especially the green leaves are high in Vitamin C, B group, minerals, vegetal fibres and carotenes, all helping with blood quality.

-Combined with Cucumber, or with persimmon, or with watermelon, or with udo/独活/Aralia cordata (mountain vegetable variety), help the urinary system, help prevent kidney disease and helps with blood flow.

-Combined with okra, or with bamboo shoots, or with konbu seaweed, or with soba/buckwheat noodles, helps combat high blood pressure and lower blood cholesterol.

-Combined with shiitake mushrooms, or with cockles, or with cabbage, or with potatoes, helps prevent cancer and helps with brain activity.

-Combined with chicken, or with cheese, or with eggs, or with oysters, improves general stamina and mental toughness.

RECIPE:

Here is a simple recipe to help against stress and increase stamina:

-Celery: 2 branches
-Chicken breast: 1 (meaning one half of the whole breast)
-Oyster sauce: 1 tablespoon
-Japanese sake ( or white wine): 2 teaspoons
-Garlic: 1 clove (finely chopped)
-Salt and pepper: a little
-Sesame oil: a little

-Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Cut the celery into pieces of your liking.

-Heat a frypan. Pour in some oil and throw in the finely chopped garlic. Add the chicken as soon as the smell of the garlic comes out.

-Fry the chicken on every side until it has attained a nice light brown colour. Throw in the celery and fry long enough to let the celery heat up. Add the sake/white wine and oyster sauce. Stir just long enough to let the seasoning take on. Take off fire and sprinkle with sesame oil. Serve immediately!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat

Please check the new postings at:
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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/39): Vegan Sushi Rolls Bento

As from last week, The Missus has been experimenting with sushi for my “Tuesday Bento”.
If you take the boiled egg away it is a truly vegan/vegetarian bento!
Notice that the rolls are packed in the bamboo fiber bento box lined with dry bamboo leaf!

She made three sushi rolls/sushi maki/寿司巻, two of them thin sushi rolls/hoso sushi maki/細寿司巻 and one thick sushi roll/futo sushi maki/太寿司巻.
The home-made pickles are myoga ginger on top of wasabi stems.

The thick sushi rolls/futo sushi maki/太寿司巻 contained sweet umeboshi flesh, perilla/shiso leaves and natto.

The thin sushi rolls/hoso sushi maki/細寿司巻 were of two kinds:
-Kappa maki/cucumber sushi rolls/かっぱ巻
-Kampyo maki/かんぴょう巻dried gourd shavings cooked again in sugar and mirin. They were combined with home-made pickled wasabi stems.

The salad/dessert box contained the Missus’ classices: Salad celery sprouts, carrot tagliatelle with black olives and walnuts, a semi-boiled egg later marinated, and Benihoppe/red cheeks strawberries from Shizuoka!

Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat

Please check the new postings at:
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Vegan Sushi: Natto & Sesame Seeds Roll

Some time ago, I did come with some Vegan Sushi suggestions.
Since I have started postings on natto (Lou Ann; , keep your eyes open!), combining it with vegan is only natural!

Natto & Sesame Seeds Sushi Roll!

INGREDIENTS:

-Natto: 1 standard pack
-Dry seaweed/nori: 1 standard sheet
-White (actually yellow!) sesame seeds: 8 tablespoons
-Rice: 1 “go” (180 cc/ml
-Konbu/seaweed (hard type for cooking): 3×3 cm piece

●Salt: 1/3 teaspoon
●Sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
●Japanese mustard: as appropriate
◎Rice vinegar: tablepsoons
◎Sugar: 1 teaspoon
◎Salt: 1/3 teaspoon

RECIPE:

-Wash the recipe and steam until still a little firmer than usual.

-Drop “◎” ingredients in a small and gently heat until all is dissolved. Try to keep it lukewarm.

-Add “●” ingredients to natto and mix.

-Mix in “◎” liquid with rice by “cutting ” it in.

-Line a sushi roll mat with cellophane paper and sprinkle the whole surface with sesame seeds.

-Spread the sushi rice evenely over the sesame seeds covered cellophane paper. Cover with the dry seaweed sheet.

-Spread the natto mix along one side of the sushi rice and on the seaweed.

-Roll in carefully by lifting the cellophane paper at the same time.

-If you think that the roll is not round enough to your taste, pinch each cellophane paper extremity shut and press into shape.
When cutting the sushi roll, you can do it across the cellophane paper with a sharp knife and then delicately unwrap it.
Wipe your knife clean after each cut!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Ideal Party

Please check the new postings at:
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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Natto & Aburage Tofu

Tofu and natto are both made from soy beans and can be easily combined into vegan recipes!

Natto & Aburage Tofu!
If you have any problems with quantities, look at pics or experiment!

INGREDIENTS: For 2 people

-Abrage/deep-fried tofu: 1 standard pack/2 blocks
-Natto: 1/2 standard pack
-Natto tare/sauce/dresing (sold with pack): as appropriate
-Miso: 2 tablespoons
-Leek: 1/2 chopped
-Soy sauce: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Sponge water the oil and humidity off the aburage with some kitchen apaper. Cut through as to be able to open and stuff the tofu. The best method is to cut at an angle as shown in above picture, leaving half closed. Actually, you had better experiment, although you must keep in mind that the tofu should not be completely cut!

-Add some chopped leeks and the tare/sauce to the natto and stir until sticky. Add remaing chopped leeks and stir well.

-Paste the inside of the tofu with miso. Use a spoon. Stuff each tofu block with half of the natto. Secure with a toothpick.

-Fry until tofu attains a nice toast colour. No need to use oil!
You can also grill inthe toaster!

-Cut to size of your preference or serve it whole. Provide soy sauce for more seasoning if needed.

-Aburage as sold packed in Japan, although you will find them freshly made at any good large supermarket here!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Ideal Party

Please check the new postings at:
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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/38): Rainy Season Early Start Bento

Yesterday and today have been witnessing torrential rains, the more unseasonal that the rainy season has not been “officially announced” by the government autorities!
I wonder when they will accept the facts….

A very traditional bento today with enough colours to compensate with the somber day!
Over plain freshly steamed rice the Missus lay two types of “soboro”: one made with minced chicken, the other with eggs.

The green note was added with edamame, while poasted/black sesame seeds accentuated the brown colour of the chicken.

The salad/dessert dish consisted (from right to left): Shizuoka-grown “Ameera” sweet tomatoes, a salad made of pieces of yam and cucumber, carrot tagliatelle, mixed boiled beans and hijiki/sweet seaweed.
For dessert, Shizuoka orange and imported dark cherries!

Very healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:

Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat

Please check the new postings at:
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French Cuisine: Cream Sauce Mushrooms

cream-mushrooms.gif

The mushrooms season has already started, wild ones or cultivated species. Morels for example can be found in woods in many countries of the northern Hemisphere. Mushrooms are low in calories, but high in quality, whether it concerns taste or nutrients.
But you do not have to wait till the season to appreciate them.
Deep-frozen mixed mushrooms packs are available on the internet and good supermarkets.
Here is the recipe of a dish my father enjoys ooking regularly back home in France. It can accompany any meat, especially white-flesh meat, or can be appreciated on its own as accompaniment with a solid white wine or heady Japanese sake.

INGREDIENTS: For3~4 people
-Mixed mushrooms of your choice, fresh or frozen (if frozen, let them thaw slowly inside refrigerator for a few hours and get rid of excess water): 500g
-Shallots (echalottes): 2 finely chopped
-Garlic: 2~3 cloves finely chopped (crush garlic before chopping it. Do not forget to discard cores!)
-Parsley or Italian flat parsley: half a cup finely chopped
-Fresh cream: 1 cup/200cc/ml
-Madeira wine: 1/4 cup/50cc/ml (yellow port is fine, too, as well as sweet sherry)
-Olive oil (EVA) and unsalted butter: about 2 large spoons of each
-Salt, pepper, nutmeg (to taste)

RECIPE:

-On a medium fire in large frypan melt an equal quantity of olive oil and unsalted butter (some people prefer more, some less. Experiment!). Throw in the shallots and garlic and slowly fry until shallots turn transparent. Throw in all the mushrooms and fry until they give back enough water. Add Madeira wine. Stir well. Next add fresh cream and stir until cream is perfectly blended. Add salt, peeper and nutmeg last, stir. Check taste and add more spices if needed.
-Pour the whole in a large dish and sprinkle parsley over the mushrooms before serving.
-Eat hot.

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Ideal Party

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

Natto, Tofu and Yam Fritters

Since Lou Ann at Oyster Culture has decided to run an article on natto (Japanese fermented beans), I thought that some recipes were in order!
Sorry for the small picture.

Here is a very simple recipe that vegans and vegeatarinas can re-arrange by replacing the egg!

Natto, tofu and yam fritters!

INGREDIENTS: For 2 people

-Tofu (solk tofu): 1 block/300~400 g
-Natto: 1 standar pack (more or less according to taste-Natto tare/natto dressing (usually sold together)
-Soy sauce: according to taste (experiment!)
-Yam/Yama imo: 5cm long piece/grated
-Egg: 1
-Leek (chopped): as much as you like!
-Rice powder or cornstarch: 3 tablespoons
-Salt, pepper, spices: according to preferences

RECIPE:

-Wrap the tofu in cellophane paper and heat in microwave oven for 2 minutes.
-In a large mortar, drop all ingredients and mix well.

-Add natto tare/natto dressing and soy sauce. Mix well.

-Heat deep-fry oil to 170 degrees Celsius.
Drop the fritter batter a large spoon at a time.

-Once it has reached a nice “fox” colour, take out of the oil. Serve on a dish lined with kitchen paper.

Serve with a sauce/dressing made with soy sauce, mustard and ponzu, or mustard, rice vinagar and ponzu.

Note that there endless possibilities with the recipe ingredients:
you can add or replace with shiso/perilla leaves, sesame seeds, hijiki/sweet seaweed, grated carrot and so on!

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