Tag Archives: レシピ

Vegetables facts & Tips 19: Yama Imo/Yama No Imo/Japanese Yam

February 24, 2010 dragonlife 12 Comments

Yama no Imo Plant

Yama Imo or Yama no Imo/山芋 is the Japanese name for Japanese Yam.
It has been picked in its natural form and cultivated for eons in Japan where it comes into many recipes, either as a vegetable of its own or as an additive to Japanese recipes as a liaising ingredient.
It is also extensively used in vegetarian (vegan) cuisine in this country.
It is also very much valued for its stamina and medicinal properties.

FACTS:

-Contains a high amount of potassium, calcium, magnesium, natrium and other minerals.
Rich in Vitamin B1, B2, B6 and C and vegetal fibers.

-Easy to digest and eat either raw or cooked.

VARIETIES:

There are quite a few varieties and can be all used in the same way:

Yama no imo: Nagaimo/長い芋

Shizenjyo is the natural and highly priced Japanese Yam!

Ichyo Imo

Tsukune Imo

Mukago

Mukago is actually the aerial seed and can be eaten. Slightly expensive considering the size, but great taste, boiled or deep-fried.

TIPS:

-Choose a specimen that shows a uniform colour without blemishes.

-Some people’skin might get irritated when cutting the yama Imo. In this case deep-freeze it first and cut it as it is.

-Preserve as a whole wrapped into newspaper inside the fridge.

-Preserve it cut inside an airtight vinyl bag in the freezer.

COOKING:

It is greatly appreciated just cut in thin slices/sticks with a little ponzu, shiso and ponzu!

It is often served as a component of an array of dishes into a full Japanese meal. Grated into paste, it is called “tororo”.

It can be sauteed/fried with olive oil, sesame oil or butter!

Grated, it can combined with tofu,

or into okonmiyaki!

It can also become a great appetizer when combined with agar agar!

Europeans and Americans will appreciate it as a gratin!

HEALTH FACTS:

-Combined with daikon, or turnips, or Chinese cabbage, or chili peppers, helps reinforce the digestive system and appetite.

-Combined with okra, or lotus roots, or nameko mushrooms, helps lower blood cholesterol and provides additional stamina.

-Combined with soy beans, or pomegranate, or myoga ginger, helps balance hormones and blood circulation.

-Combined with cabbage, or potatoes, or broccoli, or Chinese cabbage, helps combat cancer and ageing.

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Horsemeat Steak at Pissenlit

February 24, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.
!

The Japanese love horsemeat.
Whereas the French will eat it in the shape of fried steaks or steak tartare (did you know that the real tartare steak is made from horsemeat?), the Japanese will eat it as sashimi. They also will let it mature frozen and thaw justenough before savouring it!

Pissenlit, being a French restaurant in Shizuoka City, the approach is naturally totally different!

The meat is prime horsemeat from Normandie horses raised in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu Island.
Chef Tooru Arima will fry it slowly to perfect tenderness and serve it with a red wine sauce of his own.

He will place the steak on a slice of kooushi daikon and surround it with other organic vegetables: kikabu/yellow turnip, Stick Senior/Broccoli variety, kiiro and aka ninjin/yellow and red carrots, mekabetsu/Brussels sprouts, Milano daikon. All vegetables are grown in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture except for the Brussels sprouts from Kyoto.

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Vegan Treats at Yasaitei

February 24, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Once I explained the notion of “Jooren” or “regular customer” in Japan.
Whereas in many other countries patronizing the same establishment on a regular basis might be considered at best as an ostentatious show, and a disreputable habit at worst, eating and drinking out in Japan is a sine qua non prerequisite to a successful life, both professional and social. Therefore it always is a good idea to ptronize a few etablishments even if it is for a quick drink or snack.
It also makes conversation so much easier and the visits more welcome as it provides a pleasant break from the usual coded life of the Japanese.

good Japanese chefs will always tackle the challenge to satisfy culinary priorities, including vegetarianism and veganism. After all, most omnivores’ food is over 80% vegetarian. Don’t be afraid to ask for precise explanations of your food!

This “o-toshi”/snack served with first drink consists of komatsuna/Japanese Mustard Spinach, enoki mushrooms, mitsuba/trefoil and nameko mushrooms prepared in o-hitashi style/slightly boiled and cooled down before being served in their own juices.

As for drinks, do not worry as Japanese sake and shochu are vegan.
This particular shochu is a bit extravagant. It was distilled by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City, Shizuoka, from the white lees of supelative sake before being matured for a couple of years in sherry barrels imported from Sapin!
Tastes like a soft flowery whisky!

vegerables are plentuful in Japan, and especially in Shizuoka.
They make for beautiful presentation with a minimum of care and improvisation.
Back home, first choose a nice tray to present to your friend or family!
The concept is almost like a flower arrangement!

The best “sauce” for such a vegan sashimi is a mixture (according to your preferences) of sesame oil, sea salt and dark miso!

Wherever you are, I’m sure you will find plenty of vegetables to work with:
In our case,we have form the left: Myoga ginger sprouts, Ice plant, Ameera/very sweet tomato and young ginger roots. It is the season for the laterr and they are so tender that they make a very tasty, crucnhy, raw treat!

Daikon (choose the upper part, as the pointed end is a bit too strong!) on a leaf of shiso/perilla and thinly sliced Spring onions from Shizuoka, radish, kiirokyo ninjin/Yellow Kyoto carrot and those crunchy Japanese cucumbers!

A “side view” to help you understand the presentation!

And another one from the other end!

I sincerely hope this will have given you a few ideas!

YASAITEI
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
Seating: 6 at counter + 20 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Guinea Fowl White Liver Terrine at Pissenlit

February 24, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pissenlit, one of the very best French restaurants in Shizuoka City is rapidly earning a lot of attention, not only because of the supreme quality of all the ingredients Chef Tooru Arima uses, but also because of the originality and concept of many of his creations!

I recently had the fortune to discover and savour a terrine made of the “white liver” of guineal fowls raised in Iwate Prefecture, a region celebrated for its Japanese sake and oysters.
The concept was very similar to foie gras (listen, Arnie!), but lighter and I would dare say, more elegant. The pork fat/lard around it (I d not eat it) preserved the texture and taste to perfection.
Just a little toasted bread, roughly ground black pepper and dry figs made for a simple and perfect complement.

A leaf of Kyoto-grown Italian Funtaretta (chickory) provided for the vital tangy association to the sweetness of the terrine and a healthy dose of Vitamin and fibers!

It just shows you don’t have to go too far to have a taste of France!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/15)

February 24, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

The Missus made this bento today because she is having her annual check-up tomorrow morning, meaning she will have to eat dinner before I arrive back home. Since I’m on a diet, I will do with a protein drink tonight!

In such cases she opts for “open sandwich” bentoes, with the result of an easyand healthy lunch.

She toasted English muffin and provided me with a small pot of salmon paste.

As for the garnish, it included lettuce, red radishes and their leaves and dip (I always eat the leaves!), seasoned salad of celery, cucumber and red cabbage, mini tomatoes, raw ham, cheese and walnuts and plenty of fruit: pink grapefruit, kiwi fruit and benihoppe/red cheeks strawberries. the latter two are grown in Shizuoka!

Colourful and plenty of Vitamins (real ones!)

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Vegan French Cuisine: Quinoa, Green Vegetables & Vanilla

February 23, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Spring is coming fast (at least in Japan!) and whatever your culinary priorities, all kinds of green vegetables are coming around the corner!
Here, in Shizuoka especially, broad beans, corgettes/zucchinis and broad beans are readily available!

Quinoa with Green Vegetables and Vanilla!

INGREDIENTS: for 6 persons

-Quinoa: 250 g
-Young spinach sprouts (small leaves): a fistful
-Zucchini/Courgette: 1 small green and firm
-Broad beans (fesh!): 500 g (pods included)
-Vanilla: 1 pod
-Salt (fleur de sel if possible), black pepper (ground): to taste
-Olive oil (EV): 80 ml/cc

RECIPE:

-Cook the quinoa al dente in lightly salted water.
Cool it under running cold water. Drain well.

– Take broad beans out of their pods and drop into boiling water for 30 seconds. Cool them under cold running water. Delicately peel them.

-Cook the broad beans again in slightly salted water for 3 minutes just under boiling temperature. Cool under cold running water. Drain well and put aside.

-Wash then cut the zucchimi/courgette in small pieces. Wash and drain well the spinach sprouts.

-Cut the vanilla pod along ts length and take flesh/seeds out with the point of a knife and mix with the olive oil in a small bowl.

-In a large bowl mix all the vegetables and then the vanilla sauce.
Leave inside refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

-Before serving, add a little salt and plenty of pepper.

-Drink a white sparkling wine with it!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/14)

February 23, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Missus is still in her traditional bento mode.
First of all, I’d like to say that although the box looks big on the pictures, it is smaller than my usual fare.
It is traditional, not only in design and taste, but also in size!

This time the “mazegohan”/mixed rice was a bit complicated.
The Missus had prepared pork belly for three days by regularly massaging in salt and sugar for no less than 3 days.
Before steaming the rice, she cut the pork into tiny bits and fried it in sesame oil.
She steamed the rice together with the fried pork and its juices, pieces of carrots, and pieces of sakuraebi aburaage. Aburaage is deep-fried tofu sheets. The sakura ebi/cherry blossom shrimps were originally mixed into the aburaage when she bought it. She ut it into strips and dry-fry them first, before cutting them again into small pieces she steamed together with the rice.
Once the rice had been steamed, she stirred the whole and added cut boiled peas in their pod, shredded konbu/seaweed she had used for streaming the rice and black sesame seeds.

As for the “garnish”, it consisted of half soft-boiled egg lightly marinated in soy sauce and something elese, boiled Na no hana/rapeseed flowers seasoned with gomadare/sesame dressing, mini tomatoes, freshly cut yamaimo/yam seasoned with umeboshi flesh, and white and black sesame seeds, and home-made stewed beans (sweet) for dessert.

Very healthy and tasty!

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/13)

February 22, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

The Missus is “feeling the pressure”! Well, that’s she keeps on saying these days if I have the temerity to come to the kitchen to have a look at her at work!
I’ve also noticed quite a few bento magazines laying around in our home too and heard “I can do better than that!” comments.
Well, I’m certainly going to pile on the pressure!LOL

Today’s bento was very much according to traditions:

Three musubi/rice balls. Two of them contained fried salted salmon, chopped fresh shiso/perilla leaves and sesame seeds, the other sesame seeds, both yellow and black (they are actually the same, but roasted differently) and umeboshi/Japanese pickled plum. All musubi were wrapped in shiso leaves.

The tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette was plain tamagoyaki with melting cheese. Tasted more like dessert!

The “Garnish” consisted of:
Top left corner: Pickled mini-melons and pickled wasabi stems.
Bottom left corner: Salad of boiled beans and violet sweet potato.
Right half: Stir-fried prawns in sweet and sour sauce and boiled broccoli!

The Missus must have read my recent posting on Food Supplements!LOL

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French Dessert: Banana Moelleux

February 20, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Bananas are not only great for humans as an easily assimilable source of energy, but is almost a medicinal plant by itself with a proven capacity to combat all kinds of diseases.
It’s only a question of diversifying its culinary approach!
Why don’t you try this simple banana soft cake recipe?

Banana Moelleux (soft cake)!

INGREDIENTS: for 4~6 people

-Flour: 220 g
-Sugar: 200 g
-Butter: 150 g ; a little for the mold
-Bananas: 3 medium sized, ripe
-Eggs: 2
-Yoghurt: 40 cc/ml, well stirred
-Cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon (half a teaspoon)
-Vanilla essence: a few drops
-Yeast: 1/2 (flat) teaspoon
-Salt: a pinch

RECIPE:

-Melt butter and let cool to lukewarm.

-Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

-Peel bananas and and process them into a very liquid homogeneous puree.

-In a large bowl pour the banana puree. With a hand whisker add and mix one by one in the following order: Yoghurt, eggs (without the shells!LOL), sugar, cinnamon, vanilla essence and salt.

-Add the flour and yeast in small quantities at a time through a sieve to improve the best absorption/mixing. when all flour and yeast have been mixed in, add melted butter and mix.

-Butter the insides of the mold (about 20 cm diameter). Pour in the whole cake mixture. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife stabbed into the cake comes out smooth and clean.

-Eat cold as it is or with a cream nappage made with cream cheese, mascarpone, sugar, vanilla essence and lemon juice (Do it after the cake has completely cooled down, or even better slightly chilled).

NOTES:

-Follow the order for better quality!

-You may add crushed walnuts or chocolate bits in the cake.

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French Dessert: Green Tomatoes and Vanilla Tart

February 19, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

Ever thought of using green tomatoes as dessert?
Especially small ones can come as a surprise!

Here is a simple recipe which will please all, adults and kids alike!

Tarte aux Tomates Vertes Vanillees/Green Tomatoes & Vanilla Tart!

INGREDIENTS: For 6 people

-Pate Brisee/Shortcrust Pastry (sweet/sugared) : Check this easy recipe if you want to make it yourself (In French) 400 g
-Small green tomatoes: 700 g (cut in halves)
-Lemon juice of 2 lemons
-Sugar: 150 g
-Vanilla pods: 2
-Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
-Butter: 40 g
-Egg white: 1

RECIPE:

-Line the mold with the shortcrust pastry and pre-cook it for 15 minutes in oven at 220 degrees Celsius.
Take the mold out the oven and immediately brush the pastry with egg white to prevent the pastry from drying up.
Put aside.

-Cut the two vanilla pods lengthwise and take out the “heart” and seeds. Mix them delicately with lemon juice.

-In a large frying pan, melt 20 g of butter and fry the tomatoes on a medium fire for 2~3 minutes, taking care not to shake them around too much and damage them. while the tomatoes are cooking, add sugar and cornstarch to the vanilla and lemon juice mix. Mix them in and pour over the tomatoes. Keep frying until the whole becomes translucent. Finally add 20 g of butter and mix quickly.

-Place the tomatoes over the pre-cooked shortcrust pastry and bake in oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.

-Serve with a rose wine.

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Vegetables Facts & Tips 9/1: Shiitake Mushrooms (Amended & expanded)

February 19, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

mushrooms-market
(Mushrooms at at a Shizuoka Supermarket)

I don’t intend to talk about wild mushrooms here as I would need a very thick book to post!
Japan is arguably the country cultivating the greatest number of varieties (new ones appear and disappear every year!), so I will limit myself to give information on at least some of them and furthermore introduce most varieties I have found in Japanese supermarkets (most of them should be available in many countries).

SHIITAKE

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FACTS:
Shiitake/Lentinula Edodes (Black Forest Mushrooms) are native to China but have been grown in both Japan and China since prehistoric times[2]. They have been cultivated for over 1000 years; the first written record of shiitake cultivation can be traced to Wu Sang Kwuang, born during the Song Dynasty (AD 960–1127). However, some documents record the uncultivated mushroom being eaten as early as AD 199.
Fresh and dried shiitake have many uses in the cuisines of East Asia. In Chinese cuisine, they are often sauteed in vegetarian dishes such as Buddha’s delight. In Japan, they are served in miso soup, used as the basis for a kind of vegetarian dashi, and also as an ingredient in many steamed and simmered dishes. In Korean cuisine, they are commonly used in dishes such as bulgogi (marinated grilled beef), jjigae (stews), and namul (sauteed vegetable dishes). In Thailand, they may be served either fried or steamed.

Shiitake are often dried and sold as preserved food in packages. These must be rehydrated by soaking in water before using. Many people prefer dried shiitake to fresh, considering that the sun-drying process draws out the umami flavour from the dried mushrooms by breaking down proteins into amino acids and transforms ergosterol to vitamin D. The stems of shiitake are rarely used in Japanese and other cuisines, primarily because the stems are harder and take longer to cook than the soft fleshy caps. The highest grade of shiitake are called donko in Japanese.
Extracts from shiitake mushrooms (such as ichtyol) have also been researched for many other immunological benefits, ranging from anti-viral properties to possible treatments for severe allergies, as well as arthritis.
The Japanese actually consume them from their raw form more than in any other country.

FACTS:

-Season: best in October~March for outdoors cultivation

-Main beneficial ingredients: Vitamin B1, B2, B6, c, N6, Ergosterol, Lentinan, Fibers, Potassium, Magensium, Phosphorus.

TIPS:

-Loosely wrap them in clean Newspaper or Kitchen Paper and store them in fridge away from the light.

-Choose specimens with unbroken “umbrella” and no black marks under.

-Fresh Shiitake are best enjoyed for their taste by keeping their cooking simple such as fry them over a grill with a dash of soy sauce and sake!

-If you want to dry them, do so under sunlight for best taste!

-Preserve dried shiitake in fridge to avoid mold and insects!

HEALTH FACTS:

-Dried shiitake contain more Vitamnin D!

-Combined with burdock root, or broccoli, or carrot, or asparaguses, helps combat cancer and helps with skin rejuvenation.

-Combined with konbu/seaweed, or spinach, or sardines, or sesame, helps combat bone diseases, activates blood circulation, helps combat nervous problems and rheumatism.

-Combined with sesame, or walnuts, or kabocha, or mayonnaise, helps combat ageing.

-Combined with celery, or cuttle fish/squid, or octopus, or mackerel, helps reinforce liver, combats high blood pressure, heart diseases and artery hardening.

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French Cuisine: Tartelettes Cressonieres au Chevre/Cress & Goat Cheese Tarts

February 19, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

This the perfect time of the year as cress is coming onto the markets (at least here in Shizuoka and also in Aichi)! Associated with goat cheese (perfect for cow’s milk/lactose allergics), it makes for almost a complete nutritious meal in itself!

Tartelettes Cressonieres au Chevre/Cress & Goat Cheese Tarts

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Pate feuilletee/Puff pastry: 1 roll -Check this excellent recipe (in French) if you wish to make it yourself!)
-Fresh goat cheese: 200 g
-Eggs: 4
-Cress: a good quantity (up to you actually)
-Fresh Cream: 200 ml/cc
-Butter: 50 g
-Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
-Curry mix powder: 1 teaspoon (or two saffron sprigs)
-Salt: to taste
-Ground pepper: to taste

RECIPE:

-Cut the stems off the cress. Wash the leaves and drain well. Fry them lightly in a non-stick pan with 30 g of butter for 5 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Coat the insides of 4 molds with the remaining butter.

-Unroll the pate feuilletee/puff pastry. Cut out 4 circles and line the molds with them. Puncture the bottom with a fork. divide the cheese into four portions. Line the bottom of the pastry with a equal share of goat cheese (break it into small lumps with your fingers as you drop it in). Lay four equal portions of the cress over the goat cheese.

-Beat the eggs in a bowl. Mix the cornstarch and fresh cream first in a separate bowl. Add the beaten eggs and mix well. Add salt and pepper for taste. Mix. According to your preferences add curry powder or saffron and mix.

-Pour the egg-fresh milk mixture onto the cress and goat cheese. Bake for about 25 minutes.

-Serve lukewarm or hot with a well seasoned salad.

NOTE:

-If you wish to make a sole big tart, you will have to bake it for 10 more minutes.

-Serve it with a dry white wine.

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Japanese Restaurant: “Quick Fix” at Tomii

February 18, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Kazuya Tomii/Chef-Owner at Tomii, Shizuoka City

There are times when I just fel too hungry to finish the day at work.
I always have a break at around 18:00 (I usually finish my day at 21:00), and I call it the “Stomach Pang Hour”. It is hard to resist the temptation everyday, so I’m bound to fall prey to mu\y yearnings and make a quick run for one of my favourite haunts.

When I reached Tomii the other day, they were really busy with big groups, which allowed me to take my time at te counter and take some pics of what stands or lies there for the guests’ attention (I mean the appetizers!LOL)

This is the full range of the sake form nurukan/warm sake. Four of them are from Shizuoka Prefecture!
As for the cold sake count three times as many varieties waiting in the fridge!

Being busy, Chef Tomii served a a few morsels/appetizers.
The above one is fresh bambaoo shoot from Oshika, Shizuoka Prefecture deep-fried in kabushi-age style sprinkled with o-kaka/fine fish shavings and pan-fried wakame seeweed with sesame seeds.

As I said I had plenty of time to take pictures of what was on the counter.
The above are small seguro/black back sardines from Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, prepared in Mirin boshi style/marinated in mirin sweet sake and generously sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Boiled Umi-tsubu-gai/ a popular variety of small conch shellfish.

Chef Tomii makes a point of mixing Japanese and Shizuoka specialties.
He serves real Shizuoka-style oden (Japanese pot-au-feu9 in a dark broth typical of our region.

On a plate just before serving. Hot Japanese mustard and dry seaweed powder will be added.

A dark Japanese/Shizuoka Witch Brew?

Another appetizer: Matsumaezuke/marinated finely cut vegetables and seaweed.

The sashimi plate I was waiting for!

Bottom line:
Suzuki/Seabass/鱸 on a slice of red daikon.
Next to it going to the right: Murasaki Uni/Violet sea urchin/紫海栗, Sayori/Japanese Halbeak/細魚 on a slice of yellow Kyoto Carrot.
Above the seabass, Aori Ika/Bigfin Reef Squid/煽り烏賊.
And above: Honmaguro/Blue Fin Tuna/本鮪 Akami/Lean part/赤身

On the shiso/perilla leaf/紫蘇, Madai/True snapper-Seabream/真鯛 and Aori Ika/Bigfin Reef Squid/煽り烏賊 again on a slice of red Kyoto carrot.

The wasabi is naturally freshly grated Shizuoka wasabi root!

For a better look at the tuna and the sprouts! (a bit fuzzy, actually! Sorry!)

TOMII
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg, 1F
Tel.: 054-274-0666
Business hours: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/12): The Convict Bento

February 18, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

I called this bento “the Convict Bento” bedause it was not supposed to be posted last Tuesday. The Missus was in a hurry and a grumpy mood (for good reasons?) and tersely ordered, “not for the blog!”.
I have a propensity to disobey the Missus’ orders…

It was the “open sandwich-style” bento with English muffins.
Quite simple, almost analog, but filling, tasty and colourful.

The fillings consisted of:
Boiled baby corns, white asparaguses, pois gourmends/green peas in their pods, cut green string beans with their dip dressing.
Japanese-style scrambled eggs (containing some gren veg), Japanese-char siu (cold), carrot and walnut salad, and mini tomatoes (dessert?).

Pickled green young melons (a Japanese specialty), Boiled and sauteed sato imo/taro tubers with black sesame seeds, violet kawaire daikon sprouts (for more vitamin C and iron). Plenty of lettuce was also included for making the sandwiches.

I was pretty happy about it, actually!

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Vegan Life in Japan (& Shizuoka)

February 17, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

Vegan Fried Avocado

I have always been intrigued bt the priorities and needs of my vegan and vegetarian friends. I’m an incorrigible omnivore and will ever be, but I can appreciate other gastronomies, be they even based on vegetables only.
I also hold a deep interest in anything organic, although I don’t make it a tenet of my everyday life.
As a general rule I strive for balance.
Vegans and vegetarians have their reasons to be so, and that is their private concern. Full stop.
On the other hand, I cannot be forced in changing my ways. I did recently have to fend a concerted hate mail assault by a group of slightly misled vegans following an article of mine, but that is not going to stop me from trying to help my friends in this country.

Many vegans and vegetarians harbour doubts as to whether visit Japan, or Shizuoka for that matter.
They should not be wary of the life here. I dare say that it is almost the ideal country for them to live!
Alright, they certainly need to be prepared!

Japanese vegan Dashi

The very first query I have to field is:
-“But they use dashi everywhere!”
The Japanese certainly do, but there two basic kinds of dashi/Japanese soupstocks: one made with dry bonito shavings and the other made with konbu/seaweed. Check Vegan Dashi Recipe.

Now miso is also vegan, so you can imagine all the sooup recipes you can concoct! Just Have a look at Vegan Recipes and you will discover what I’m suggesting!

-“Alright! Now, I have my soup to keep me hot in winter. But I also fancy a drink with my food. Now, what would you recommend?”
Well there is a atriaght easy answer: Japanese Sake!
To cut a long story short, do read what I wrote about the ultimate vegan drink!
Let just me say that true high quality (Shizuoka is the best! Lucky, aren’t I?) is made with pure water, rice, and yeast. That is all! Sometimes lactic acid is used, but it is of vegetal origin.
Incidentally, high quality shochuis also vegan!

Vegan sashimi at Yasaitei, Japan.

Now, that we have covered this important subject, shall we go to our main concern, namely vegetables?
You will be, I’m ready to bet about it, really flabbergasted by the variety of vegetables available in this country and especially Shizuoka, a famed area for organic vegetable cultivation.
The Japanese are even cultivating vegetables that have been forgotten elsewhere!
Check the following:
Vegetables Facts & Tips.
For Vegans and Vegetarians: Forgotten Vegetables.

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Mountain vegetables at Tomii, Shzuoka City.

Have you heard of the Japanese mountain vegetables/Sansai/山菜?
It is just mind-boggling to discover them all!
Check: Japanese Mountain Vegetables!

Do not forget that tea and soba can be vegan! How about a combination of tea and soba for a quick lunch?

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Chazuke

And how about Somen, Chazuke, and Tofu?

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“Zarudofu”

Learn how to make your own Tofu!

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“Tofu Doughnuts” at Shizutetsu Supermarket in Shizuoka City

Ever heard of Tofu Donuts?
Why don’t you try your hand after reading that easy Vegan Tofu Donut Recipe?

Vegan sushi plate at Sushi Ko, Shizuoka City.

-“I want to eat sushi, but how can I get vegan sushi in Japan?”
That should not be a problem.
First why don’t you have a look at the following:
–Vegan & Vegetarian Sushi.
–Vegan Sushi Recipe Suggestions.

Just walk around and try to find a friendly Sushi Restaurant along with some friends first and gently ask for vegetable sushi (without the bonito shavings or mayonnaise!). Keep going to the same place and soon or later the chef will enjoy the challenge and even propose new creations.
Or check the Sushi Rice Basic Recipe and try making it at home!

And Wasabi is also vegan!

Mozuku seaweed served at Yasaitei, Shizuoka City.

Do not forget all the possibilities offered by seaweed, probably the most ubiquitous gastronomic ingredient in this country!
And ther are plenty of varieties: check Seaweed, the Vegetable of the Oceans!