Stir-fried shrimp and broccoli Chinese style
Shrimp and broccoli are a good combination. Because of nutrition, taste, and color. Both are low in calories, yet rich in nutrition.Shrimp is a good source of protein. It has a variety of vitamins and minerals, and no carbs.The orange color comes from astaxanthin, which is a famous antioxidant. It protects cells from damage, and [...]
Hishimochi (three layered diamond-shaped rice cake)
The 3rd of March is the Doll’s Festival in Japan. It’s also called “Hinamatsuri”. It’s the day to pray for the health and happiness of young girls. We have many traditional foods associated with the day. Families present these foods to the Festival Dolls as an offering for a few weeks. And on the Festival [...]
Hina Arare (bite-sized sweet rice crackers)
Bite-sized pretty appearance with modest colors and crispy texture. Arare are one of the traditional sweet snacks for the Doll’s Festival in Japan.They come in several pale colors. When they come in three, the colors represent the symbols heralding the arrival of spring. Pink is Japanese plum blossoms, green is , and white is [...]
Sakura Mochi (Japanese cherry blossom sticky rice cake)
Looks pretty, tastes sweet and chewy with a lovely scent of cherry blossoms.The pink outside is Domyojiko (glutinous rice flour). The color signifies the flower of cherry blossoms. And the green leaf is pickled cherry blossom leaves. That’s why it’s called “Sakura Mochi”. Sakura is a Japanese word for cherry blossom. Mochi is rice cake. [...]
Zarame Senbei (Rice crackers coated with crystal sugar)
Sweet in your mouth at first. After a few crunches, a scent of soy sauce joins. The exquisite harmony fills your mouth. Senbei are traditional Japanese crackers made from toasted rice. There’s a wide variety of this popular snack in Japan. Most of them are savory. The Zarame Senbei is one of the few exceptions. Senbei have [...]
Karinto (deep-fried cookies coated with raw sugar)
Irresistible, if describe it in one word. To add some more words, crunchy, rich sweetness with a hint of bitterness. Karinto is a traditional Japanese sweet snack. It’s so popular that you can buy them anywhere in Japan. They say Japanese missions to Tang China brought a similar snack to Japan in the 8th century. The [...]
Oyster and Tofu Stew
Oyster, the taste of winter. They are nutritionally ideal, too. Together with Tofu (bean curd) and a lot of vegetables, it’s easy to survive any winter. Sprinkles of a mixture of red pepper and other spices add to the aesthetics and keep you warmer.Oysters are called “sea milk” in Japan, because of their richness in [...]
Kan-Buri (Winter Yellowtail)
Fresh from the sea, stored for maturing 3 days in proper conditions, makes the richness beyond description. A slice melts in your mouth.Many Japanese have it with Sake (Japanese rice wine). But it goes well with rich white wine, too.-Buri is caught from wild in winter. means cold in Japanese, Buri [...]
Imo Kenpi (Sweet crispy potato sticks)
Another Japanese old style sweet snack. Looks similar to french fries? They are quite different.Imo Kenpi is coated with sugar candy. Sweet, hard and crunchy. We don’t eat it as a side dish of a meal in Japan. Best for the tea time. Imo Kenpi is originally a local sweet snack in Kochi prefecture. The [...]
Usuzukuri (thinly sliced Hirame and Tai )
Extremely delicate and subtle in flavor. The Left side with pink rim is Tai (similar to red snapper), and the right side without Hirame (a kind of flatfish). Both are must for authentic Japanese Sushi.My favorite way is to taste them with some ponzu sauce (soy sauce with citrus juice) first. Then change it [...]
Kokuto Manju (Raw sugar flavored bun filled with sweet red bean paste)
Manju is another traditional Japanese sweet snack. Soft and sweet, goes very well with Japanese green tea. I often enjoy it with some black tea or coffee, too. (bean paste bun) is one of the most popular traditional Japanese sweets. There are so many variations, and Kokuto Manju is one of them. It’s a [...]
Japanese Braised Pork Belly
Sweet and tender pork meat and fat melt in your mouth together. They are simmered for hours. We love to cook them with a lot of diced vegetables.The dish is called “Japanese Braised Pork Belly”. A typical Japanese mom’s recipe.It’s definitely a nice dish for winter. But in Japan, we love it regardless of the [...]