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Culture->Japanese Food
When you hear of "Japan" you immediately think of sushi, but Japanese fine
gastronomic taste is much more than that! While Japanese food is becoming increasingly
popular outside Japan, Japanese restaurants and take-out shops in the USA still served
a very limited menu of "ofukuro no aji" (homecooking dishes). They live many home cooking
dishes untried and awaiting discovery. Fortunately, I visited Japanese families fond of
sharing their "oishi" (delicious) recipes. Here are some:
Soups :
Generally they are made from stock based on konbu seaweed (believed to impede
the growing of gray hair) and dried bonito flakes. Miso soup (one
of my favorites!) whether prepared with the red or white soybean
paste variety is great with mushrooms, vegetables, tofu or noodles.
Wakame Seaweed miso soup with mitsuba leaves is a delight! Miso
soup is even popular for breakfast in Japan.
Tofu :
It is justly called the “meat of the fields” s it is made from
highly nutritious soybeans. Because of its bland taste, it can be
combined with many ingredients in salads, main dishes, soups. Stuffed
Cabbage Rolls with tofu (Hakusai-Maki) is another delicacy.
Fish :
Dishes containing fish are frequently the focal point of meals
served in Japanese homes. They are usually accompanied by a number
of side dishes to make a balanced meal. "Nabe Ryori" is a classic dish
eaten in winter. Try the Chirimen Jako (little dry fish)
prepared in soy sauce and almonds or
Beef :
Shabu-shabu is another versatile one-pot meal. Paper-thin slices
of beef are dropped into a simmering pot of dashi broth and cooked
for a few seconds by swishing them back and forth with vegetables.
Chicken :
Sukiyaki are delicious grilled pieces of chicken on a spade called "suki" with
an assortment of vegetables and cooked in a sweet soy sauce broth. "Sakitori" grilled
in sake or beer great for barbeques.
Yakisoba Noodles
or Summer Udon Noodles are always present in Japanese home coking dinners.
And for dessert? Chawan Mushi (pudding) Shiratama Dango (White dumplings) or Chakin Shibori
(sweet potato twists)… Itadakimas!!
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