These pickles are quick and they balance the salty, sweet, and sour flavors beautifully. There’s also something gratifying about smashing cucumbers with a rolling pin, so if you have some aggression to let out, here’s your chance! The result is a more rustic pickle, crunchy, refreshing, and delicious.
To change things up, I baked this Matcha Roll Cake. I don’t post many sweets, but my friend Christy very casually made a similar cake and thought it was one of those easy, but impressive desserts. Impressive—yes. Light, airy, and delicious—yes. But it took me a few tries to get it right. Each time I […]
I wish I could eat tofu so I could eat spinach prepared this way. I love the gentle flavor of the sesame and the richness of the miso combined with the tofu. I’m intolerant to soy, but I had a little bite and wished I could eat more. This would be a great addition to […]
For today’s look back, I want to re/introduce you to Tuna + Avocado Donburi. This was one of those one-bowl meals that sprung out of necessity and surprised me when it turned out as good as it did. I love that the ingredients are few and the method is simple, and yet you get a […]
Chicken soboro is ground chicken cooked in shoyu, mirin, and sugar. It’s layered on top of rice and sprinkled with sake-cooked scrambled egg on top. It’s great for bentos and you could also use it as a filling for musubi without the egg. I made this the other day and my stepdaughter loved it, so […]
If you need a new way to eat vegetables, this sesame sauce is versatile. Here, I tossed it with steamed carrots cut into matchsticks, but you could also use this on green beans, asparagus, or broccoli. I imagine cooked chicken would be just as delicious. I keep a jar of it in the refrigerator and […]
On a recent visit to my husband’s hometown, we visited his aunt and uncle who live across the street from his parents. Auntie Jackie is one of those home cooks I greatly admire. She can decipher recipes from taste, has a discriminating palate rooted in Japanese cuisine, and is incredibly confident in the kitchen. All […]
Have you disliked a certain food all your life? I hated walnuts for a long time until I came across Mark Bittman’s Beets with Garlic Walnut Sauce. I realized the walnuts I’d been eating were rancid and inappropriately inserted into things (like brownies and banana bread!). But the beet recipe made me discover the true […]
The sweet and bitter juices of a grapefruit are refreshing on their own, but when doused with a dressing of olive oil, simple syrup, shiso, and wasabi, it’s magic. I know the wasabi may strike you as odd, but trust me on this. The flavor is not overpowering, but just adds to the feeling of […]
I finally made this easy-as-pie Kofuki Imo. Love it. And I’m pretty certain you’ll love it, too. Shoyu-sugar-butter is pure magic! Shoyu-butter is a common combination in Japan. It’s used in many ways like slathered on sweet summer corn or as a potato chip flavor. Shoyu-sugar is also super common. We love to dip our […]
