Japanese red bean paste (anko) comes in two forms: koshi-an and tsubu-an. Koshi-an is smooth and free of bean skins. Tsubu-an is chunky and textured. Although both have the same flavor, I recommend the chunkier tsubu-an for this dish. Rice Prep Time: Up to 1½...
Crispy Eggplant with Fragrant Wilted Greens Salad
Serve this dish at room temperature, rather than piping hot. You’ll find the flavors more pronounced. Add a handful of your favorite chopped nuts to make a complete meal. Prep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 10 minutesMakes 4 Servings 2 medium-sized eggplantsGenerous pinch...
Tofu Miso Soup
The lightly flavored broth is enhanced by salty miso. Creamy cubes of tofu float in the bowl as the flavor of the sea makes its way across your taste buds thanks to the flavorful wakame. Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 5 minutes Makes 4 servings 2 teaspoons dried...
Vegetable Gyoza
If this recipe yields more dumplings than you can eat in one sitting, cook them all and then store the extra ones in the freezer. Fully cooked dumplings freeze well and can be microwaved straight from the freezer for an anytime snack. To cook frozen dumplings, place...
Cold Tofu Trio
For many years, I was squeamish about tofu. Grilled, fried and sautéed versions that promised to taste “just like” their meat or fish counterparts left nothing but a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn’t until I was urged to try tofu as tofu—cold, unpretentious bites of...
Clear Soup with Pumpkin Dumplings
A little bit of toasted pumpkin seed oil goes a long way. Its earthy, robust flavor is very similar to that of toasted sesame oil. If you don’t have toasted pumpkin seed oil, use an equal amount of dark sesame oil instead.Prep Time: 30 minutesCook Time: 3 minutesMakes...
Soba Noodle Soup
Adding tempura to soup feels very much like adding crackers to soup. The hard crackers soften a bit in the warm broth, while still remaining a little crunchy. Any sort of tempura vegetable, like mushrooms, blanched asparagus, and onions, will compliment this soup. My...
Vegetable Tempura
When making tempura, you must be mindful not only of the temperature of the oil, but also that of the batter and vegetables. Use a deep-fryer thermometer to make sure the oil stays between 335°F (168°C) and 350°F (175°C) to prevent sogginess. Meanwhile, keep the...
Vegetarian Ponzu Sauce
Store-bought ponzu often contains bonito flakes to enhance the flavor. This vegetarian version relies on a variety of citrus juices to keep the sauce flavor balanced. If you have access to the juice of the yuzu fruit, a uniquely flavored Japanese citrus, use it in...
Wild Rice and Lentil Terrine
PREP: 50 minutes | COOK: 35-40 minutes | YIELD: 9 servings The combination of rice and lentils creates a complete protein. This means all of the essential amino acids your body needs to build protein are present. 1 cup (240 ml) wild rice 1 cup (240 ml) green lentils...