Some of you might noticed but I hold Japanese cooking class in Tokyo. Many of my guests asked me about the leftover kelp after making Dashi soup stock/broth. I use leftover kelp and also bonito flakes to make other dishes. This time, I will show you one of the easy recipes that you can cook for your family. In this video, I will introduce how to make the Seasoned Kelp. My son (2 years old) will join this video with me. I am sure that just watching what he does while cooking is funny… Please enjoy the video and try it out!
Ajitama (味玉) is one of the most important toppings for ramen. The longer it is soaked in the marinade, the more flavor it will be added. The half-boiled egg is also a key flavor enhancer. There are a variety of recipes available, but this time I will introduce ajitama, which can be made with only four ingredients.
Dengaku (田楽) is a grilled dish of skewered tofu or konnyaku with miso paste. It is also called “dengaku-yaki” or “miso dengaku” and is one of the dishes that have been eaten in various parts of Japan since ancient times. The name “Dengaku” is said to have originated from the Heian period (794-1185) custom of praying for a good harvest in farming villages called “Dengaku-mai”.
In this “Dengaku-mai” dance, the dancers wear white hakama and jump on a single stick. The name “dengaku-mai” comes from the resemblance of the tofu skewered on a stick in this costume.
“Dengaku-mai” declined during the Muromachi period (1333-1573), and is now performed as a folk art at shrines in some areas.
Originally, dengaku was a dish of tofu with miso paste, but gradually variations have been added, such as using vegetables or river fish as ingredients.
Cucumber and Shiso Pickles (きゅうりとしその漬物) is an easy to prepare and tasty side dish. This pickle is a dish that can be eaten even by those who do not like vinegar, since it is a lightly pickled dish made with salt. Eggplant is also included in the dish, so you can enjoy a variety of textures along with the aroma of shiso.
Goma-dofu (ごま豆腐) is a simple side dish made with starch from a plant called kuzu(kudzu) and sesame paste. It is usually served in kaiseki cuisine. Since it has a very plain taste, I will also show you how to arrange it to enjoy as a dessert.
The tofu salad is called shiraae (しらあえ) in Japanese. This dish usually is cooked with several vegetables (like spinach, carrot, shiitake mushrooms) and eaten as a side dish at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Even in a bento!
Agedashi-dofu is a side dish consisting of smooth-textured silken tofu coated with potato starch, deep-fried to a nice color, and served hot with dashi based broth. Common toppings include chopped green onions, grated ginger or radish, and shredded shiso leaves.
Gomaae (ごまあえ) is an easy to prepare and tasty side dish. It is especially recommended when you are short of one dish or when you want to eat vegetables to the fullest. Usually, roasted white sesame seeds are used, but of course, black sesame seeds are also delicious. Sugar is used, but please adjust the amount according to your own taste.
