chawanmushi

Chawanmushi (茶わん蒸し) means ‘steamed in a tea cup or bowl’ and is the name for a Japanese savoury egg custard. Ingredients often include chicken or prawns (shrimp) but I chose to make one with just vegetables. Serve this delicate dish as part of a Japanese main course with rice and pickles. In a saucepan heat 2½…… Continue reading chawanmushi

tofu with shiitake and enoki mushrooms

Another delightful vegetarian meal. First cut a block of firm tofu into slices and dry them with some paper towel. In a shallow saucepan which has a lid heat some oil to medium heat and fry the slices of tofu until browned on both sides. Set aside. Add some more oil to the pan and…… Continue reading tofu with shiitake and enoki mushrooms

steamed sticky rice

Chinese savoury sticky rice, nuo mi fan (糯米飯), is made of glutinous rice with various ingredients and flavourings, which are wrapped in lotus leaf parcels and then steamed until the flavours combine into a delicious mass. This is one of those ubiquitous dishes which has many different variations. I chose to make one large parcel…… Continue reading steamed sticky rice

seafood japchae

Japchae is amongst the most popular dishes in Korea. It’s a stir-fry of noodles, vegetables and, in my case prawns and squid. The transparent noodles are made of sweet potato starch and have a lovely chewy texture. Soak 6 – 8 whole dried shiitake mushrooms in boiling water for a few hours before you start…… Continue reading seafood japchae

black fungus, shiitake mushroom and tofu hotpot

This Chinese style vegetarian (and vegan) dish is substantial enough to be a meal on its own or serve it along with other dishes as part of a banquet. A ceramic pot or tagine is ideal for this dish. In separate bowls soak the dried Shiitake mushrooms and the black (wood-ear) fungus in boiling water…… Continue reading black fungus, shiitake mushroom and tofu hotpot