While Japan is a Buddhist culture and vegetables are eaten at nearly every meal, strict vegetarianism is rare. Vegans will have a very difficult time in Japan because nearly every Japanese food, especially soups, sauces and condiments usually contain fish in the stock.
A rice cooker is convenient and surefire for making good rice every time. A donabe, or gohan-nabe is an earthenware pot for cooking rice. Getting the amount of heat and time right can be tricky, but once mastered, it produces tastier rice and rice dishes. In a donabe, I cooked my fresh, Kyoto takenoko (bamboo shoot) with rice to make…
In addition to sakura, springtime is the season for fresh bamboo shoots, or takenoko, in Kyoto. Asahori, or ‘dug up early this morning’ is common to see on signs and labels in the stores. Even though takenoko is very fresh, it still must be precooked to remove the harsh astringency from the young and tender shoot.
How to Cook Fresh…
Nanohana (Rape Blossom) Nukazuke 菜の花ぬか漬け
Homemade nukazuke is turning out to be one of my all time favorite foodie discoveries! I cannot stop! I have been pickling springtime vegetables like kokabura (baby turnip), uri and nanohana (rape blossom) in my nuka pot the last few weeks and having great fun.
How to Make Nukazuke: Pickling Hinona Turnips 日野菜蕪 ぬか漬け
Nukazuke Report: Our nukadoko pickling bed started to get pungent, I knew it was time to pickle our first vegetables. I chose hinona, a traditional vegetable from neighboring Shiga prefecture. It is a very long and narrow turnip.
How to Make Nukazuke: Fermenting the Nukadoko (Nuka Bed) ぬか床の発酵
Nukazuke Report: Our nukadoko is coming along well. The season is cold now so fermenting took some time. I added half a can of Japan’s best beer: Yona Yona Ale and kept the pickle pot warmish for a few days. We added a lot of turnip greens, not…
ContactCopyright © Kyoto Foodie: Where and what to eat in Kyoto, All Rights Reserved.
