Two powers which this bulb possesses: It is aphrodisiac. It was banned to be consumed at Buddhism temples. Consumption should be limited to 4-5 bulbs a day. Overeating causes minor, unpleasant health problems. Have you eaten sweet pickled, extremely crunchy, little garlic like bulbs, which are served with thick, stew-like Japanese curry dish? A little bulb is neither garlic nor shallot. It is rakkyo. Rakkyo, belongs to the Lily family, Allium. Onion, scallion and shallot...
Read MoreSHIO-KOJI MAKES EVERYONE HAPPY
So many articles have been written about shio-koji. You may have made it in your kitchen, and have been using it to cook up delicious meals. Shio-koji is a seasoning, which makes everything taste delicious and everyone happy. If you don’t know about it, or haven’t made or used it before, I will show you how to do. Two weeks ago I did Shio-koji workshop at MOFAD, Brooklyn. All attendees prepared their shio-koji from scratch. After 10 days of nursing them, by now, everyone is...
Read MoreDiscover Osechi Ryori (5) Kazunoko – Family Prosperity
Are you still with me in the preparation of Osechi Ryori? Hope that you are not put off with too much superstitious ideas. Kazunoko is a salt-cured herring roe consists of hundreds of tiny eggs grouped together in one piece, encased in a very thin membrane. The size of dried herring roe is about 5 inches long. We hydrate it and marinate it in the mixture of shoyu and mirin overnight. Kazunoko symbolizes family prosperity. Properly prepared kazunoko presents golden yellow...
Read MoreDiscover Osechi Ryori (4) Kobumaki – Longevity
Kelp, which is an indispensable ingredient in Japanese cooking, plays an important role to bring longevity and good luck to the people who consume it at the beginning of the New Year. Kobumaki is a dish in which hydrated dried herring is wrapped and rolled in a piece of hydrated kelp sheet, and simmered tender. Here is the old post of the dish where you find the recipe. Since dried herring is not available here, I use smoked...
Read MoreDiscover Osechi Ryori (3) Kinton: Money
Kinton means gold bar or lump of gold. Kinton is a dish in which mashed, sweetened sweet potato is tossed with candied chestnuts. The sweet potato is usually cooked with dried gardenia flower pod to make the dish to acquire bright golden yellow color. I have changed my mother’s recipe in 3 areas. I cook the sweet potato in the oven for stronger flavor of sweet potato; I reduced the amount of sugar added to the sweet potato...
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