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Nibitashi – dashi soaked vegetables

October 21, 2016 by KozmoKitchen Leave a Comment

In Japanese home cooking, Abura-age (fried beancurd ) is a very popular ingredient. It’s basically a deep fried sliced tofu and available at any Asian grocery stores these days (at least in Seattle area). Typical recipes using abura-age include miso soup, rice dishes and Inarizushi (sushi stuffed sweeten abura age), but you can easily substitute meat products with abura age because of its rich and satisfying flavor and texture.
Here is one dish I often make especially when I get fresh Komatsuna at the farmers market (@ Taki farm). It’s easy to make, lasts for several days in the fridge, and of course very tasty 😀

Print Recipe
Nibitashi - dashi soaked vegetables
A quick and easy recipe to enjoy fresh komatsuna or other leafy greens. It's a good idea to have dashi stock available in the fridge.
Course Appetizers
Cuisine Japanese
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Katsuo (Bonito flake) Dashi
  • 2 cups water
Nibitashi
  • 1 bunch komatsuna If komatsuna is not available you can use spinach or mustard greens
  • 1 sheet Abura age
  • 2 tablespoons sake
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 1 sheet Kombu approx. 4 inches long
  • 1/2 heaping cup bonito flakes
Course Appetizers
Cuisine Japanese
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings
people
Ingredients
Katsuo (Bonito flake) Dashi
  • 2 cups water
Nibitashi
  • 1 bunch komatsuna If komatsuna is not available you can use spinach or mustard greens
  • 1 sheet Abura age
  • 2 tablespoons sake
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 1 sheet Kombu approx. 4 inches long
  • 1/2 heaping cup bonito flakes
Instructions
How To Make Katsuo Dashi
  1. Put water and kombu in a medium sauce pan, and heat it over medium-high heat.
  2. Once the water starts bubbling, add bonito flakes. Do not boil. Turn off the heat in 30 seconds and let the dashi sit for 5 minutes until the bonito flakes start sinking to the bottom of the pan.
  3. Using a cheese cloth, sarashi (Japanese cotton cloth), or paper towel, strain dashi slowly. Save the strained kombu and bonito for reuse (and making the second round of dashi making).
Nibitashi
  1. Cut komatsuna into 2 inches long. Note: If you use spinach, you should blanch it in boiling water for 30 seconds, strain it and squeeze excess water).
  2. Pour hot water on both sides of aburaage to rinse off excess oil. Slice aburaage thinly (5 mm wide, 1 inch long).
  3. Put katsuo dashi, sake, and mirin in a sauce pan and heat over high heat. Once boiling, add soy sauce and turn down the heat to medium-low.
  4. Add in the cut komatsuna and aburaage. Cook for a minute. Turn off the heat. Leave the pan for 30 minutes to let the ingredients absorbe all the great dashi flavor. You can serve warm or store it in the fridge and eat cold.
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Filed Under: Appetizers, vegan Tagged With: aburaage, appetizer, Japanese, komatsuna, vegetabls

Amazake Marinated Fried Chicken

October 18, 2016 by KozmoKitchen Leave a Comment

Print Recipe
Amazake Marinated Fried Chicken
Japanese fried chicken is called Karaage, very popular comfort food in Japan. This is a sweet twist using naturally sweet Amazake, which is a fermented sweet rice beverage!
Course Appetizers
Cuisine Japanese
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 2 hours
Servings
people
Ingredients
Amazake
  • 1.5 cup water for making rice porridge
  • 1/3 cup short grain white rice
  • 2/3 cup dry rice koji
  • 1.5 cup water for making amazake
Amazake Marinated Fried Chicken
  • 1 pound chicken thigh
  • 3 tablespoons amazake
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon ginger grated
  • 1/2 cup potato starch or rice flour
  • oil for frying
Course Appetizers
Cuisine Japanese
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 2 hours
Servings
people
Ingredients
Amazake
  • 1.5 cup water for making rice porridge
  • 1/3 cup short grain white rice
  • 2/3 cup dry rice koji
  • 1.5 cup water for making amazake
Amazake Marinated Fried Chicken
  • 1 pound chicken thigh
  • 3 tablespoons amazake
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon ginger grated
  • 1/2 cup potato starch or rice flour
  • oil for frying
Instructions
How to make Amazake
  1. In a medium sauce pan, cook rice and with 1/5 cup of water over medium heat for about 30 minutes until the rice grains turn to porridge.
  2. Add 1.5 cup of water to the porridge so that the temperature goes downs slightly before 140 F. Add koji in and stir well.
  3. Transfer the koji mixture to a thermos that can keep the 140 F temp for 8 hours (I use a Zohjirushi thermos https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DZ0HAC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  4. Close the thermos and wait for 8 hours.
Amazake Chicken
  1. Cut chicken thigh into an inch square pieces.
  2. Make amazake marinade by mixing amazake, soy sauce and ginger. Add in chicken.
  3. Marinate the chicken in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.
  4. Dry the chicken pieces with paper towel and coat them in potato starch powder.
  5. Heat frying oil to 350 F. Dust excess starch off the chicken pieces and fry them until their color turns golden.
Recipe Notes

[recipe]

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Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: amazake, appetizer, chicken, Japanese

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About Kanako

I am a Japanese native following her dream of bringing Japanese home cooking to Seattle. I love sharing the culinary traditions I grew up with. Making people happy through great food and dining experiences. And creating that feeling of family and home that only a nurturing hand crafted meal can provide. I see a world where everyone can make Japanese home cooking a part of everyday life that brings warmth, comfort and joy. Please allow me to share it with you.

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