Category Archives: Japanese

Japanese Sweet-Simmered Vegetables

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Japanese Sweet-Simmered Vegetables with Steamed Rice

Japanese Sweet-Simmered Vegetables with Steamed Rice

I’ve been cooking a lot of Japanese food lately, inspired by our recent trip to Mitsuwa marketplace. I love shopping there because I always discover something new and it allows me to expand my culinary repertoire. Plus, it’s home to one of the tastiest ramen bars in Chicago.

Groceries from Our Recent Trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace

Groceries from Our Recent Trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace

Last week, I created this refreshing sashimi salad featuring fresh ingredients from the sea. This week, I focused on a very different style of Japanese cooking, what I consider Japanese comfort food. Japanese sweet-simmered vegetables is a hearty, filling dish and the delicious sweet-and-salty broth is perfect during the cold winter months. When paired with steamed rice, you have a perfectly satisfying meal. read more

Sashimi, Seaweed, and Cucumber Salad with Ponzu sauce

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Tuna and Salmon Sashimi, Seaweed, and Cucumber Salad with Ponzu Sauce

Tuna and Salmon Sashimi, Seaweed, and Cucumber Salad with Ponzu Sauce

It’s a new year and for a lot of people that means a clean, healthy beginning, because of this I wanted to feature a dish that is simple, fresh, healthy, and most importantly, delicious. This sashimi, seaweed, and cucumber salad is all of these things and appetizing to boot.

My mind always drifts to Japanese cuisine when I think of using fresh ingredients in a pure and simple way. Jiro Ono, renowned sushi chef and owner of the three-star Michelin restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, says in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, “Ultimate simplicity equals purity,” and I believe this can be seen throughout Japanese cuisine. read more

Canal House Lentils, Teriyaki Shiitake Mushrooms, and Kale with Sesame Oil

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Canal House Lentils, Teriyaki Shiitake Mushrooms, and Kale with Sesame Oil

Canal House Lentils, Teriyaki Shiitake Mushrooms, and Kale with Sesame Oil

Corey wanted us to try incorporating three days of vegetarian meals into our weekly diet in an effort to eat healthier and be more environmentally conscious (fruits and vegetables produce more calories per unit of energy expended in the production thereof). This hasn’t been nearly as challenging as I expected. There are so many flavorful vegetarian dishes out there, and I’m enjoying experimenting with new recipes and styles of cooking! read more

Japanese Pork and Potatoes (Nikujaga)

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Japanese Pork and Potatoes (Nikujaga)

Japanese Pork and Potatoes (Nikujaga)

Nikujaga is a traditional Japanese dish of meat and potatoes simmered in a soy, mirin, and sugar broth. In eastern Japan pork is commonly used, while in western Japan beef is preferred. As the meat and potatoes cook, the broth is reduced and the ingredients absorb its flavor. The finished dish–a hearty stew–is sweet, savory, and utterly comforting.

Japanese pork and potatoes is easy to prepare, and doesn’t even require a trip to an Asian market. Soy sauce and mirin—the only speciality ingredients—can be found in the Asian section of most grocery stores. This dish is great for beginners experimenting with Japanese cuisine. It’s a one-pot meal that requires minimal attention after the initial prep. read more

Santouka Ramen Chicago

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Santouka Spicy-Miso Ramen

I can’t seem to get enough Japanese food of late—I blame Raku for reminding me just how delicious it can be. Corey and I recently went to Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese grocery store in the Midwest. It’s located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

This market is a gem for Japanese food enthusiasts—chefs and diners alike. It boasts a wide selection of sushi-grade seafood, fresh produce, and dried goods and snacks, as well as a liquor store, bookstore, bakery, video store, and various food vendors. read more