A pinch of Japanese greatness
Bok Choy. What can I say… Wonderfully delicious Asian vegetable. Typically, bok choy recipes are used for a side dish, and it’s super simple and nourishing. When you go to the store, you may see two kinds: baby bok choy and full-grown bok choy. Which …
It’s Friyaaay! Not that it matters all that much nowadays because what is time really? To honor our precious Friday, I am sharing my falafel recipe! I’ve been living in DC area for about two years now. I’ve been wanting to get infamous falafels in …
I know I’m a little late, but to honor Father’s day, I am going to share with you my mom’s recipe!
Why mom’s recipe??
Well, whenever I ask my dad what his favorite food is, his answer is always mom’s food.
So, I figured I’ll share with you something she always makes during the summer time!
Nibitashi is a cooking method of braising vegetables and soaking into dashi broth.
Obviously braising works perfectly fine, and it’ll taste delicious, but what my mom likes to do is deep frying the veggies.
This technique is called “Suage.”
What it does is that it removes the bitterness of certain vegetables like eggplants and the coating of oil actually prevents vegetables from discoloration.
By deep frying them, veggies would be crispy on the outside, and they soak up the broth so nicely. This makes them extra juicy and delicious!
It might sound a little unhealthy, but trust me, this little change in cooking method makes such a huge difference.
Obviously, it tastes amazing, but the colors of this dish is just so beautiful! It’s such a perfect dish for hot summer days!
I’ll share with you two broth recipes because why not? It’s more fun that way.
Anyways, here ya go😊
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Growing up, I used to looooove earl grey bread. Walking into bakeries in Japan is like going into a whole new world (I watched Disney sing along last night. Hence why…..oops lol). As soon as you step in, you smell the buttery, sweet, salty deliciousness. …
Cucumbers are just so refreshing. Whenever I eat cucumbers, I feel so clean, healthy, and overall great! I don’t know why, but I just feel that way. Anyways, this salad is SO easy to make and SO yummy, it is perfect for the summer weather! …
What I love about this smoothie bowl is not only does it taste good, but it’s also healthy af!
I know green tea aka MATCHA is a thing nowadays. But do you know why so many wellness enthusiasts are obsessed all of a sudden??
Matcha comes from Japan and it is finely ground powder of specially processed green tea leaves. Traditionally, matcha was used as a ritual to bring peace in ourselves. It’s not just drinking that was important, but it is the whole experience – beautiful green color, the smell, warmth, respectful space, peaceful environment, etc. A long long time ago, ever since Ku-kai and Saicho (Buddhism monks) brought back tea leaves from China, Japanese people researched how we could get the maximum benefits from tea leaves. That is how matcha powder was developed. As Eisai wrote in his book, “Matcha has a possibility to richen our mental and physical health,” it was sometimes used for medicinal purposes. They also knew that matcha can help heighten our focus, so monks often had this matcha ritual before practicing meditation.
Although it was super rare back then, we can now all enjoy this miracle powder at home!
Some benefits include: - Lots of antioxidant (much more than normal brewed green tea has!!) - Provides vitamin C, zinc, and magnesium - Boosts metabolism - Rich in fiber - Aids in concentration - Lowers cholesterol
No wonder people are so obsessed, right??
Lately, I am trying to cut back on my caffeine intake and I’ve been drinking matcha in the afternoon (I am a huge coffee lover, and I used to drink at least 3 mug full of coffee a day). It is a great alternative to coffee, so if any of you are like me, you should definitely try it!
It’s a little bitter, so you might need a little bit of getting used to at first. Trust me, this smoothie bowl is a great way to begin your matcha journey! It is honestly so delicious, and it’s such a fun way to enjoy your smoothie as a snack or even as a meal:)
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do! Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment below:)
All my love,
Kaori
