February 23, 2017
If you’ve ever cooked Japanese food, you know that mirin, or sweet cooking sake, is an integral ingredient. Whether you use it in dressings, sauces, marinades, or stews, this clear, golden-hued rice wine adds both umami and sweetness. Japanese cooks also use it to add viscosity, richness, and gloss to food, as well as temper […]
May 25, 2016
I wanted to make something simple and mouthwatering for the Canned Crab Challenge. Sarah’s Snow Crab Jeon is a tough act to follow, so I also wanted to make something that could potentially complement her recipe. So to pair with her protein-heavy dish, I decided to come up with a carb dish. I had tried […]
March 10, 2014
I’m sure Umami Mart readers know about mirin and have used it in cooking, but may not be sure about what it is exactly. Culinary experts in the U.S. believe that mirin is a mix of sake and lots of sugar. Sadly, this is incorrect. Yes, it’s sweet, but not just syrupy sweet — mirin […]
January 6, 2011
When I crave comfort food, this is my go-to dish. It’s quick, easy and cheap. The key to a successful miso-eggplant dish is fresh eggplants. The vibrant purple color of Japanese eggplant contrasts well with the redness of the miso. The dish is sweet thanks to the miso and sugar so it will satisfy an […]
November 18, 2010
In an effort to demystify Japanese cooking, today’s Japanify post is a first in a series I will call “Japanify Ingredients.” I’ve drawn inspiration from some questions I’ve received from friends, for example: “I bought rice vinegar to make sushi one time, but it’s just sitting in my cupboard doing nothing. What else can I […]