Yakisoba is a classic Japanese street food, consisting of soft noodles stir-fried with thin slices of pork and fresh vegetables in a tangy sauce. Enjoy authentic Yakisoba at home with this quick recipe that takes less than 30 minutes! What is Yakisoba? Not to be confused with my delicious Yaki […]
With its citrusy taste, it is somewhat reminiscent of Sichuan pepper or Timut… Sansho pepper, like its lemony counterparts, has been a staple of Japanese cuisine since time immemorial. Exotic flavors guaranteed on your plate! What is Sansho pepper? Sansho pepper, or Zanthoxylum piperitum, is actually a false pepper, like […]
If you browse through my articles dedicated to Japanese cuisine, you’ll notice that kombu is an ingredient I frequently mention. But what is kombu, and why does it occupy such an important place in Japanese gastronomy? This article aims to answer these questions. What is Kombu? Kombu, also known as […]
Today, we’re exploring an often underestimated but essential element of a perfect ramen bowl: chashu. This piece of braised pork belly, tender, salty, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth, transforms a good ramen into a transcendental culinary experience. The famous Chashumen While many restaurants unfortunately serve dry or rubbery chashu, a well-executed version […]
A delicious gyoza recipe with a classic Japanese chicken filling and a yuzu dipping sauce. Unsurprisingly, after my pork gyoza recipe, here comes its cousin—filled with a delicious chicken mixture—joining the beef gyoza in my recipe collection. Which cut of chicken should I use for the gyoza filling? Ah, the […]
These traditional Japanese dumplings, known as gyoza, are juicy and crispy yet wonderfully tender; their flavor will please even the most discerning palate Ah, gyoza! Who can resist these bite sized Japanese dumplings that have taken the world by storm? Even if you are new to Asian cooking, you have […]
Tare is the foundational seasoning that defines ramen, the beloved Japanese noodle soup. Think of it as the dish’s secret sauce, the element that gives every bowl its unmistakable character. In this article I will lay out the theory behind tare, which I will put into practice in my upcoming […]
What is Paitan broth? Paitan, a word derived from Chinese, refers to a “white soup” in culinary context. This term is specifically associated with varieties of Japanese Ramen whose broth is cloudy, milky, and opaque. It’s important to note that a “pure” white color is not an absolute necessity for […]
Ramen is an iconic Japanese dish, often celebrated for its rich and deep broth. Among the varieties of broths, Chintan stands out for its apparent simplicity and depth of flavor. What is Chintan broth? Unlike its thick and cloudy counterpart, Paitan, Chintan is a clear, transparent broth, as its name […]
Kuzu, this plant-based binder, is very well known in Japan! It is highly valued there for its gelling and smoothing properties that are attributed to traditional sauces such as yakitori sauce, soups and desserts. What is kuzu? Kuzu, or kudzu, comes from the Asian climbing plant Pueraria montana. Known for […]
