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 […]
Techniques
How to Tenderize Meat with Baking Soda (Velveting)
Asian cuisine, with its rich diversity of flavors and techniques, places great importance on texture, and meat is no exception. Tender meat is essential for dishes like Chinese beef with onions or caramel pork. Tender meat not only delivers a better eating experience, it also helps the spicy, aromatic marinades […]
How to Cook Sticky Rice (Glutinous Rice)
There are many varieties of glutinous rice from countries around the world, including Thailand, China, and Japan. For this recipe, look for Thai or Chinese glutinous rice, sometimes labeled “sweet rice” or “sticky rice.” Different names, same rice—trust me. Glutinous rice is a versatile staple across many Asian cuisines. Beyond […]
The Essential Ingredients to Get Started with Asian Cooking
Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or an experienced cook looking to get started with Chinese and Asian cooking, the most common question I get here on the site is about substitutions – mainly for the “seemingly” less common Asian ingredients. “What can I use instead of Shaoxing wine? […]
Easy Homemade Shoyu Ramen – Better Than Instant
What is ramen? Ramen is a dish from traditional Japanese cuisine, essentially composed of wheat noodles, broth, tare (sauce), vegetables, and meat. With its wide assortment of toppings, ramen is a “chameleon” dish that can be made into hundreds of recipes. From thin and curly noodles to thick and straight […]
How to Cut Meat for Asian Dishes (Slicing Against the Grain)
You’ve probably read recipes and heard time and time again that meat should always be sliced “against the grain.” But what does that actually mean? What exactly is “the grain,” and why is it so important to slice against it? Well, “the grain” refers to the direction in which the […]
Rice Noodles
What are rice noodles? Rice noodles are noodles made from rice flour, water and salt. They are mainly eaten in Southeast Asia, but can also be found in some parts of China. They are traditionally served in a hot soup with various toppings, each more delicious than the last. They […]
How to Cook and Season Sushi Rice
Sushi lovers, take note! Did you think the secret to great sushi was all about the quality of the fish? Think again! Sushi rice—this magical ingredient—is the real hero that brings out the flavor in this iconic Japanese dish. Join me on this culinary adventure as I reveal the secrets […]
Temaki (Hand Roll): What It Is + Easy Recipe
Attention sushi lovers, this article is for you! The undisputed star of Japanese cuisine is the world-famous sushi, but have you heard of its close cousin, temaki? This dish uses the same ingredients as sushi, but in the form of a… cone. That makes it the perfect choice for homemade […]
The Origin of Sushi
There’s no wrong way to eat sushi Whether you like it raw, sashimi-style (even though sashimi isn’t actually sushi), fried, as maki, or chopped up in a poke bowl, eating raw fish is no longer frowned upon in our part of the world – and just about everyone has tried […]