The Japanese Kitchen: 250 Recipes in a Traditional Spirit

In Japan, briefly boiled, lightly salted edamame, fresh green soybeans, eaten from the shell with a cold glass of beer, are one of the delights of summer. I was inspired by popular Western dips to find another way of enjoying this excellent summer vegetable. The dip is, of course, best prepared during the summer months, when fresh green soybeans are available. However, frozen edamame, found at Japanese and some Asian food stores outside Japan, make it possible for us to enjoy this dip year-round.

14 ounces edamame (fresh green soybeans) in their shells
2 ounces feta cheese
6 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1-1/2 teaspoons salt

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the edamame until they are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain them in a flat-bottomed colander, and fan them to speed cooling.

Shell the beans, and discard the shells. In a food processor or blender, blend the beans and all the rest of the ingredients to a creamy paste.

Serve the dip with rice crackers or other crackers, or with vegetable sticks.

*Yields 1-1/2 cups dip

Miso Soup with Mixed Mushrooms -- Kinokozukushi Miso-shiru

When I find various types of mountain mushrooms at markets in autumn or early spring, I make mushroom-studded miso soup. The types of mushrooms available today in Japan are diverse -- from traditional shiitake, maitake, shimeji, and enokitake to newly introduced oyster mushrooms, chanterelles, and Portobello mushrooms.

Choose and mix those that are in season and available in your neighborhood. This preparation is super-simple!

7 ounces assorted fresh mushrooms
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons diced onion
3 tablespoons thin scallion disks, both green and white parts
2-1/2 cups dashi (fish stock)
2 tablespoons akamiso (brown miso)

Garnish:
Shichimi togarashi (seven-spice powder)

Clean the mushrooms quickly under cold running water, and wipe them dry with a paper towel. Cut the mushrooms into thick strips.

Immediately before serving time, heat the sesame oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, add the onion, and cook until the onion is soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the mushrooms and scallions, and cook, stirring for 10 to 20 seconds.

Add the dashi, and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the miso and stir until it dissolves.

Serve the soup immediately, sprinkled with seven-spice powder.

*Yields 3 to 4 servings.

Stir-Fried Rice and Chicken -- Chikin Raisu

Chikin raisu is a Japanese dish that is analogous to macaroni and cheese in the United States. Both are very popular, easy-to-prepare "comfort foods" that anyone can make and enjoy. Chikin raisu was created at the turn of the twentieth century as a fusion of two techniques, one a relative newcomer to Japan from France, and the other an old-timer from China. The chicken pieces are cooked with onions softened in butter, and then quickly stir-fried with cooked rice. Ketchup is then added to flavor and color the dish. Children love it.

4 cups day-old short-grain white or brown rice
6 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
About 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
1 small carrot, minced (about 1/2 cup)
7 ounces boned and skinned chicken breast, cut into 1-inch squares
1/2 cup chicken stock, preferably homemade
1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas
1/4 cup tomato ketchup
Fresh-ground black pepper

Since day-old rice is lumpy, quickly rinse it under cold tap water. Drain the rice well.

Heat the wok or large skillet over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of the butter, and, when the butter is melted, add the onion. Reduce the heat to low, and cook the onion until it is soft, about 10 minutes. While the onion cooks, add half of the salt.

Add the carrot, and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken, and cook until the outside is white. Add the chicken stock and the remaining salt, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook until the liquid is absorbed.

Add the rice and green peas, turn the heat to high, and continuously stir until the rice is heated through and mixed with the chicken. Add the tomato ketchup and black pepper, and stir thoroughly.

Serve the chikin raisu with fork and spoon, not chopsticks!

* Yields 2 servings as a main dish.

Copyright © 2000 by Hiroko Shimbo