Miso

Miso is another of Japan's culinary gifts to the world. It is made from a mixture of soybeans, grains (rice, or barley), salt, water, and a fermenting agent. It is a savory, protein rich, highly nutritious soyfood that is of major importance in East Asia. Miso is unchallenged in it's versatility and is the base for sauces, soups, dressings, toppings, as well as being used as a medium for making pickles. Every area of Japan produces it's own variety of miso, so there are many types to choose from. The two most common and readily available are "white" and "red" miso. The white varieties are a yellowish brown color and have a lite, almost sweet taste. The red varieties range from a deep dark red to an almost ebony brown, they also possess a rich aroma and an earthy taste. Some of the examples are MISO SHIRO (miso soup) & DENGAKU MISO (sweet simmered miso).

NOODLES - "MENRUI"

Rice of course is the staple food of Japan, but the second most popular food would have to be menrui (noodles). Noodles are eaten the day round in Japan and are served in many different ways, both hot and cold. There are all kinds of noodles, but the two most popular are soba (buckwheat) and udon (white flour).

Soba noodles are thin, flavorful, and generally light brown in color. They come in various sizes and colors, there's even a type made with powdered green tea called cha-soba. During the summer month’s soba is served cold in shallow bamboo baskets, and the noodles are dipped into a cold dipping sauce. In winter the noodles make their appearance in hot dashi, and are accompanied by ingredients like fried tofu, vegetables and meats. Udon is a very thick and pasty wheat noodle that is served in hot dashi and topped with the same condiments as the soba noodles. Some of the examples are KITSUNE UDON (noodles with deep fried tofu) & ZARU SOBA (cold soba noodles on a basket tray).

 

OKONOMIYAKI


Okonomiyaki literally means "cook what you like," and so there is no set recipe for these egg based pancakes. You can choose whatever ingredients you prefer or even use left overs with which to make okonomiyaki. The pancakes are tasty, filling, simple to make as well as being inexpensive, so they're particularly popular with people on a tight budget.