A vegetable-loaded alternative to plain rice On a lazy weekend morning when I’m hungry but unwilling to spend more than 10 minutes in the kitchen, healthy and vegetable-rich dishes often take a backseat. But to prevent such habits, I have a repertoire of quick and simple ways to add more fresh vegetables to my meals, […]
Recipes
Shiso Pesto: A Japanese Take on Traditional Italian Flavors
Shiso pesto is the fusion of two food cultures I went to Italy for the first time two summers ago with my family, and I still bring up the food every chance I get. “Do you guys remember that Amatriciana we had? Oh my god, it was so good.” “But that gelato! I’d fly back […]
Japanese Food and Why Everything Comes With Ginger
A healthful spice, that makes everything nice We forgot to go grocery shopping and our fridge was looking sparse. We didn’t have many vegetables at home, besides some eggplants and a nub of ginger. Can you even cook anything good with just that? But turns out my mom had a plan — she took the […]
Rainy Season and the Joy of Cooking with Plums
The most peaceful season in Japan While some people might think the rainy season evokes feelings of gloom, it actually carries my most peaceful and quiet memories. The popular travel destinations are much less crowded, and the streets are less rowdy — a grace period after cherry blossom season and before the onset of summer […]
Use Miso to Introduce Umami to Your Dishes
One ingredient, three ways It was late at night and I had stopped by the supermarket to buy some salmon filets but hadn’t really thought about how to cook them. When I got home, I looked in the kitchen to see what I could use for seasoning and found the cabinets sparse. Another night of […]
How to Make the Softest, Most Comforting Oyakodon
Cooking through my first year away from home When I moved from Japan to go to college in the U.S., I was excited to start my new adventure and to meet new people. Going to orientation and participating in events, somewhere I thought I would quickly find a group of friends and feel instantly at […]
Why I Love Cooking With Tofu
Illustrations by Kaki Okumura Tofu isn’t a meat replacement, even in this Japanese version of a burger I meet a lot of people who aren’t the biggest fans of tofu, even when they want to add it into their diet. Tofu is high in protein and low in calories and fat, and much more environmentally friendly […]
When It’s Too Hot to Think About Dinner
Illustrations by Kaki Okumura Consider a soba salad with cucumber, carrots, hijiki, and greens It’s getting very hot and sunny in Tokyo, and my walks outside are beginning to feel like afternoons by the poolside. On days like this, I feel a bit drowsy, and thinking about dinner becomes a chore that my brain isn’t […]
