I have only ever eaten Japanese food out, about twice in my life and both times I kind of hated it!
I just think its bland and boring. Maybe just vegan japanese food is bland.....?
If anyone knows a good place to get vegan Japanese let me know.
I bought heaps of mushies from the Asian grocer as they were on special and I knew I had a block of Tofu in the fridge so i though i would give some Japanese a try. Not that its Authentic but it is what I always want Japanese food to taste like and it never does.
Japanese Mushroom salad
Ingredients:
1 Block firm tofu
1 big bunch of assorted mushies
1 small handful dried asian mushrooms (shiitakes)
1 small pack of soba noodles
1 Cucumber
Fried shallots
Dressing:
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 Tablespoons mirin
1 Clove garlic minced
1 Tablespoon rice wine
Method:
Place all dressing ingredients in small bowl and stir. Set aside.
Place dried mushrooms in warm water and leave to soak for about 10 mins. Place mushrooms and liquid from soaked shiitakes in a pan and cover with a lid over low heat until
soft.
Cook soba noodles in boiling water and set aside to cool.
Peel cucumber and chop tofu into small cubes.
Place everything in a big bowl and cover in dressing. Toss well
Cover with a sprinkle of fried shallots and enjoy!
I love mushrooms. All types! even those little quid looking ones that explode in your mouth. I even like the ones that have the texture of someones ear!
Make this if you hate Japanese food!
xx
I'm not sure about vegan Japanese in Melbourne...I'll have to explore it when I get back there! I love Japanese for the freshness (unlike Chinese, which I always find too oily). I'm sure it can be bland, but if it's done well it should be beautiful! But each to their own. Your salad sounds great and I love the little mushroom stack :)
ReplyDeleteThanks heaps! i find Chinese a little oily too but I really want to like Japanese!
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It must be where you're eating, or we have very different palates, because I spent a few years of my childhood living in Japan and I can promise you the food is not bland at all ( I'm American, so didn't grow up on a standard Japanese diet). Plus, you used very common Japanese ingredients in your sauce! In Japan food is a true art form, like everything else done there. Like all ethnic food, when they're brought over to other countries or ''recreated'' at themed restaurants, its not always traditional or the same quality of ingredients that are true to that style of cooking. It is an acquired taste for Westerner's, though. I was introduced to it at a young age (like 10), so the flavors are quite typical for me now. But I would put money on it that if you went to Japan and ate food there, you would like it. We had family visit while living there that didn't really eat anything outside of a standard american diet and was really skeptical of trying it, but once we took them to some of the local restaurants and cooked for them after taking classes over there, they really opened up to it and still like it now. You have to find a good place that uses fresh ingredients. I personally don't care for Chinese in the US due to how oily it is, however when I went to Hong Kong it was extremely different than what was in restaurants in Western countries. :) All the best!
ReplyDeleteYour shiitake photos are funny - love them!
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