Monday, April 8, 2013

Donabe-simmered Taro & Twisted Konnyaku


This dish is made of just two main ingredients of taro ("sato-imo") and konnyaku. It's a light vegan dish, yet you can enjoy nice rich flavors.

Because the ingredients are cooked in soup & stew donabe, "Miso-shiru Nabe", with its magical gentle heat-distribution, "sato-imo" is cooked to become so rich and almost creamy without falling apart during long simmering.


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Ginger is sautéed, and sato-imo and konnyaku are added.

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Once the dashi etc. are added, with the drop lid ("otoshi-buta"), simmer for 30-35 minutes.

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So comforting and nice. I can eat the whole pot myself. Ahaha.

Simmered Taro & Konnyaku


Ingredients: (for 5-6 servings as a side dish)


5-6 large taro ("sato-imo") (about 1.5 lbs or 700 g), peeled and cut into 3/4" (2 cm) thick slices

8 oz "konnyaku" yam jelly, sliced crosswise into 1/4" (6 mm) thick.
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 small knob ginger, thinly-sliced into shreds
1/4 cup (60 ml) sake
About 3/4 cup (180 ml) dashi stock (kombu & shiitake)
2 tablespoons Okinawa black sugar (can be substituted with brown sugar)
1 tablespoon mirin
3 tablespoons light color soy sauce ("usukuchi shoyu")
some shichimi togarashi (optional)

Procedure:

  1. As soon as the taro is cut, soak in water for 5 minutes and drain. Set aside.
  2. For konnyaku, cut a 5/8" (1.5 cm) slit in the center of each slice and push one end into the slit make a twist shape. Set aside.
  3. In "Miso-shiru Nabe", heat the sesame oil over medium-heat, and sauté the ginger until aromatic (about 1 minute).
  4. Add the taro, and konnyaku. Stir and and sauté for 2 minutes.
  5. Add the sake and the enough dashi stock so that the taro and konnyaku are about 80% submerged.
  6. Add the sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. Place a drop lid ("otoshi-buta") on the surface of the ingredients, or line the surface with a piece of aluminum foil. Cover with lid.
  7. Turn the heat to medium-high. As soon as the broth starts boiling, reduce the heat down to simmer.
  8. Simmer for 30-35 minutes or until the broth is reduced by almost half.
  9. Turn off the heat and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
  10. Serve into individual bowls and sprinkle some shichimi togarashi, if you like.
Happy donabe life.