One of the first questions I’m usually asked by Japanese people when I meet them for the first time is ‘Do you like Japanese food?’
I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but one of the best things about living in Japan is the food. Especially after being brought up in England on a diet of frozen chips and fish fingers.
I love the way there is such a great mix of food here… and normal portions! I’m always shocked when I go back home by the mountains of food people put on their plates…
As most of my friends here know, I am a big kinpira gobo addict. I love it, especially after one of my good friends gave me a great recipe and the ingredients to make it, and I realised how simple it was to prepare. Now I cook it at least once a week without fail!
I’ll share my (friend’s) recipe with you:
Gobo and Carrot cut into strips (I always cheat and buy the ready prepared packs in the supermarket)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons akazake (or 1 tablespoon mirin combined with 1 tablespoon brown sugar)
Teaspoon sesame seeds
½ Teaspoon chopped dried chilli (more or less depending on how spicy you like it!)
Fry the vegetables in the sesame oil for two minutes.
Add the sake, soy sauce, akazake, sesame seeds and chilli.
Cook for another 30 seconds.
That’s it, ready…serve and enjoy!
I could eat this until the cows come home….
Let me know what you think about English food! Feel free to ask any questions and share your favourite recipes so I can branch out from cooking kinpira gobo!
Itadakimasu!
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Definitions
Cliché – an overused expression.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cliché
On a diet of – ‘On a diet’ doesn’t always mean trying to lose weight. Here it means I often ate chips and fish fingers.
Fish fingers – Battered ‘fingers’ of fish which are very popular in England.
Chips – British English meaning French Fries (We call potato chips ‘crisps’)
Portion – Amount of food served for one person http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/portion
Mountain of food – BIG portion of food! (can also be used for ‘mountain of work’ eg. I had a mountain of work to do today)
Addict – A person who is addicted to (can’t stop) doing an activity http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addict
Ingredients - Food used in a recipe
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ingredient
Until the cows come home – Expression meaning for a very long time
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/until+the+cows+come+home
Branch out - Vary or change
http://www.answers.com/topic/diversify-branch-out-broaden
Itadakimasu – There isn’t really an equivalent to this expression in English. I’m often asked if there’s something to say instead, but sadly I can’t think of anything. Some families in England say a prayer (although this isn’t so common these days) but generally we start with a compliment about the food (mmmm…looks good!) or just tuck in (start eating)!
