Category Archives: Contemporary Recipes

Matcha Mochi Cupcakes

By Azusa | Published: December 2, 2009

These mochi cupcakes are crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and have a wonderful hint of matcha. This recipe is a great alternative to the cupcakes we’re used to because they’re not overly sweet.

Also posted in Sweets | Tagged , , , , | 36 Responses

Japanese New Potato Salad

By Azusa | Published: November 18, 2009

I love the idea of taking an American classic and reinterpreting it with Japanese ingredients. The use of tofu instead of mayonnaise was interesting! The miso, rice vinegar, and mirin all sounded promising! Even the photo looks like it delivers, no? No, something was missing. The recipe was on the right track, but the flavors […]

Also posted in Salads, Vegetables | Tagged , , , | 4 Responses

Matcha Rolls

By Azusa | Published: October 22, 2009

I pulled hot matcha rolls out of the oven today and ate 3 of them like it was nothing. Thanks to the free sample bag of Dakota Matcha (a grade of matcha meant for baking) from Matcha Source, I confronted my minor fear of bread making and was rewarded with these soft sweet rolls. And […]

Also posted in Appetizers + Snacks | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Responses

Shoyu Chicken

By Azusa | Published: October 7, 2009

There isn’t anything easier than shoyu chicken. Mix, pour, simmer. That’s it. But it simmers for a good hour, so be sure you’ve planned ahead. The meat soaks up the sauce and becomes very tender and could win over anyone, even the most picky eaters. This recipe is from one of those community cookbooks from […]

Also posted in Meat | Tagged , , | 13 Responses

Milk Misoshiru with Kabocha

By Azusa | Published: September 30, 2009

Fall has been slow to arrive in Los Angeles, but that didn’t stop me from making this milky miso soup. The salty miso, sweet kabocha, and creamy broth were nothing but a recipe for comfort. I liked it so much I might switch to making milk misoshiru in the fall and winter months, and back […]

Also posted in Recipes, Soups, Traditional Recipes | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Shiitake and Bacon Alfredo

By Azusa | Published: August 27, 2009

If you’re watching your weight, don’t bother. Mimicking an alfredo sauce, the robust flavor in this recipe comes from bacon (Mmm, bacon…) and the richness of shiitake. There’s no butter or parmesan cheese, but I assure you the taste (or fat content) isn’t compromised. The concentrated flavor of dried shiitake holds up well with the […]

Also posted in Favorites, Noodles | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Responses

Matcha Latte

By Azusa | Published: July 7, 2009

If you’ve ever had matcha the traditional way, you’re familiar with its bitterness. Made by stirring vigorously with a bamboo whisk, the frothy drink compliments the sugary sweets usually served with it. The matcha latte we made over the weekend is a simple recipe from a book we bought a couple of years ago in Japan […]

Also posted in Drinks | Tagged , , | 9 Responses

Spicy Pork and Vegetable Stir-fry

By Azusa | Published: July 2, 2009

I’ve never cooked a cucumber before. Does it turn soggy? Does it turn soft? I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea, but the photo in the book was working hard to sell me on the idea. I love eggplant and all things spicy so decided it was a go. My love for this recipe […]

Also posted in Meat, Recipes, Vegetables | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Responses

Kari Pari Tofu Salad

By Azusa | Published: May 31, 2009

Tofu salad usually comes either with a refreshing shoyu-based or a creamy sesame-based dressing. I tend to prefer sesame, but this recipe popped out at me when I was perusing my mom’s collection of Japanese cooking magazines. The colors were beautiful and the combination of textures—the soft tofu, juicy tomatoes, shaki shaki lettuce, and the […]

Also posted in Salads, Tofu + Egg | Tagged , | 2 Responses

Matcha Pancakes

By Azusa | Published: May 13, 2009

A beautiful bag of Lupicia matcha sits in my freezer. I’ve baked with it on occasion, but each time I’ve walked away unsatisfied, thinking the end product never lived up to the irresistibly delicious thing I imagined. Matcha’s delicate flavor makes it challenging to incorporate into a recipe. Other flavors can easily dominate or the […]

Also posted in Sweets | Tagged , , | 5 Responses

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