Culinary Adventure: JAPAN
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Konnichiwa!
Japanese cuisine offers a wide range of tastes and textures and
regional specialities. With an emphasis on quality seasonal
foods it is based on combining staple foods, typically rice or
noodles, with a soup and okazu (dishes made from fish, meat,
vegetable, tofu). Japanese cuisine uses the following
flavours; salt, sugar, vinegar, soya sauce and miso. However, as
with any other cuisines there is also a range of herbs, spices and
other ingredients used to enhance the flavours present in the dish
including; ginger, wasabi, soyabean paste
and mirin.
Traditional Japanese table setting is to place a bowl of rice on
your left and to place a bowl of miso soup on your right side at
the table. Pickled vegetables are often served on the side.
Chopsticks are generally placed at the very front of the tray near
the diner with pointed ends facing left and supported by a
chopstick rest, or hashioki. There should be no
tablecloth or serviettes, just the clean lines of the table.
However, before the meal begins, each guest is offered a small hot
damp towel, like a white facecloth. To simplify this task, wet the
cloths with cold water, wring them out, roll them up and place them
on a rectangular plate. Heat the towels in the microwave; serve
with tongs.
As New Zealanders, we are lucky enough to have an abundance of
Japanese restaurants which makes us very familiar with the concept
of some Japanese dishes including sashimi, sushi, tempura and
yakitori. There are a vast number of delicious dishes
that make up the repertoire of Japanese cuisine and here at
Gregg's, we would like to help you to experience some of these.
Crispy
Sesame Fish with Soy and Mirin Dressing
Ginger Salmon
Steamed Asian Greens
Teriyaki Lamb
To make your Japanese inspired meal even more authentic, pick up
the following items to serve alongside your meal from your local
supermarket.
Miso Soup
Edamame
Dumplings
Japanese Style Pickles
Fresh Seasonal Fruit Platter
Green Tea Flavoured Ice Cream
With the help of Gregg's bringing the delights of Japanese
cuisine into your home has never been easier.