Tuesday, December 2, 2008

okazu: pork, turnips, and turnip greens

Okazu is basically anything that goes with rice, and this recipe is another one from Oshaberi Kukkingu, my favorite Japanese cooking show (actually, the only one I have time to watch because it's only about 15 minutes long!). The show that featured this particular dish aired on November 20, so feel free to check out their website to see it in nihongo (Japanese).

You'll need:

200 g thinly sliced pork
400 g small turnips
100 g turnip greens
enough sesame oil for the pan
2 1/2 c. dashi (see this easy recipe from Just Hungry via La Fuji Mama)
1/4 c. sake
1 1/2 T. sugar
150 g miso

Do this:

1. Cut meat into 4 cm strips.
2. Cut each turnip into 6 wedge sections and the greens into 1 cm lengths.
3. Cook the pork in the sesame oil till the pinkness is gone, then add the turnips. Mix the miso into the dashi, then add that plus the sake and sugar to the pot, and keep it simmering on medium heat for 8 minutes.
4. When the turnip is soft (poke it with a skewer to test), add the leaves, wilt, and serve immediately.

This is so, so yummy and great warming winter food for your tummy. I served it over multi-grain rice that has 16 different kinds of little beans and grains (a mix that you just add to your regular white rice in the rice cooker). I was planning on sprinkling some toasted sesame seeds over the top, but in the heat of the moment it slipped my mind. Next time!

Miso paste


Bonito flakes (katsuobushi) and kelp (konbu) to make the dashi


Close-up of the konbu


I used 4 small turnips...


Smaller than my fist (and much tastier than a knuckle sandwich)!

Have this over the rice of your choice and with sweet-hot lotus root on the side...yummers.

8 comments:

shavedicesundays said...

Love your website design and your funny profile. Envy you for being in Japan. Your cooking style is very versatile and the dishes look great.

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

Thanks, shavedicesundays! Welcome to Mamatouille! I'm heading over to check out your blog...

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love the look of your blog. All the food looks and sounds great. I am going to try the lemony spinach...though I am a sucker for any wilted green

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

Thanks mommygourmet! That lemony spinach is so so easy, and really yummy too! Let me know how you like it!

Anonymous said...

You've really got it made to have access to some great ingredients and recipes. We can find a lot of these things in the States, but it's more fun to say you're doing all this fun cooking in another country. This sounds like a delicious winter dish!

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

Duodishes, yes, I love living and cooking in Japan! I think if we ever move anywhere else I'll really miss it.

Rachael Hutchings said...

Oh yum!! I'm so behind with my blog reading, thanks for the shout out! :-)

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

FM - no problem! :)