Sunday, July 30, 2017

Matcha & Adzuki Kakigori (Shave Ice Recipe)


INGREDIENTS (makes 1 serving)

(matcha syrup)
3 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup very hot water

(matcha cream)
1/2 tsp matcha powder
1 tbsp of hot water
2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk

frozen ice
matcha ice cream (or vanilla ice cream)

DIRECTIONS

First, combine 1 tsp matcha powder, 3 tbsp sugar and 1/4 cup hot water in a bowl. Mix well until dissolved. Leave in the refrigerator to chill completely. In a separate bowl, combine half a teasoon of matcha powder with 1 tbsp hot water. Mix well until matcha has dissolved. Pour in 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk and mix until combined. Put this in the fridge until completely chilled. 

Set up the ice in your shave ice maker and start the machine. Once you have a bowl filled with shaved ice, pour on the matcha syrup, followed by some sweetened adzuki beans. Then pour on the matcha cream. If you like, top it off with a scoop of matcha ice cream. Serve immediately.


Sunday, July 16, 2017

Sushi Donuts

The first time we saw this on the internet, we were like...huh? Sushi Donut? Yes, they are a thing! And it's REAL people! Here in Japan, the trend hasn't caught on yet and most people have never heard of such craziness. But that's ok because we know that they exist and we're going to make some!


INGREDIENTS: (makes 6)


3 radishes
1 cucumber
1/4 red onion
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp rice vinegar
1/2 avocado
lemon juice
smoked salmon

(sushi rice)
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups cooked Japanese rice

(other ingredients)
sashimi-grade tuna
tobikko
broccoli sprouts
white sesame seeds
black sesame seeds
silicone donut mold
nori sheets cut into squares (optional)
perilla leaves (optional)
wasabi
soy sauce

DIRECTIONS:


First, slice the radishes thinly. Sprinkle some salt on top and give it a quick massage. Set it aside for at least 10 mintues. Cut off the ends of one cucumber. Slice lengthwise with a vegetable peeler to make very thin slices. Cut the cucumber sheets in half and set aside. Slice the onion and combine with 1/2 tsp salt and 2 tsp rice vinegar. Set aside until slightly soft. Next mash half an avocado with a fork with a squeeze of lemon juice. Cut the smoked salmon slices in half. 

Combine rice vinegar, sugar and salt and microwave for 30 seconds. Mix until dissolved. Add to the hot Japanese rice and mix well to combine. 

Now we're ready to use the silicone donut molds. Fill three molds halfway up with the seasoned rice, making a well in the center of each ring. Fill the other three molds all the way to the top. Fill the wells with the mashed avocado. Top off with more rice. Press the rice down so that they hold together. Let it sit for a few minutes. Flip the mold over and carefully lift the mold off the rice. Place three sheets of cucumber slices, cutting off the excess. Decorate with tuna, black sesame seeds and pickled radish. Your first set of sushi donuts are complete. 

For the next set, decorate with smoked salmon, broccoli sprouts, tobikko, red onions and white sesame seeds. Simple! 

Place the sushi donuts on a square sheet of nori or perilla leaf. Enjoy with a drizzle with a mixture of soy sauce and wasabi.


Thursday, July 13, 2017

Baked Matcha Donuts with Matcha and White Chocolate Glaze

Many people really are into Matcha these days and I'm talking about people all over the world. Here in Japan, Matcha green tea is something we sometimes take for granted. You see it in everything....from everyday beverages to cakes. Matcha can be found all over the country.

Since Kyoto is famous for their high-quality foodstuff, naturally they are also famous for Matcha. Especially when it comes to sweets, good quality Matcha is a must and this is also true for these Baked Matcha Donuts. The better the quality of your Matcha, the better the results.


INGREDIENTS: (makes 6 donuts)

2 tbsp butter
1 cup cake flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp matcha powder
1/4 cup milk
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 bar good quality white chocolate, melted
candied lemon bits (optional)
(matcha glaze)
1 tsp matcha powder
1/4 tsp hot water
1 cup confectioners' sugar
tiny amount of water if necessary

DIRECTIONS:

First grease the donut molds with some melted butter, oil or non stick spray. In a bowl, sift in flour, sugar, baing powder and a teaspoon of matcha powder and mix well to combine. Next, add in the milk, melted butter and egg. Mix until the batter is smooth. Pour the batter into the donut molds. Then give it a couple of taps to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 180C/350F or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

To make the glaze, combine the matcha powder and hot water and mix until smooth. Add to a cup of confectioners's sugar and mix until the consistency of glaze. It shouldn't be too thick or too thin. If it's too thick, add just a tiny amount of water and mix until you get the right consistency.

Once donuts are done, take them out and cool completely before glazing. Once they have cooled, dip them into the matcha glaze and put them on a wire rack to let the glaze set. Drizzle on the white chocolate and top with candied lemon if you like. If I'm serving them right away, I like to add some fresh lemon zest on top for extra lemony flavor. Enjoy!