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Ingredients

Chirashi Sushi

4 Hoshi-shiitake (dry shiitake mushrooms)
pinch of sugar
3 gou (approximately 2 cups or 170 gr) Japanese rice
2 tablespoons sake
1 square (approximately 4 x 4 inch or 10 x 10 cm) konbu (dry kelp)
1 age (fried tofu pouches - tofu skin)
half bag (about 1/4 oz or 6 - 7 gr) kampyou (gourd strips)
pinch of salt
1 small carrot, peeled
1 Yude-Takenoko (bamboo shoot)
2 oz (60 gr) kinusaya (china peas)
1 + 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 renkon (lotus root)
3 eggs
1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons mirin (sweet sake, used only for cooking)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
12 oz (350 gr) raw shrimps
5 tablespoons sake
2 1/2 tablespoons mirin
pinch of salt
3 anago (char broiled eel)
6 tablespoons ikura (salmon roe)
a small bunch of kizammi nori (shredded seaweed)

Place the shiitake mushrooms in a small bowl. Cover with fresh water. Use warm water and add a pinch of sugar for faster softer soaking.

Wash the rice gently stirring with hands and dispose of the water. Repeat this step at least 3 - 4 times, until the water is clean. Drain and transfer to the steamer bowl.

Add water up to a little below the 3 mark (3 gou). Add 2 tablespoons sake. Add konbu. Place the bowl in the steamer but let the rice rest for about 30 minutes before turning the switch on. Steam for about 30 minutes. When the rice is done wait about 10 minutes before opening the steamer.

Wash the age’ with hot boiling water to remove excess oil.

Wash the kampyou lightly and discard the water.

Fill a small saucepan with water and let the kampyou soak for a while. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes or until soft. Remove the kampyo from the water and reserve the water.

Cut the carrot in a fine julienne.

Cut the Yude-Takenoko in a fine julienne.

Drain the shiitake mushrooms and reserve the water. Squeeze the mushrooms to remove most of the water. Cut the mushrooms in fine strips.

Remove the tip and string from the peas. Place the peas in boiling salted water and blanch for about 30 seconds. Drain in a colander.

Cut the peas in small strips.

Place 1 tablespoon rice vinegar in about 2 - 3 cups water. Peel the renkon cut in half lengthwise. Cut in fine slices and place immediately in the vinegar-water to avoid discoloration.

Put water and 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add renkon and boil for about 10 minutes or until the surface becomes transparent.

While the renkon is cooking, place in a bowl 3 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, pinch of salt. Mix vigorously. Taste and add a little water if too sour. Drain the renkon and add it to the vinegar mix while still hot. Leave it to soak stirring occasionally.

To prepare Kinshi Tamago (shredded egg crepes), place the eggs in a small bowl with a pinch of salt and whisk vigorously.

Place 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil in a 6” crepes skillet. Wipe off the excess oil leaving the skillet greased. Place the skillet on medium heat. When the skillet is hot transfer a small quantity of egg to make very thin crepes.

Tilt the skillet around to distribute the egg uniformly.

Turn the crepe over to cook the top surface.

When the crepe is done, transfer to a board. Repeat this step until all the egg is used to make about 5 - 6 crepes. Pile them one on top of the other.

Cut the crepes in large strips and pile them one on top of the other.

Cut the egg crepes to a very fine julienne.

Continuation on page 2

Making a perfectly shaped or rolled sushi can be difficult and intimidating. If you enjoy sushi rice you can try Chirashi Sushi (scattered sushi). It is very easy to make as doesn’t require any particular ability, and the ingredients are casually scattered and layered on top of the rice.  

There is no fixed recipe and you don’t need to use raw fish either if you don’t like, but you can add any ingredient you prefer.  It is perfect as an appetizer or main course served at room temperature.

From JAPAN

Introducing:
Magi Yamamura

Japanese cuisine goes beyond cooking itself. There is maybe no other food in the world so deeply embedded in the culture of a people as Japanese food.

Fresh and healthy, the cooking of Japan is natural and in harmony with the seasons. It reflects the love of Japanese people for ornamentation, decoration and celebration.

Preparing it is an art to be enjoyed with the eyes before being tasted. Magi gave me a demonstration of her ability in this art when she invited me and my family to join hers for the Osechi New Year’s dinner.

Enjoy Magi’s cooking with the Step-by-step  Chirashi Sushi recipe that follows.

While Japan's rich and fascinating culture is still little known in the west, Japanese foods like sushi, tempura, and tofu are becoming more and more familiar to the westerners, while still difficult to define in their complexity.

Deriving its meaning from old traditions Japanese dining is full of ritual significance. Everything is important from the guests seating order, to the table manners; from the order of the servings, to the color of food.

Cut the age’ in strips.

NOTE:

Cut the carrot, Yude-Takenoko, Shiitake, Kinusaya, and eggs all the same size.

Sprinkle with salt and rub (like in a kneading motion) the kampyou very hard several times in order to soften it. Wash again to remove the salt.

Cut the kampyou in small pieces about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) long.