A Journey Towards Japanese Delicacy

Dorayaki ( どら焼き ) is a traditional Wagashi (Japanese sweet) that is prominent in the land of the rising sun. By far the most popular  Wagashi types, Dorayaki is a delicious snack consisting of a sweet filling sandwiched between  two fluffy pancakes.  It is one of the numerous Japanese delicacies that is finger-licking good. What is great about this is its delicious, yet on overly sugar. The combination of the Honey pancake and the Red Bean paste is a mouth-watering treat that no one can refuse.  Dorayaki is a combination of soft honey pancakes with delicious azuki bean paste as a filling. However the Dorayaki pancakes are a little different from the usual ones. The batter of Dorayaki is made from Honey and sometimes Mirin, giving it that castella cake sponginess.  This snack is also known as Mikasa(in the Kyoto dialect), and it is particularly popular amongst the old and young in Japan. Another cool thing is that texture of Dorayaki with fresh cream filling feel...

Yakitori ( 焼き鳥 )-The literal meaning of this dish is “A Dish of Chicken Pieces Grilled on a Skewer”.  Yakitori consists of bite-sized pieces of meat (usually chicken) served on a bamboo skewer. In Japan, yakitori can be a street food dish or a casual meal served in a parlor, frequently paired with Japanese beer or sake. They are made from all different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, skin, liver and other innards. Usually made to order and cooked over charcoal, Yakitori is a popular, inexpensive dish.  The best yakitori is served at specialty restaurants, known as Yakitori-ya, but it can also be found at many other types of restaurants across Japan, such as izakaya, and at festival food stands. HOW IS YAKITORI PREPARED?     Traditional yakitori will always be prepared over Binchotan, a Japanese white charcoal. This heat source burns very clean so it doesn't add flavor to the chicken skewers; all charred flavor comes from contact with th...

If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine, then you probably had Sushi and Sashimi before. But what's the difference between the two? In this Blog, I will be discussing the 3 main differences between Sushi and Sashimi.  WHAT IS SASHIMI? (Sashimi) Sashimi is a thinly sliced raw fish. It is normally served with Soy sauce and Wasabi, and it can be eaten by chopsticks or by hand. The word "Sashimi" literally means "pierced body" which is refer to the way that fish is traditionally prepared for Sashimi dishes. As soon as the fish is landed, its brain is pierced with a sharp spike and it is placed on slurry ice. This spiking is called the Ikejime process, and the instantaneous death means that the fish's flesh contains a minimal amount of lactic acid. This means the fish will keep fresh on ice for about 10 days, without turning white or degrading.   WHAT IS SUSHI? (Sushi) The word Sushi refers to rice and not fish. "Sushi" conveys the precise way that the ...

In this Blog today I am going to share about The Castella Cake, its texture, ingredients and different flavors of it.    Castella Cake has been in Japan since the 16th century when Portuguese missionaries arrived in Nagasaki. The delectable sponge-like cake made its way to Mainland Japan and flourished with exciting variations, flavors and shapes. Castella known as Kasutera in Japanese ( カステラ) was introduced by the Portuguese on the Northwest Coast of Kyushu Island.  (Castella Cake or Wagashi) Japanese's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the doors between Japan and Portugal first opened in 1543 after three Portuguese Merchants found themselves in Southern Japan after being blown off course. For just over a hundred years and until 1693, when Japan's government opted to close itself off to outside world, the two saw a plenty of exchanges involving trade and religion. Although castella cakes have undergone many changes since their introduction to Japan, they have relatively m...

  WHAT IS AN UDON? Although not as popular as  ramen ,   udon  is slowly gaining recognition not just in Japan, but all over the world. It's the ultimate noodle comfort food which can be served and prepared in many ways. Udon are chewy noodles made from wheat flour, water, and salt, typically served in a simple dashi-based broth. They’re thicker than buckwheat soba noodles—typically two to four millimeters—and can be either flat or rounded. Udon dough can be difficult to knead, and some swear by stomping on the dough to relax it. So before we get more into Udon’s , let me introduce myself. Hi my name Tanaya Patil.   In Japan, there are two main styles of Udon: Kanto, which comes from the Tokyo area, and Kansai, from the Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe areas. Those from the Osaka area differ from those from the capital in texture and colour: they are whiter and softer. However, beyond regional styles, there are also different types of noodles depending o...