Menu Japonais

Simple Miso Soup

Serves 4 / Prep/Cook 10 mins

800ml instant dashi or water

3 tbsp white miso paste

100g firm tofu, cut into cubes

Large pinch of dried wakame,soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, then drained

2 spring onions, sliced

1.      Bring the stock to a simmer. Put the miso in a cup or small bowl and mix in a tablespoon of the hot stock to soften it slightly and make a smooth liquid paste. Stir the paste into the stock until it dissolved.

2.      Put the tofu and wakame in the bottom of the 4 serving bowls and pour over the hot soup. Sprinkle with the spring onions.

Itsu’s special salad

Serves 2 /Prep/cook 15mins

25g thing glass noodles

100g edamame beans

Large pinch of dried wakame

2 carrots, shaved into strips

20g mixture of coriander,basil and mint, chopped

20g rocket leaves

10g pumpkin seeds

2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

100g firm tofu, cut into cubes

2 tbsp spicy sauce (see recipe below)

1.      Put the noodles in a bowl and cover with boiling water for 3-5 minutes or according to packet instructions.  Drain, then set aside.

2.      Cook the edamame beans in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold water

3.      Put the noodles into a bowl, add the wakame, carrots, herbs, rockets, seeds and tofu and beans and toss together. 

4.      Serve the salad with the spicy sauce.

Spicy Sauce

120g silken tofu

3 tsp tahini paste

3 tsp sriracha chili sauce or 1 hot red thai chili chopped

2 tbsp lemon juice

3 tsp sugar or sugar alternative

1 cloves garlic

1.5 tsp black pepper

½ tsp salt

1 tbsp water

1 tbsp light oil, such as groundnut or grapeseed

Put all the ingredients into a blender and whizz to make a smooth sauce. Use the sauce immediately or store in a screw-top jar in the fridge until needed.  Will keep up to 2 weeks.

Crisp salad with sesame dressing

Serves 2 / Prep 10 mins

100g mixed salad leaves

1 carrot, grated or cut into fine sticks

1 red or green pepper, deseeded and sliced

1 celery stick, sliced

Small handful of radishes, halved

3 tbsp sesame sauce (see recipe below)

1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted to serve (optional)

Put all the ingredients (apart from the sauce and seeds) into a bowl.  Add the sesame sauce and mix well.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Sesame sauce 

4 tbsp mirin sauce

3 tbsp tahini sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp sugar or sugar alternative

1 small clove garlic, grated or crushed (optional)

1 tbsp water

Put all ingredients into a bowl and stir well to make a smooth sauce.