These kakimochi (mochi crunch/arare/rice crackers) chocolate chip cookies are a fun and tasty way to share a unique, local-style cookie with family and friends. They are crunchy and chocolatey in the best way. I love how cute they look with the mochi crunch topping. A sprinkling of furikake makes the perfect finishing touch.
There are numerous shapes and sizes of kakimochi. The sakura shape above works perfectly as they are not too large.
Once all the ingredients are combined, chill the dough for an hour in the refrigerator so it firms up a bit and doesn’t spread too much when baking.
Each dough ball is topped with a piece of kakimochi before baking. Sprinkle some of the dough balls with furikake.
Once the cookies are done baking, leave them on the cookie sheet for a minute so they firm up just a bit. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before packing them up for gifts.
1/2 cup (113g) room temperature Earth Balance Buttery Sticks or unsalted butter
1/2 cup (99g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (107g) packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (105g or 3.75 ounces) kakimochi (Tomoe brand recommended) + extra for topping cookies (about 36 pieces)
1 cup (170g) chocolate chips
Furikake (Mishima Nori Komi Furikake recommended) for sprinkling on cookies
Directions
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Using a hand mixer cream Buttery Sticks or butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture and and mix well with a firm spatula. Stir in kakimochi and chocolate chips. Cover bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (keep remaining dough in the refrigerator until ready to use). Press a kakimochi on top of the dough ball and sprinkle with furikake if using. Bake for about 12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until cookies are lightly browned. Let cookies rest on pan for one minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
Kinpira gobo is a traditional Japanese side dish that will enhance any Japanese-style meal. Serve it for breakfast with a bowl of steaming Japanese rice, pack it in a bento box with musubi for lunch, or serve it for dinner along with tofu for a delicious vegetarian meal.
If you’re not familiar with gobo (burdock root) you might not even take notice of it. Gobo is rather homely looking, however, don’t let that stop you from picking up a few pieces to take home. Once it has been cleaned and sliced thinly, its potential is revealed and you are on your way to a truly delicious meal.
Here on Maui gobo can be found at Foodland Kahului, Island Grocery Kahului, TJ’s Wailuku, and Times market in Kihei. Look for slender roots about 1-inch in diameter. These will be less fibrous and tough than the thicker pieces. Sometimes it can be hit or miss. Check the condition of the gobo. It should be firm like a carrot. If it’s not, then try again the following week or ask your grocer when they expect a new delivery.
Have a bowl of cool water ready when slicing the gobo. Burdock oxidizes quickly and the water helps to keep it from turning gray. The water also reduces some of the pungent flavor of the gobo. Change the water once or twice as it becomes darker. When all of the gobo has been sliced, drain in a colander and transfer to a clean dish towel or paper towels and pat dry. You want to avoid water hitting the hot oil when you begin to fry the gobo.
A short list of sauce ingredients makes this an easy dish to prepare. The Shichimi Togarashi is optional. I use it to add a bit of kick to the finished dish. I used instant dashi but using water is fine since you only need a small amount.
Start by cooking the gobo for a few minutes before adding the julienned carrots. Taste a few pieces to see if the texture is right. It should be firm yet cooked enough so that it isn’t tough and difficult to chew. Keep in mind that it will continue to cook a few more minutes when the carrots are added.
Once the gobo and carrots are the right texture, add the sauce and cook until the liquid is nearly gone.
Transfer kinpira gobo to a serving bowl, sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds and shichimi togarashi for a spicy kick.
Though kinpira gobo is considered a side dish, it can become a main dish simply served with a bowl of rice. The flavor is so delicious and the crunchy texture is delightful.
1/4 cup prepared instant dashi or water (vegetarian version)
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon sake
1 tablespoon mirin
roasted sesame seeds
shichimi togarashi (optional)
Directions
Rinse the gobo and remove a light layer of the skin with the back of a knife. Avoid using a peeler as this will remove too much of the edible part of the root.
Thinly slice gobo on a sharp diagonal (if cut too thick the gobo will be difficult to chew). Stack a few pieces together and slice thinly into 2-inch strips. Place strips in water as you slice them. Change water once or twice as it darkens.
Julienne carrot into similar size as the gobo. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together the dashi or water, soy sauce, sugar, sake and mirin. Set aside.
Heat a scant tablespoon of canola oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the gobo (be sure it is dry so the oil does not splatter). Stir fry for a few 2-3 minutes adjusting the heat to medium-high if needed. Gobo is very fibrous and should be stir fried until it is just tender and crispy but not tough. Taste a few pieces to ensure you have the correct texture. Add julienned carrots to the pan and stir fry with the gobo until al dente, about 2 minutes.
Turn heat down to medium if using a higher heat to stir fry the vegetables. Pour in sauce and continue to stir until the liquid is nearly gone (the pan should not be dry).
Transfer kinpira gobo to a serving bowl. Sprinkle roasted sesame seeds over the top. Serve with shichimi togarashi for a spicy kick.
I can’t think of a more refreshing and satisfying combination than crisp vegetables served over ramen, drizzled with a tangy dressing. Although we usually think of ramen served in a steaming hot broth, it can also be used in cold or room temperature dishes like this one. The colorful vegetables are served on a bed of toothsome noodles that make for a delightful lunch.
All the vegetables for this dish as well as the dressing can be prepared the night before you plan to serve it (except for the avocado). If you can’t find fresh ramen you may use dried noodles. I used fresh Sun Noodle ramen this time, however, Hakubaku brand dried ramen is a good choice if fresh is not available. If you prefer a wavy noodle, you might choose Ichiban dried ramen. Just be careful not to overcook the noodles so they retain their chewy texture. The noodles are best cooked just before serving.
There are lots of options for the salad toppings. I used cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, and avocado. Other good choices would be watercress, summer squash, green onions. Make your dish colorful.
The dressing for this salad uses ingredients that are not difficult to find at your local market. The fresh lime juice makes this dressing pop!
This is a one bowl meal that really hits the spot especially this time of the year when temperatures are soaring.
A refreshing ramen salad perfect for a summer meal
Ingredients
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon roasted sesame oil
10 ounces fresh or 6 ounces dried ramen noodles
2-3 cups shredded or julienned vegetables (radishes, iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, cucumber, summer squash, carrots, scallions, avocado
Directions
Combine seasoned rice vinegar through sesame oil in a jar. Shake and set aside.
Cook noodles according to package directions until just al dente. Immediately drain the noodles in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Transfer to a medium bowl, toss with half of the dressing.
Divide the noodles between bowls. Arrange vegetables over the ramen and serve with remaining dressing.
This ramen dish is one of our new favorites. It has tons of umami flavor that makes this dish a real stand out. The chili crisp adds a nice hint of heat and is used in the sauce and later spooned over the noodles before serving. This happens to be a vegan recipe which means that everyone can try it out. Surprise! The tofu is not bland, watery or tasteless in this dish. Even non-vegans will find it delicious.
I highly recommend the TofuXpress tofu press for those of you who eat and cook tofu often. In fact even if you cook with tofu occasionally, this handy kitchen gadget is a dream come true. You may shy away from buying it because of the price (online from $42.95) but just go for it. I have had mine for more than 10 years and never regret purchasing it. The water is pressed out of the tofu quickly so that your tofu is ready to use in 15-30 minutes. For this dish I suggest using extra firm tofu such as WildWood Organic.
Once the water is pressed out, the tofu is crumbled into small pieces before pan frying until crisp.
I prefer to use fresh ramen noodles, however, I use dried ramen when fresh is not available. If using the dried version such as Ichiban, be sure to undercook the noodles until just al dente since they are quite a bit thinner than fresh noodles.
Shiitake mushrooms are a big star in this recipe. They are chopped finely and pan fried with the diced shallots until nicely browned before being added to the fried tofu.
I purchased three different brands of chili crisp to see which one I liked best. There are hundreds of versions available. Of the three I purchased, my favorite is Zindrew (O.G. Batch jar). It’s on the mild heat side, but it has lots of flavor, is very crunchy, and is the least oily. There’s just a tablespoon of it left in the jar!
The crumbled tofu is pan fried until crisp on both sides. The texture of the fried tofu is pleasantly firm with a bit of chew to it.
Shiitake mushrooms are fried with diced shallots until nicely browned. These mushrooms works so well with this dish because they have a meaty texture and do not have as much water as other types of mushrooms.
The sauce is added to the tofu and mushroom mixture and quickly heated before serving. The original recipe from Bon Appetit calls this dish Saucy Tofu Noodles with Cucumbers and Chili Crisp. I found that in order to keep this “saucy” the sauce should be heated separately otherwise the tofu and mushroom mixture absorbs the sauce very quickly. Either way, it’s just delicious.
Thinly sliced quick cucumber pickles are the topping for this ramen dish. Their tartness and crisp texture are a perfect accompaniment to the savory tofu ramen.
1 14-ounce block extra-firm tofu, water pressed out
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
6 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and finely chopped
1 shallot (2 tablespoons) finely chopped
1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 medium or 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
10 ounces fresh ramen (12 ounces for 4 servings)
Preparation
Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, tahini, sesame oil, black vinegar, 1 tablespoon chili crisp, and ½ cup water in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Toss cucumbers with rice vinegar and 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal or ¾ teaspoon Morton salt in a medium bowl. Let sit, stirring occasionally until cucumbers have slightly softened, about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside in a small bowl.
Meanwhile, press water from tofu using TofuXpress or wrap in a clean kitchen towel (gather ends together) and squeeze with your hands over the sink to extract as much liquid as possible. Crumble drained tofu into a medium bowl (it should resemble cooked ground meat with some larger pieces). Sprinkle with cornstarch and 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal or ½ Morton salt. Toss with your hands to evenly coat tofu.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large (12-inch) non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Arrange tofu crumbles in a single layer, reserve bowl. Cook tofu undisturbed until golden brown underneath, about 4 minutes. Toss and continue cooking until tofu is golden brown and crisp all over, about 3-4 minutes more. Transfer tofu back to reserved bowl.
Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to same skillet and heat to medium high. Add mushrooms and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally until mushrooms are browned and shallot is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and return tofu to the pan. Add reserved sauce and heat for about 30-60 seconds. Remove from heat. For saucier version, heat sauce in a separate skillet over medium until just slightly reduced.
Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain and divide among bowls. Ladle tofu over noodles and top with reserved pickled cucumbers and more chili crisp. If sauce has been heated separately, pour sauce over tofu right before serving.
Recently I started making homemade kimchi and have been in love with it ever since. I’ve always enjoyed kimchi but the store-bought brands available here are not particularly exciting. Homemade kimchi tastes so fresh and has the perfect spiciness level that I crave. Kimchi is wonderful as a side dish that compliments many meals. A regular bowl of rice, kimchi and a fried egg suits me just fine. So this recipe from NY Times Cooking just hits the spot. The surprise ingredient (grated cheddar) makes this dish “out of this world” delicious. Add a sunny side up egg and you will have a truly satisfying meal. Even though you may not make kimchi at home, a good kimchi with a nice level of spiciness will work well.
I love the gorgeous color and flavor of the Korean gochugaru pepper flakes. It adds a subtle heat and a slightly smoky flavor to dishes and is the star of kimchi and other Korean dishes.
This is a relatively simple recipe with very inexpensive ingredients (= the bomb!). We use our homemade sriracha in the sauce but the popular Huy Fong sriracha will work well too.
Kimchi, scallions, garlic and sesame seeds are quickly sautéed before adding the sauce and the cooked ramen.
Using dried instant ramen noodles is very appealing as they are readily available, shelf stable, and cheap. For this recipe you will want cook the ramen for half the time instructed on the package. This will ensure they are not overcooked for the final dish.
Yum! Homemade kimchi will keep well in the refrigerator for months.
Noodles: 7 ounces dried instant noodles such as Sapporo Ichiban instant ramen (2 packets, 3.5 ounce each, discard seasoning packets)
1½ tablespoons canola oil
2 eggs
5 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal (reserve 1 tablespoon for garnish)
½ cup packed kimchi, sliced into thin strips or chopped
1 large garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
1 tablespoon black or white roasted sesame seeds, plus more for serving
½ cup finely grated cheddar cheese
Sauce: 1 tablespoon sriracha (more if you prefer extra spicy and if kimchi is not very spicy)
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon medium dry sherry or shaoxing wine
Preparation
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles and cook until tender but springy. I cooked the Sapporo Ichiban noodles for 1½ minutes instead of 3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water right away to stop the cooking. You may toss the noodles with a splash of canola oil to prevent sticking, or just give them a quick rinse to loosen the noodles before adding back to the pan.
Meanwhile, prepare the sauce: In a small bowl whisk the sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, water and sherry or shaoxing wine. Set aside
Set a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ½ tablespoon canola oil and, once shimmering, crack in the eggs. Reduce heat to medium or medium low and cook until the whites are done and the edges are browned, 2 to 3 minutes. You can cover the pan for 30 seconds or so to help the whites set but only for a short time or the yolks will become cloudy and loose their beautiful bright yellow color. Transfer eggs to a plate.
In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil over medium heat. Add the green onions, kimchi, garlic and sesame seeds and cook for 1 minute stirring frequently. Turn heat up to medium-high and add the drained noodles and most of the sauce. Toss to combine using tongs, for 30 seconds (any longer and the noodles will become too soft). Add more sauce if needed. Stir in the grated cheese until it melts. This will take just a few seconds. Turn off heat. Transfer noodles to serving bowls, top with fried eggs (salt and pepper eggs) and garnish with reserved green onions and extra sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
In the May issue of Food & Wine magazine, Hetty McKinnon (cookbook and food writer) tells the story of her visit to Tokyo and how a simple bowl of udon became life-changing. The noodles were toothsome, served with a perfectly cooked jammy egg, green onions and a bit of flavorful broth. It was served with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper scattered over the top which paired perfectly with the udon. After reading the article, I was determined to prepare this noodle dish. Now, more than a month has gone by and I’ve made it at least three times, and every bowl has been as delightful as the last.
Sun Noodle sells fresh udon at Island Grocery market in Kahului. I will go out of my way to pick up a package of their excellent udon and ramen even if they are the only items I’ll buy that day.
I just love eggs, especially ones with soft yolks. The eggs I made for this dish are boiled for exactly six minutes and 50 seconds. They are quickly transferred to an ice bath to stop the cooking. You can use them as is, or make soy sauce eggs if you have extra time. Either way, the egg turns out perfectly with jammy centers and fully cooked whites.
It’s such a simple recipe with easy to find ingredients. The baby bok choy adds color and crunch, but it is optional. Don’t skip the green onions, egg, and pepper. Sometimes I will sprinkle shichimi togarashi pepper over the noodles to add a bit of spice to the dish. This recipe does not have a lot of broth. If you prefer more, increase that part of the recipe. However, I find that there is just enough to keep the udon hot, and the soup gets slurped up when the bowl is empty of noodles.
½ cup finely sliced green onions, green and white tender stems
freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sesame oil
flaky sea salt for the eggs
shichimi togarashi Japanese pepper, optional
Preparation
Fill a small saucepan with water; bring to a boil over high heat. Gently lower eggs into boiling water. Set timer for 6 minutes and 50 seconds. Once water returns to boiling, lower the heat slightly to maintain a gentle boil. Meanwhile, fill a medium bowl with ice water. Once the eggs have cooked, transfer to the ice water bath immediately. Let cool for a few minutes before peeling.
Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, stir together the vegetable stock, soy sauce, and mirin in a small saucepan. Cook over low, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 6 minutes. Add noodles to boiling water and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain noodles, and divide evenly among 4 bowls.
Pour hot soy sauce broth over each bowl of noodles. Add a tablespoon of butter to each bowl and allow to melt into the noodles and broth. Halve the eggs and top each bowl with 2 egg halves. Sprinkle a bit of flaky sea salt and black pepper over the eggs. Add the green onions and scatter a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper over the noodles. Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil before serving. Serve with shichimi togarashi pepper (optional).
