Yeah, tofu can be really bland, but the Japanese use deep-fried tofu as an appetizer, especially in bars (izakaya). It’s popular and really good. It’s popularity is on the par with Japanese deep-fried chicken. Here’s the thing: this is so easy to make, and takes so few ingredients that it’s surprising that more non-Japanese restaurants…
Asian Meatballs: no fish included
Have you grown weary of Italian meatballs? These tasty Asian meatballs are based on ground pork. There’s no fish (or even fish sauce) in them. Rather, they are a blend of flavors that are easily created and eaten even quicker. They go well with white rice, however you want your rice, or fried noodles. What…
Shiso
Now here’s a flavorful and versatile herb that’s used in Japan for many types of foods. Called “Perilla” in the US, it can be found in many Asian grocery stores. I prefer the green shiso, over the red variety, but they are both good. Fresh leaves (chopped up) can be added to salads, served over…