Root Vegetables!

[slow 0]

Now, green vegetables are very expensive and I'm eating root vegetables more this fall. Gobo, Ninjin, Renkon, Daikon, Satoimo... So, I'm cooking Japanese food now much more often than before. "Chikuzen-ni" is my favorite and I'll try "Buri-Daikon" or "Daikon pot-au-feu" this winter!

What can you make with root vegetables? Is there any your favorite recipe?

[Oyuki kigan 0]

There is a really good one, just shredded carrot and Gobo. Its pan-fried with some soy sauce, sake, sugar, and a little bit of roasted sesame seeds on top. You can add a little age too. i forget the name, though.

[kintaro 0]

i believe that would be kinpira gobo. Tasty!

[Ocean11 0]

slow, now is a good season for growing leaf vegetables. You could probably grow your own in a planter on a balcony.

[nagoid 4]

kinpira gobo - like it.

[big-will 7]

Whats that veg called that looks kinda similar to a daikon but when you cut it there are holes running through it. Someone help out!

[Ocean11 0]

Rotten daikon?

 

Or perhaps renkon - lotus root? That's quite a texture sensation isn't it?

[big-will 7]

Yes that might be it - whats the Japanese word for that?

[NoFakie 45]

gobo - kimpira

carrots - carrot/coriander soup

daikon - oden-style nikomi

renkon - fill the holes with something spicy and deep fry kushikatsu style

potatoes - anyone one of a million, parboil then fry with herbs perhaps

onions - slowbake whole

[powwwers 0]

ROOT VEGETABLES! ??? gee, there`s some sikos on this forum

[7-11 2]

 Quote:

onions - slowbake whole

....with a creamy cheese sauce on top. Yummy-jummy.

[Oyuki kigan 0]

I'll let you in on a secret.

There is a cookbook out there written by some Zen nuns from Tokyo, and the whole thing is completely vegan. And for the most part, contains traditional (and some esoteric) recipes. The thing is useless to me in Canada, because all the ingredients are seasonal vegetables from Japan, except a few like potatoes and carrots.

Anyways, it is the best japanese cookbook i've ever had and it has lots of great root-based recipes, like anko-stuffed lotus root, simmered potatoes and wakame, and carrot tsukemono.

Its called "Zen Vegetarian Cooking", and i think its published by Kodansha. I bought my copy about 7 years ago at the Narita airpot (as i was leaving the country), but i've seen it in the larger bookstores over there (in the English section).

Get it. Now.

[mattlucas 0]

Mashed potatoes has always been a big favorite of mine

[veronica 2]

With lots of butter and milk added to make them real creamy.

[sunrise 0]

nice looking book. I might check it out sometime. I like the sound of lotus-root with anko.

 

I tried to look inside the book (on Amazon), and instead it gave me the inside of Anatomy for Dummies. Maybe it's trying to tell me something?

[Oyuki kigan 0]

The anko-stuffed lotus root is a temple dish, not something you would find at someones home. The only time i made it was for New Years. i brought it over to a Japanese family's house, but they had never seen it before.

I think it came from China. The lotus is simmered in vinegar, and then stuffed with anko, giving it a kinda sweet 'n sour feel. Its really good though.

[slow 0]

anko, you mean sweet beans?

I never tried anko-stuffed lotus root. Sounds very interesting.

Is your cooking book this?

[Oyuki kigan 0]

Hell yeah

[sunrise 0]

That looked like the one. But I wouldn't add sugar to the anko (if that's what they do for the sweet/sour taste). Still, it sounds great. When I get my act together to be cooking regularly again I'll think about checking out that book.

[Oyuki kigan 0]

Yes, the anko is sweet, but the vinegar taste is not that strong. It is a little wierd at first (especially 'cause of the textures), but its quite good.