Meera Sodha's vegan recipe for sweetcorn hiyashi
If you have fresh corn cobs, boil them for five minutes, then drain, cool in cold water and slice the kernels off the cob.
Prep 10 minCook 35 min
Serves 4
8 spring onions (100g), trimmed and washed thoroughly8 tbsp good-quality neutral oil – I like rapeseed oil2½ tsp light soy sauce, plus 1 tbsp extra for the sweetcorn sauce2 tsp white-wine vinegar
200g sweetcorn kernels, fresh (see introduction) or frozen1½ tbsp white miso1 garlic clove, peeled2cm x 2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped300g dried ramen or soba noodles
½ large cucumber (180g), cut in half widthways, then finely shredded100g cherry tomatoes, halved250g smoked tofu, cut into batons20g basil leaves, roughly torn
Put the spring onions on a board and chop, chop, chop the greens and whites, running the knife over them over and over again to turn them into tiny fragments. Scrape the chopped onions into a bowl, add four tablespoons of the oil, two and a half teaspoons of soy sauce and the white-wine vinegar, then put to one side.
Put three quarters (150g) of the sweetcorn kernels in a blender, add the miso, garlic, ginger, the extra tablespoon of soy sauce, the remaining four tablespoons of oil and 100ml water, and blitz: you'll need to blend it for quite a while to break down the fibre of the sweetcorn.
Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions, then drain and rinse under the cold tap until cool. Drain really well, then put in a bowl, add the spring onion mix and toss very well to coat.
Distribute the noodles between four plates or shallow bowls. Spoon a quarter of the sweetcorn sauce to one side of each portion, and next to it arrange a quarter of the cucumber, tomatoes, smoked tofu and the reserved whole corn kernels. Scatter over the torn basil leaves and eat.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
South Korea air crash: Inside the final minutes of Jeju Air flight
July 27 (Reuters) - South Korea is investigating the crash of a Jeju Air ( opens new tab Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737-800 jet on December 29 at Muan International Airport that killed 179 people, in the deadliest air disaster on the country's soil. The following are the final minutes of Flight 7C2216 gathered from a preliminary investigation report in January, South Korea's transport ministry and fire authorities, and a July 19 update from investigators seen by Reuters. All times are Korea Standard Time (GMT+9). 8:54:43 a.m. - Jeju Air 7C2216 contacts Muan airport air traffic control as it makes the final approach and is given clearance to land on runway 01, which is orientated at 10 degrees north-east. 8:57:50 a.m. - Air traffic control gives "caution - bird activity" advisory. 8:58:11 a.m. - Jeju Air pilots are heard talking about spotting a flock of birds under the aircraft. 8:58:26 a.m. - The aircraft aborts the landing attempt and then strikes birds while starting to circle back for another landing attempt known as a go-around. Both engines continued to operate with vibrations. The right engine also experienced a surge, emitting large flames and thick black smoke. 8:58:45 a.m. - Pilots stop the left engine while performing emergency procedures. The July 19 update said the evidence for this came from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), flight data recorder (FDR) and inspection of the engines. 8:58:50 a.m. - The aircraft's FDR and CVR stop recording. At the moment both "black boxes" stop recording, the aircraft is flying at the speed of 161 knots (298 kph or 185 mph) at an altitude of 498 ft (152 m). 8:58:56 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 pilot makes emergency Mayday declaration related to a bird strike during the go-around. 9:00 a.m. - During the go-around, Flight 7C2216 requests clearance to land on runway 19, which is by approach from the opposite end of the airport's single runway. 9:01 a.m. - Air traffic control authorises landing on runway 19. 9:02 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 makes contact with runway at about the 1,200 m (3,937 ft) point of the 2,800 m (9,186 ft) runway. Landing gear was not lowered and the plane lands on its belly. 9:02:34 a.m. - Air traffic control alerts "crash bell" at airport fire rescue unit. 9:02:55 a.m. - Airport fire rescue unit completes deploying fire rescue equipment. 9:02:57 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 crashes into embankment after over-shooting the runway. 9:10 a.m. - The Transport Ministry receives an accident report from airport authorities. 9:23 a.m. - One male rescued and transported to a temporary medical facility. 9:38 a.m. - Muan airport is closed. 9:50 a.m. - Rescue completed of a second person from inside tail section of the plane.
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘So caring': man mourns wife and children killed buying snacks amid Thailand-Cambodia clashes
It was Thursday morning, and Komsan Prachan's two children would normally have been in school. Instead, their village in north-eastern Thailand had been put on high alert. Fighting had broken out on the country's disputed border with Cambodia. Local officials cancelled classes and sent messages over loudspeakers telling residents to prepare to evacuate. Komsan and his wife, Rungrat, went to fetch eight-year-old Pongsapak and 14-year-old Taksatorn from school. They were heading home to collect the children's grandparents when they stopped briefly at a petrol station in Sisaket province. Rungrat nipped into the shop with the children to get some snacks, while Komsan waited in the car. It was then that a rocket hit. Rungrat, Taksatorn and Pongsapak were among eight people killed. 'My wife is like the other half of my life,' said Komsan. The couple had grown up together, had attended the same school, and fell in love when they both went to work in Bangkok. 'She is so caring. She would always ask me and everyone if they were OK, had they had enough sleep, had they eaten?' Across Thailand 20 people have been killed, including 13 civilians and seven soldiers. In Cambodia, 13 people have been killed, including five soldiers and eight civilians. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas in both countries. At a temple in the Non Khun district in Sisaket, government officials visited communities who had left their homes, telling them over a microphone to put their safety first. They offered condolences to families whose relatives had been killed, and announced in a small ceremony that they would be given compensation – though recognised no amount of money would make up for what had been lost. Communities in border areas have lived through clashes in 2008 and 2011. But residents say it was never this bad. 'This time it just keeps on going,' said Prasit Saopa, a 52-year-old farmer, who sat outside the temple. He did not bring any belongings when he fled his home, because the family assumed they would only have to evacuate for a short time, as was the case in the past. He risked going home on Friday to collect emergency supplies, stopping in a bunker along the way for cover. It was like a ghost town, he says – except for the sound of booming artillery. Prasit's village has not been hit, but about 20 rubber trees in a nearby field have been damaged, and a home in the adjacent village about 500 metres away. He said he wanted the Thai military to take a tough stance and 'clear out' the Cambodian soldiers from the border area. He did not have a problem with Cambodian people, he added. 'Cambodian people – we are just friends, they are normal, good people. The problem is Hun Sen,' he said, referring to the powerful authoritarian former leader who was the prime minister of Cambodia for almost 40 years, and whose son Hun Manet is now in office. On Saturday, Donald Trump said Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to 'immediately meet' to work out a ceasefire, after speaking with both sides. The US would not negotiate a trade deal with either side until the fighting stopped, he said. The following day clashes continued regardless. Both Thailand and Cambodia are facing the prospect of a 36% US tariff from 1 August. Both sides have blamed each other for opening fire. The latest tensions are compounded by an acrimonious feud between Hun Sen and the former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whose daughter Paetongtarn is the prime minister. Last month, Hun Sen leaked a recording of a phone conversation between himself and Paetongtarn. It caused uproar in Thailand, where she was accused of kowtowing to Cambodia, and she was suspended from office by the constitutional court. It is unclear why Hun Sen decided to leak the phone call, but analysts say the personal feud between the men has created an additional level of volatility. Thaksin has denied that the clashes are driven by their personal issues – a criticism made by many Thais on social media. He said last week the Thai military should teach Hun Sen a lesson, as the two politicians traded insults online. 'I want to go back to how it used to be,' said Duan Ounjit, 50. The men in her family stayed behind to watch their houses, and said on Saturday the fighting was continuing. The rest of the family, 15 in total, were evacuated last week. Beside Duan, covered in blankets, lies her niece's one-month-old baby, Arm. Duan isn't optimistic they will return any time soon. The family's rice fields, which need to be fertilised, are likely to be ruined, she said. For Komsan, the cost of the fighting is incalculable. He was able to recover his daughter, but doctors were unable to save her. Emergency workers later recovered the body of a woman hugging her young child, believed to be Rungrat and Pongsapak. Taksatorn was such a good child, he said, always helping at home with the cleaning and cooking, and listening to her parents. 'If you asked her for help, she would always say yes,' he said. Pongsapak was always fun and jolly. 'Whenever he went there would be joy and smiles,' said Komsan. 'Nothing can ever replace their lives.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
‘Astonishingly good value' – the best supermarket tofu, tasted and rated
This test helped me realise just how much I truly love tofu, even cold. Like all deceptively simple products, such as wine, coffee and chocolate, tofu's character is rooted in its terroir: the soil, biodiversity, climate, plant species and production process. Most tofu is made by curdling soy milk with nigari, a coagulant made from magnesium chloride, which is naturally derived from seawater. It's an ancient method still used across Japan and south-east Asia. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. To keep things fair, I tasted each tofu cold, straight from the packet, then boiled and fried (without pressing or seasoning) each one to observe its flavour, structure and performance. Boiling showed that all the tofus held their shape, while frying brought out major differences in colouring, crust and bite: some crisped up beautifully, others stayed soft and chewy, so if you mainly fry your tofu, that's worth bearing in mind. It's also worth noting that organic tofus are GMO-free by definition. 89p for 180g at Aldi (49p/100g)★★★★★ A small, beige block with rounded edges and a sweet, familiar soya aroma. It's a super-firm tofu with a dense, satisfying bite that holds up brilliantly to cooking, especially frying. Made with 57% EU-grown organic soya, it's very high in protein (14g a serving) and astonishingly good value. A real standout. £1.34 for 300g at Sainsbury's (45p/100g)★★★★☆ A great blank canvas with a subtle aroma and gentle, sweet taste. Firm but moist, and transformed by frying to a golden-crusted, deep flavour. Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it's high in protein and excellent value. Though a little lower in soya content, it delivers fantastic performance in the pan and at an incredible price. £2.90 for 396g at Ocado (73p/100g)£3 for 396g at Waitrose (76p/100g)★★★★★ Distinctively marbled and off-white/grey, this has a subtle aroma and a clean, complex flavour. Very firm and reacts well to frying, forming a satisfyingly thick crust. Made with 35.8% organic soya, using a mix of EU and non-EU beans, it's high in protein and has strong sustainability credentials. A well-rounded option that's a very close runner-up to the best overall. £2.30 for 280g at Sainsbury's (82p/100g)£2.30 for 280g at Tesco (82p/100g)★★★★☆ An irregularly marbled block with a deep umami, almost smoky aroma and a lovely firm bounce. One of the densest, less traditional tofus tested, with a chewy bite. When fried, it forms a good golden crust with loads of flavour. Made in Yorkshire using organic soya from EU and non-EU farms. Great Taste Award-winning, very high in protein (16.5g per 100g) and a bold, characterful choice. £2.50 for 300g at Ocado (83p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, subtle aroma, a soft bite and a gentle soya flavour. Holding its shape and forming a delicate, uniform golden crust when fried, this has one of the best textures in the whole test group. Made from organic, non-EU soya, it has 34% soya content and a respectable protein level. Strikes a solid balance between taste and texture. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £2 for 300g at Morrisons (67p/100g)£2.55 for 300g at Ocado (85p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, neutral aroma, a soft bite and a creamy mouthfeel. Flavourful and pleasantly sweet, it's perfectly crunchy and delicious when fried, with a consistent golden crust – perhaps the best overall for frying. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's been handmade in Devon since 1984 and holds a Taste of the West Gold award. £1.95 for 399g at Tesco (49p/100g)★★★☆☆ A uniform, cream block with a sweet, clean smell and a gentle flavour. Its soft texture makes it satisfying to eat raw, though it doesn't crisp up easily when fried, hence the lower score (instead, it develops a chewy, caramelised edge with a spongy interior). Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it's a good source of protein and exceptional value for organic tofu. £1.95 for 300g at Waitrose (65p/100g)★★★☆☆ A gentle, savoury aroma and a soft bite with a slight sweetness. The texture is on the delicate side, especially when boiled, and it doesn't fry especially well (pressing first will help). Made with 34% organic, non-EU-grown soya, it's certified organic, but lacks firmness. Decent value, but there are more versatile options at a lower price point. £3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)★★★☆☆ A white block with a soft bite, this has a sweet, subtle aroma and a clean soya taste. Despite being one of the softest in the test, it crisps up surprisingly well when fried, forming a light but satisfying crust. However, it's the only non-organic product tested, and made with just 16% soya – far lower than the others. Limited provenance or sustainability information, so with such strong competition, it offers less value for money. £5 for 500g at Ocado (£1/100g)£29.94 for 6 x 500g at Amazon (£1/100g)★★★☆☆ An irregular, mottled, off-white block that looks hand-shaped, and that's full of bubbles. One of the firmest to bite with a complex, soya-forward flavour. Fries very well, forming a great crust. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's the only product tested with a fully reusable and recyclable container. Owned by Windmill Organics, a great company committed to organic farming, which earns it a bonus point.
