
Chicken Namban-Zuke Ideal for Humid Days; Recipe Uses Ume Plum for Refreshing Taste
When people in Japan think of nambanzuke, a fried and marinated dish, they typically think of deep-fried aji mackerel. For Murata, it is as basic dish as nikujaga meat and potatoes.
As a change for this dish, Murata uses grilled chicken thighs. 'You can deep-fry it, of course, but grilling makes it even more refreshing. It's also easier to prepare, so I recommend it,' he said. If you choose chicken tenderloin or chicken breast, the flavor will be even lighter.
Season the chicken with salt and black pepper, then coat it with rice flour. This results in a lighter texture than using wheat flour or potato starch.
It is a small touch that enhances the 'refreshing' feel. Once in the pan, brown the skin thoroughly. It will improve the appearance and the savory aroma it produces will also improve the flavor.
You can also use a wide variety of vegetables. This time, Murata used onions and myoga ginger, but you could also add bell peppers, carrots or cucumbers.
Letting your creativity guide the final colors of the dish can make cooking even more enjoyable, beyond just taste and texture.
For the sauce, in addition to vinegar and other ingredients, pickled ume plum paste is also added.
Simply combine the chicken, vegetables and sauce in a bowl. For more richness, add the flavorful fat and juices that are produced from grilling the chicken.
For the flavors to meld, it is best to let the dish sit for about an hour. However, since the chicken is already seasoned, the dish is delicious even when eaten immediately after mixing.
The onions and myoga retain a delightful crispness, giving the dish an almost salad-like quality. The plum paste, which appears occasionally, also provides a tangy note.
'It is also delicious when left in the refrigerator overnight,' Murata said. You can prepare it quickly and then let time work in your favor. I realized that part of nambanzuke's appeal is enjoying these changes in flavor.
Chicken nambanzuke with pickled ume plum
Ingredients (serves 2-3):
300 grams chicken thigh
1/2 onion
2 myoga ginger buds
10 grams ginger
5 green shiso leaves
1 heaping tbsp rice flour
4 tbsp dashi stock
2 pickled ume plums
1/2 dried chili pepperDirections:
1. Thinly slice the onion and finely chop the myoga. Cut the ginger and shiso into thin strips and place all in a bowl.
2. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and place them on a tray. Sprinkle with two pinches of salt and black pepper each then let them absorb the flavors. Then, coat them thoroughly with rice flour.
3. Prepare the sauce. In a separate bowl, mix together dashi stock, 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 1 1/2 tablespoons of mirin, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Remove the pits from the ume plums, chop them into a coarse paste, and add it to the bowl. Mix well, then add the dried chili pepper.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a frying pan. Place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down, and cook for 6 minutes. Once browned, flip it over and cook for an additional 3 minutes 30 seconds.
5. Pour the sauce into the bowl containing the ingredients from Step 1 and mix lightly. Add the grilled chicken and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for about an hour. Serve on a plate.
The Yomiuri ShimbunDust the chicken all over with rice flour.The Yomiuri ShimbunMix the pickled plum paste into the seasoning mixture.The Yomiuri ShimbunPlace the chicken in the pan, skin-side down, and cook.The Yomiuri ShimbunToss the grilled chicken with the nambanzuke sauce.

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Japan Today
4 hours ago
- Japan Today
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Okada realized her own culpability in the war, however, when she later learned that six people, including children, had been killed by a balloon bomb in western Oregon in May 1945 -- the only known casualties in the continental United States from an enemy attack during the war. After the war, Okada studied at a fine arts college run by Kyoto city. She returned to her hometown of Mihara, where she taught art at a local high school until her mid-50s, before devoting herself to painting privately and peace work. She suffered physical after-effects from her time in Hiroshima shortly after the bombing and from chronic bronchitis caused by her stint on Okunoshima. However, treatment allowed her to overcome her ailments. After the war, Okada also learned that poison gas weapons had wreaked havoc in China. In 1989, after retiring from teaching, she published a book of pictures documenting her war experiences and sent it to Chinese war victims to express her remorse and apologies. Since then, she has continued her anti-war campaigning through her drawing and writing. According to the U.S. military's post-war records, Japan produced 6,616 tons of poison gas that was used in over 7 million ammunition rounds, including artillery shells. Some of the poison gas munitions transported to China went unused and were left abandoned, causing problems when they were later found or unearthed. The Japanese government confirmed the "existence of abandoned chemical weapons" in a memorandum to the Chinese government in 1999. Currently, the total number of chemical weapon munitions left behind is estimated at more than 100,000. Japan and China are working together to dispose of them. Okada believes Japanese people "should accept causing a war as our responsibility, face it, reflect on it, apologize for it, make amends for it and ensure that it leads to friendship and peace." With various conflicts raging around the world, "we don't know when Japan will go to war," she said. "Each and every one of us must not be deceived, and we must all work together to prevent war. "Nationalism is the doctrine that must be feared the most." © KYODO


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