NISHIME
Japanese Root Vegetable Stew
Yield: 6-8 servings
Cook Time: ~1 hour
Nishime is a Japanese stew of simmered root vegetables with an optional protein. It is simmered until most of the water is evaporated, producing a reduced sauce with lots of umami, sweet, and salty flavors.
Ingredients
1/2 lb protein of choice*
2 strips nishime kombu
6 fresh or dried shiitake mushrooms**
2 cups araimo (dasheen)
1 block konnyaku (yam cake)
1 cup fresh daikon (winter radish)
1 cup fresh takenoko (bamboo shoots)***
1 cup fresh carrots
1 cup fresh gobo (burdock root)
1 cup fresh renkon (lotus root)***
2 tbsp oil
2-4 cups water
3/4 cup shoyu (soy sauce)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp fresh grated shoga (ginger)
1 tsp salt
Optional: cornstarch
*Such as fried tofu, chicken wings, or pork.
**If dried, soak in water 10 min before using. Add to pot in Step 4, along with konbu knots.
*** Can also use frozen or canned.
Instructions
1. Soak konbu in water for 10 minutes. If strips are wider than 3 inches, cut down the center. After 10 minutes, tie knots 2 inches apart. Cut between knots.
2. Cut konnyaku into 1/4-inch slices. Peel and cut daikon into 1-inch pieces. Peel and cut carrots into 1-inch pieces. Peel and slice renkon into 1/4-inch slices. Peel and cut takenoko into 1-inch pieces. Peel and cut araimo into 1-inch pieces. (To avoid itchy skin when peeling and cutting, wear gloves, or substitute with potatoes.) Peel and cut gobo into 1/4-inch diagonal slices. Soak gobo slices in water until ready to cook.
3. In a large soup pot, fry protein in oil until browned.
4. Add konbu knots and 2 cups of water. Simmer 10 minutes covered.
5. Add shoyu, sugar, shoga, and salt. Simmer 5 minutes covered.
6. Add daikon, carrots, gobo, renkon, and takenoko. Simmer 15 minutes covered. Watch the water level. You may need to add more water to give the ingredients liquid to simmer in.
7. Add araimo and konnyaku. Simmer 15 minutes covered. Check flavor. Add shoyu, sugar, or salt, if needed.
8. Optional: mix 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water to make a cornstarch slurry, add and mix gently. Simmer for 1 minute. Broth will turn shiny, thicken, and start to coat the ingredients.
10. Add shiitake mushrooms. Simmer 5 to 15 minutes covered.
Oral Traditions
© 2020 Happy Family Night Market LLC
http://recipes.happyfamilymkt.com/nishime-japanese-root-vegetable-stew
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© 2020 Happy Family Night Market LLC