Smoked trout with oyster mushrooms

For ➋

200 g smoked trout / or trout fillets*

½ bunch chives

piece of ginger / 1-2 ts ginger powder

150 g rice

150 g oyster mushrooms

2.5 tbs sunflower oil

4 tbs soy sauce

½ tbs chili sauce

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Cook the rice according to the package instructions.

Peel the ginger and cut into 3 cm matchsticks. Place the fish on a piece of aluminum foil and distribute the ginger over it. Fold the package closed and place on a baking sheet or rack. Cook the fish for 6 to 8 m in the (preheated) oven.*

Slice the oyster mushrooms.

In the meantime, fry the oyster mushrooms in half of the sunflower oil for approx. 3 m. Mix with half of the soy sauce and the chili sauce and fry for another 1 m.

Finely chop the chives. Place the fish on a plate and scatter the chives over it. Heat the remaining half of the sunflower oil in a small pan until the oil starts to smoke. Pour the hot oil, along with the rest of the soy sauce, over the chives on the fish. Serve the fish with the oyster mushrooms and some rice.

*Or rub the trout fillets with a light seasoning made from ½ tbsp oil and 2 ts ginger powder. Microwave for 1 m in a closed container.

♥︎Sheet-pan salmon & broccoli with sesame & ginger

For ➍
4 tbs toasted sesame oil

2 tbs soy sauce or tamari

1 tbs rice vinegar

1 tbs honey

1 5 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled & finely grated (about 1tbs)

1 garlic clove, finely grated

450 g broccoli, trimmed and cut into florets, thick stems discarded*

2 scallions, trimmed & cut diagonally into 3 cm-inch segments, plus thinly sliced scallions for garnish

1  tbs olive oil, plus more for brushing the salmon

salt & black pepper

4 170 g skin-on salmon fillets

½ lime, for serving

sesame seeds, for serving

Heat the oven to 220°C. In a small bowl, whisk 3 tbs sesame oil with the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger and garlic until smooth. Set the glaze aside

Place the broccoli florets* and 1½-inch scallion segments on a sheet pan. Drizzle with 1  tbs olive oil and the remaining 1tbs sesame oil. Sprinkle with ½  ts salt and ¼  ts black pepper, toss well and roast for 5  m.

While the broccoli and scallions roast, place the salmon fillets on a plate and pat dry with paper towels. Brush all over with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Toss the broccoli and scallions and move to the edges of the pan, clearing spaces in the center for the salmon fillets. Place the salmon fillets, evenly spaced, on the center of the pan. Brush the fillets generously with the glaze.

Return the pan to the oven and roast until the salmon is cooked through but still slightly rare in the center, about 12  m.

Squeeze the lime over the broccoli and sprinkle with salt. Scatter the sliced scallions and sesame seeds over the salmon, and serve hot.

*Boil or microwave the broccoli until semi-soft, ensuring it does not remain hard. Optionally, add the spring onions and oil for 1 m. Then add the fish and fry for 12-15 m.

♥︎Crunchy tofu with paksoi, leek & mushrooms

For ➍ 

400 g tofu 

marinade: 

4 tbs soy sauce 

4 tbs maple syrup 

1 tbs fresh ginger 

2 cloves garlic 

2 ts sesame oil 

2 ts tap water 

2 ts cornflour 

1 ts Sichuan spices 

wok: 

250 g wok noodles 

300 g paksoi 

2 cloves garlic 

2 shallots or 1 (red) onion 

2 spring onions 

1 stalk leek 

250 g mushrooms 

100 g peanuts or cashews 

½ bunch fresh coriander 

4 tbs fried onions optional, to finish [not heart-friendly]

peanut oil 

salt & pepper 

wok sauce: 

2 tbs soy sauce 

2 ts rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar 

2 ts sesame oil 

Cut the block of tofu lengthwise. Place the slices of tofu on a clean kitchen towel. Fold the towel closed and squeeze out the moisture. Place a weight on top and let it drain for a while. In the meantime, finely grate the garlic and ginger. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade in a mixing bowl. Remove the tofu from under the weight and cut into cubes of 2 cm. Mix with the marinade and make sure all the cubes are well covered. Put  in the refrigerator. 

Cook the wok noodles until al dente. Cook for 1 m less than indicated on the packaging (the noodles will continue to cook in the wok for a while). Save a cup of the cooking liquid to finish the sauce later. Finely chop the shallot and garlic. Cut the leek into fine rings, the pak choi into coarser pieces. Cut the mushrooms into strips. Finely chop the peanuts and coriander. Put everything to one side. Heat a generous dash of peanut oil in a (wok) pan on a high heat. Fry the tofu cubes on all sides until golden brown and crispy. Then remove them from the pan and set aside. Reuse the mixing bowl from the tofu marinade and mix all the ingredients for the wok sauce in it. Set aside. Heat a little new oil in the pan in which you fried the tofu on a medium to high heat. Add the shallot and garlic and fry. Then add the leek, pak choi and mushrooms and fry for a few minutes. Then add the cooked wok noodles. Mix well. Finally, add the wok sauce and a cup of the cooking water from the noodles. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Serve the wok together with the fried tofu. Finish with fresh coriander, peanuts and fried onions(optional).

♥︎Smashed Asian cucumber salad

For ➍ 

2 seedless cucumbers (about 600 g) 

1 ts salt 

2½ ts sugar 

2 ts sesame oil 

3 ts light soy sauce 

1½ tbs rice vinegar 

2-4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped) 

1-2 ts chili oil (optional)* 

2 ts toasted sesame seeds 

a small handful of chopped coriander 

Wash the cucumbers and pat them dry with a clean towel. 

Make the salad dressing by combining the salt, sugar, sesame oil, light soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Set aside. 

On a cutting board, lay a large knife flat against the cucumber, and smash it lightly with your other hand. The cucumber should crack open and smash into four sections. Repeat along its full length. Once the whole cucumber is completely open (usually into 4 long sectional pieces), cut it at a 45-degree angle into bite-sized pieces. 

In a large bowl, mix the cut cucumber with the prepared dressing, garlic and chili oil. Toss it well. 

Serve, garnished with sesame seeds and coriander. 

*If you prefer to omit the chili oil, heat up 1 tbs of oil in a pan and drizzle it over the cucumber. 

Easy miso sauce for noodles

For ➍ 

1 heaping tbs white miso paste 

1 tbs plain peanut butter or Chinese sesame paste 

1 tbs toasted sesame oil 

½ tbs chili garlic sauce, adjust according to desired spice 

½ tb soy sauce 

1 ts dark soy sauce, optional for colour 

½ tbs maple syrup or other sweetener like mirin

½ tbs rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar 

1 ts minced garlic 

1 scallion chopped 

Mix everything together. Add to the boiled and drained noodles.

Chicken & pak choi

For ➋
75 g boneless & skinless chicken breast, cut into thin pieces
2 tbs oil
200 g pak choi, sliced into pieces
2.5 cm piece ginger, peeled & sliced into pieces
marinade:
½ tbs soy sauce
½ tbs cornstarch
sauce:
½ tbs oyster sauce
2 tb water
¼ ts sesame oil
3 dashes white pepper
1 ts wine
½ ts sugar

Marinate the chicken with the ingredients in marinade for 10 m. Combine all the ingredients in the sauce in a small bowl, stir to blend well.
Heat ½ tbs oil in a wok until the oil becomes hot. Add the chicken and quickly stir-fry until the surface of the chicken turn opaque or white. Dish out and set aside. This step seals in the juice in the chicken so the texture is tender and velvety smooth.
Heat up the remaining oil in the wok until hot. Add the ginger into the wok and stir-fry until aromatic. Add the chicken back into the wok and do a few quick stirs. Add in the pak choi and stir to combine well. Transfer the sauce into the wok and continue to stir-fry until the pak choi is cooked but remain crisp. Do not overcook.
Dish out & serve immediately with steamed white rice.

Roasted celeriac with apple, hazelnut & ponzu/maple dressing

For ➍ 
½ celeriac

1 apple

50 g hazelnuts

50 g arugula

olive oil

pepper & salt

dressing:

1½ tbs maple syrup

½ lemon (organic)

2 tbs olive oil (extra virgin)

1½ tbs ponzu**

pepper

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Wash the skin of the celeriac well. Cover a baking tray with baking paper. Lay the celeriac flat. Pierce the celeriac all over with a knife or fork. Brush the celeriac with olive oil. Season with salt. Place in the oven for 1 h. Brush the celeriac every 15 m with the olive oil that has run off. 

Cut the apple into wedges. 

Remove the celeriac from the oven. Cut into slices and then into slightly smaller pieces. Arrange them in a baking dish along with the apple wedges. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with extra olive oil. Raise the oven to 220°C and place in the oven for another 20 m. Turn halfway through. Roughly chop the hazelnuts. Roast them briefly in a non-stick pan, or put them in the oven. 

Make the dressing. Wash and grate the zest of the lemon and squeeze the juice. Mix with the maple syrup, the extra virgin olive oil and the ponzu**. Season with pepper. 

Serve the baking dish with the hazelnuts, arugula and dressing sprinkled on top.

*Or use the complete celeriac

**Replace with soy sauce

Kinoko takikomi gohan (Japanese mushroom rice)

For ➏
600 g (3 cups) Japanese premium short-grain rice (or substitute with brown rice)
70 cl (3 cups) dashi stock (substitute with 3 cups water mixed with 1 ts dried bonito dashi powder)*
3 tbs soy sauce (shoyu)
2 tbs mirin
1 tbs cooking sake
2 dried shiitake mushrooms
15 cl (1 cup) water (for reconstituting dried shiitake mushrooms; this reserve liquid is to be combined with the dashi stock)
100 g (½ cup) of fresh mixed mushrooms (shimeji mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, and hiratake mushrooms)

Wash and rinse rice until water runs clear. Drain and set aside in rice cooker**.
Rehydrate dried shiitake mushrooms in 15 cl water for 30-60 m. Remove shiitake mushrooms and squeeze excess water from them.
Reserve the soaking liquid.
Slice rehydrated shiitake mushrooms and either slice or break apart fresh mushrooms with your hands into large bite-sized pieces.
Add soy sauce, mirin, and sake to the washed rice in the rice cooker**.
Add reserved shiitake liquid to a large measuring cup. Add water to the reserved shiitake liquid until a total of 3 cups is measured. Otherwise, measure a total of 3 cups of liquid, combining the reserved shiitake liquid and water.
Add 1 ts dried bonito dashi powder (or konbu dashi) and dissolve the powder with the water and reserved shiitake liquid mixture to make a dashi stock.
Add this combined dashi stock to the rice cooker to make 3 cups of liquid according to the measuring guide indicated within the inner bowl of your rice cooker**. If more liquid is needed to meet the 3-cup marker indicated on the inner rice cooker bowl, add water.
Add dried shiitake slices and fresh mushroom mixture to the rice. Gently incorporate all of the ingredients. Steam the rice according to the instructions provided with your rice cooker**.
After the rice is steamed, allow it to rest in the rice cooker** for 10 m.
Gently mix the rice and serve.

*Substitute katsuo (bonito fish) dashi with konbu (kelp) dashi for a vegan dish.
**Steam the rice on a stove-top instead. Use same volume of rice and liquid (like 1½ cup for 2-4 persons. 1½ cup uncooked rice will make 4½ cup steamed rice)
[optional]: rinse the rice in 2 or 3 changes of water until it runs clear and not milky. It will make the rice less sticky.
[optional]: soak the rice for at least 30 m to give it a softer texture.
Add the rice to the pan.
Either use your hand or gently shake the pan to make sure the rice level is even.
Start by adding the same volume of water/liquid. Then place your middle finger on top of the rice and continue adding water until it just reaches just to the first knuckle of your middle finger.
Bring the water to a boil, uncovered, over medium heat. You want to see bubbles gently forming around the edges of the pot.
Cover, turn the heat down to low, and let the rice simmer for about 20-22 m, until all the water is absorbed and the grains are soft.
Turn the heat off. Leave the pot on the burner and let the rice sit, covered, for another 10 m.
Fluff and serve.

Or combine the rice with Japanese mushroom recipes like salted mushrooms an/or shimeji.

Tamagoyaki (Japanese layered omelet)

For ➍
6 radishes
1 scallion
8 eggs
1 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs dashi
1 ts mirin
salt
oil for baking

Clean the radishes. Cut them into thin slices first and then into thin strips. Clean the spring onion and chop it finely. Place the radish and spring onion in cold water. Beat the eggs with soy sauce, dashi and mirin. Stir the mixture smooth and add a little salt if desired.
Brush a large non-stick frying pan or a roasting pan with an oil-dipped brush*. Heat the oil - don't let it get too hot! - and pour so much of the beaten eggs into the pan that the bottom is covered with a thin layer. Let the egg set and roll it up using two spatulas.
Slide the roller up against the edge of the pan. Brush the pan again with a brush dipped in oil, pour some of the egg mixture back in and let it set. Roll out the first roll to the bottom edge of the pan and roll it up again with the new layer.
Continue like this until the egg mixture has run out and a thick roll has formed. Slice the still warm roll or wait for it to cool.
Drain the radish and spring onion, sprinkle with salt and place on the roll.

*Japanese cooks use a rectangular iron pan.

Bacon chawan mushi with avocado & shrimps

For ➍
75 cl chicken stock (or dashi)
8 slices bacon
4 large eggs
1 tbs + 1 ts shoyu (white soya sauce)
2 ts sugar
12 large shrimps, cooked, sliced lengthwise into 0.3 cm pieces (or shaved country ham)
2 avocados, halved, cut crosswise into 0.5 cm pieces
8 scallions, thinly sliced
4 radishes, thinly sliced

In a sauce pan, heat the chicken stock (or dashi). Add the bacon. Simmer for 10 m. Whisk in the shoyu and sugar. Let it cool. Remove the bacon. (Use it for something else, like eggs for breakfast).
Whisk the eggs in a bowl. Whisk in the bacon broth. Pur the mixture through a fine sieve into 4 soup bowls.
Add the avocado slices.
Cover the bowls with plastic wrap. Put them in a steamer over gently boiling water. Steam for 13 m or until the custard is set.
Remove the wrap. Let cool the custard slightly.
Arrange shrimps, scallions and radishes on top and serve.
To serve cold, steam the custard, wrap and refrigerate for 1 day. Add shrimps, radish and scallions just before serving.

This is a modern fusion recipe, inspired on the traditional Japanese chawan mushi.

Stir-fry vegetables & peanut sauce

For ➍
2 tbs white sesame seeds
1 clove garlic
½ lime
3 tbs sunflower oil
100 g peanut butter
20 cl coconut milk
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs ginger syrup
400 g chicken fillet, cubed
1 red pepper
800 g Japanese wok vegetables like chestnut mushrooms & pods

Heat a frying pan without oil or butter and roast the sesame seedsgolden brown in 1 m . Let cool on a plate.
Finely chop the garlic. Squeeze half the lime. Heat half of the oil in a thick-bottomed saucepan and fry the garlic 2 m. Add the peanut butter and coconut milk and heat, stirring, just below the boiling point. Stir in the soy sauce, ginger syrup and lime juice and keep stirring until the sauce thickens.
Meanwhile, heat the rest of the oil in a wok and fry the chicken fillet cubes for 2 m over high heat. Cut the red pepper in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Finely chop the meat. Add the wok vegetables and the red pepper to the chicken and stir-fry for 5 m. Season with pepper and possibly salt.
Spread on deep plates, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve with the peanut sauce.

Duck breast fillets with spinach & lacquered sauce with ginger

For ➍
2.2 dl fresh brown veal stock
2 tbs soy sauce
4 shredded ginger balls in syrup
2 large duck breast fillets
900 g spinach
2 shallots
2 garlic cloves
4 tbs roasted peanuts

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Put the veal stock, the soy sauce, the ginger syrup and the shredded ginger balls in a saucepan. Reduce to half over low heat.
Finely chop the shallots, rinse the spinach, peel and press the cloves of garlic. Coarsely chop the peanuts. Keep apart.
Make diamond-shaped notches in the skin of the duck breast fillets with a sharp knife. Bake the skin side golden brown on a high heat, in a frying pan without fat, and then the other side*. Slide the duck breast fillets into the oven for another 25 m to continue cooking**. Turn the fillets over, place them on a cutting board, cover them with aluminum foil and let them rest for 5 m.
Pour 4 tbs of the released cooking fat into a sauté pan. Add the spinach, shallots and garlic. Shrink the spinach over a medium heat. Season with pepper and salt.
Slice the duck breast fillets. Serve with the spinach and the sauce. Sprinkle with peanuts and add pommes of dauphine or potato quenelles.

*Avoid splashing and pour the released cooking fat into a bowl before frying the other side of the duck breast fillets until golden brown.
**Or continue to bake in the pan until done.

Slow cooker chicken pumpkin curry

For ➍
40 cl coconut milk
2 tbs Thai red curry paste
1 tbs fish sauce
1 tbs soy sauce (or tamari)
1 tbs brown sugar
450 g sugar pie pumpkin (cubed)
600 g boneless skinless chicken breast
1 ts salt
1 red bell pepper, sliced
700 g baby spinach, fresh
1 lime, juiced
steamed rice
lime wedges
coriander
cashews, toasted

In the bowl of your slow cooker, stir the coconut milk, curry paste, fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar. Add the pumpkin and chicken. Nestle the pumpkin and chicken until it is submerged in the liquid. Cook on low for 8 h or high for 4 h. Switch the cooker to high if it’s not already, and transfer the chicken to a bowl. Season the liquid with salt. Add the spinach and bell peppers to the top of the liquid. Use two forks to shred the chicken (it will shred very easily) and return to the cooker. Cook the curry for 10-15 m longer, until the spinach is cooked and beginning to wilt. Add the juice of 1 lime. Serve over steamed rice with extra lime, cilantro and cashews.

Read tip on slow cooking.

Korokke (Japanese meat croquette)

For ➍
vegetable oil
½ onion, finely chopped
150 g mixed minced beef (beef/pork)
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs sugar
500 g potatoes
5 cl full cream
salt
flour
some eggs, knocked loose
panko

Heat a dash of oil in a pan, fry the onion and fry the minced meat in a few m until golden brown. Add soy sauce and sugar and cook on a low heat. Stir frequently. Turn off the heat as soon as the cooking liquid has completely disappeared.
Boil the potatoes and puree them. Add the cream and minced meat. Mix well and season with salt.
Make croquettes in a shape as desired.
Place 3 dishes with flour, eggs and panko on the worktop. Roll each croquette first through the flour, then through the eggs and finally through the panko.
Heat the frying oil at 170°C and fry the croquettes golden brown.
Drain the croquettes on kitchen paper and serve immediately (with rice and a green vegetable salad).

Shika tataki (deer tataki with vegetables)

For ➍
600 g deer (or hind) fillet
200 g fine green beans
200 g pod peas
2 carrots
2 lemons juice
ginger 3 cm
½ red pepper
4 tbs sesame seeds
1 dl soy sauce
1 dl rice vinegar
1 tbs raw cane sugar
2 tbs olive oil
salt & pepper

Cut the ends of the beans and pod peas. Blanch  them (and eventually the carrots) for 3-6 m in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain and scare into ice water so they retain their green color. Peel the carrots and cut into long pieces of 1 cm wide. Then cut them into thin strands with the peeler. (Raw, not when blanched).
Prepare the sauce. Peel, grate and squeeze the ginger. Mix the ginger with the lemon juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar and raw cane sugar.
Put a pan on the fire with olive oil and heat it.
Season the deer fillet with salt and pepper. Crust the meat 1 m on each side. Deglaze with the sauce, let cook for ± 4 m. Turn the meat regularly so that the flavour of the sauce is well absorbed. Bake the meat nice rosé (about 8 m for 400 g).  
Remove the meat from the pan, wrap in a sheet of aluminum foil and let rest for 5 m.
Let the sauce boil until slightly syrupy.
Sprinkle your work surface with sesame seeds. Roll the meat in it to get a crispy sesame crust. Cut the meat into very thin slices.
Divide the beans and pod peas pod on 4 plates. Arrange the thin slices of doe and cover again with the sauce. Finish with the rolled carrot slivers and bring to taste with finely chopped red pepper.
Serve with cooked glass noodles.

Soy salmon & lime tacos

For ➍
4 salmon fillets
3 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs sunflower oil
2 tbs sesame seeds
juice ½ lime
salt & pepper
pinch of garlic salt
easy guacamole:
2 avocados
½ lime
½ lemon
salt & pepper
fresh chilli (optional)
mango & watermelon salsa:
1 mango
¼ small watermelon
¼ red onion
few sprigs of parsley leaves
1 ts honey
garnish:
3 tbs pomegranate seeds
5 tbs sour cream & chives dip
2 radishes
3 tbs dried crispy onions

Place the salmon on a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper and pour over a few glugs of sunflower oil, 2 tbs of soy sauce, a handful of sesame seeds, garlic salt, pepper and a squeeze of half a lime. Making sure both sides are coated with the sauce, bake skin-side down for 20 m until the flakes come away with a fork easily.
Whilst the salmon cooks in the oven, prepare your accompanying ingredients.
-(Guacamole) Halve and stone 2 avocados and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Mash with a pinch of salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon and lime and some chilli, if desired.
-(Salsa) Finely dice parsley, mango, watermelon and red onion for the salsa. Squeeze some lime and a tiny drizzle of honey and mix well.
Place small soft flour tortillas on a dry hot pan for 30 s to warm through.
Assemble salmon taco with guacamole and pomegranate seeds: spread guacamole over the base of the taco spoon over some of the salsa and add some salmon flakes on top. To garnish sprinkle some pomegranate seeds and some chopped parsley.
Assemble salmon taco with sour cream and chives: start with sour cream and chives spread over the taco base, spoon over the salsa and layer salmon flakes. Add thinly sliced radishes and garnish with some chopped parsley.
Serve with corn on the cob cut up into pieces, and quartered fresh limes.

Steamed bass & pak choi

For ➋
small piece of ginger, peeled & sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
3 scallions, finely sliced
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs sesame oil
splash of sherry or sake (optional)
2 x 140 g fillets sea bass
2 heads pak choi, quartered

In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients, except the fish and the pak choi, together to make a soy mix.
Line one tier of a two-tiered bamboo steamer loosely with foil. Lay the fish, skin side up, on the foil and spoon over the soy mix. Place the fish over simmering water and throw the pak choi into the second tier and cover it with a lid. Alternatively, add the pak choi to the fish layer after 2 m of cooking – the closer the tier is to the steam, the hotter it is.
Leave everything to steam for 6-8 m until the pak choi has wilted and the fish is cooked.
Divide the greens between two plates, then carefully lift out the fish. Lift the foil up and drizzle the tasty juices back over the fish.

Quick Japanese marinated salmon

For ➋
2 salmon fillets 150 g each
1 tbs soy sauce
3 tbs mirin
1 tbs sake
½ tbs oil

Combine all ingredients except the oil in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible and marinate overnight (or minimum 3 h).
Heat ½ tbs oil in a non stick pan over medium heat*.
Add salmon skin side down, cook for 2 to 3 m until crispy. Check the skin to ensure it isn't cooking too quickly - if it is, then turn down the heat and/or remove the pan from the stove briefly to allow the temperature to decrease.
Drizzle over remaining marinade in the ziplock bag over the flesh side. Flip and cook the flesh side for 2 m, or to your liking. I like salmon medium rare so the inside is very moist and just cooked.
Rest for a couple of minutes, remembering that the salmon will continue to cook while resting, then serve.

*Be careful to ensure you cook it over medium heat and no higher - because of the sugar in the mirin, if you cook it on too high a heat the sugar will burn before the inside has been cooked.
**Other method: to broil/grill, preheat the broiler/grill on high. Use the oil to grease a tray, then place the salmon on it and place under the broiler/grill (about 5 inches / 15 cm from the heat source) until cooked to your liking. The general rule of thumb is 10 m per 2.5 cm thickness of the fillet (measure the thickest part of the fish).

Okonomiyaki sauce

For ➍
4 tbs ketchup
1½ Worcestershire sauce
¼ ts mustard
1 tbs rice cooking wine or sake
1 ts soy sauce
1 tbs honey (use 2 if you like a sweeter sauce)
⅛ ts ground ginger

Combine all sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and let simmer for 3 to 5 m, until smooth and thick.
Serve with okonomiyaki.

Steamed scallops with ginger, soy, sesame oil & spring onions

For ➍
16 scallops, in the shell
1 ts fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 tbs sesame oil
2 tbs dark soy sauce
1 tbs coriander, roughly chopped
3 spring onions, thinly sliced

Pour 2.5 cm of water into the base of a wide shallow pan and bring it up to the boil.
Loosen the scallops from their shells but leave them in place. Sprinkle each one with some of the ginger.
Arrange the scallops, in batches if necessary, on a petal steamer. Lower them into the pan, reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook for about 4 m until just set. Remove and keep warm while you cook the rest. Meanwhile, put the sesame oil and soy sauce into a small pan and warm through.
Lift the scallops onto 4 warmed plates and pour over some of the warm soy sauce and sesame oil. Sprinkle over the coriander and spring onions and serve immediately.