RecipeTin Japan | Authentic Japanese Home Cooking

Eggplant with Minced Pork (Mābō Eggplant)

Eggplant with Minced Pork (Mābō Eggplant) is a twist on my recipe, Mābōdōfu (Mapo Tofu). The fried eggplant wedges replace the tofu cubes, giving a richer flavour to the dish and a completely different texture to that of Mābōdōfu. The beautiful deep purple of the eggplant skin stimulates your appetite.

Although the flavour was modified slightly to suit to the Japanese palate, Mābōdōfu (Mapo Tofu) is a recipe from China. However, Mābō Eggplant is a Japanese invention and it is called ‘mābō nasu‘ (麻婆茄子) in Japanese. The word ‘tofu‘ (豆腐) in Mābōdōfu (麻婆豆腐) is replaced by ‘nasu‘ (茄子) which is eggplant….

Hero shot of Japanese Beef and Rice in a bowl.

This Japanese Beef and Rice (Beef Takikomi Gohan) recipe is a great addition to your Takikomi Gohan collection. It is very easy to make and the rice is full of beef flavour. It is so delicious that you don’t need anything to go with it. I had this Beef Takikomi Gohan at my sister’s place…

Hero shot of Simmered Flounder on a plate.

A classic simmered seafood dish, Simmered Flounder is so simple. Cooked in a sweet and salty sauce with ginger, Simmered Flounder goes so well with rice. The sauce only penetrates the surface of the flesh, so you can enjoy the flavour of the moist and plump flounder. Simmered Flounder (Karei no Nitsuke) is probably one of…

Hero shot of Konbu Seaweed and Cucumber Salad in a bowl.

Konbu Seaweed Salad with Cucumber is a great way of eating a good amount of konbu (Kelp), which is known for providing plenty of health benefits. It is a very refreshing salad with a hint of ginger flavour. The total calorie count of this salad is very low – less than 100 calories per serving! I…

Tenshinhan (天津飯) is a Chinese-influenced Japanese dish. The fluffy omelette with crab meat is placed on a mound of rice and the thick sauce poured over the omelette is so flavoursome. Crab Omelette on Rice is very easy to make. Many people, including Japanese people, mistakenly think that Tenshinhan is Chinese food. It is indeed served…

Chicken tsukune (Japanese chicken meatballs) is one of the regular yakitori dish items. Soft and bouncy meatballs are skewered and chargrilled with sweet soy sauce, ie. yakitori sauce. The key to my soft and juicy meatballs is the grated onion and amount of fat in the chicken mince (ground chicken).

Japanese Chicken Meatballs called ‘Tsukune’ are one of the regular yakitori dish items. Soft and bouncy chicken meatballs are skewered and chargrilled with sweet soy sauce, i.e. yakitori sauce. The key to my soft and juicy meatballs is the grated onion and the amount of fat in the chicken mince (ground chicken). People often think…

Deep-fried crumbed Beef & Pork Patty (Menchi Katsu) is a perfect food for a bento box. When you make Menchi Katsu for dinner, make some extra and freeze them for bento to use them later. My Beef & Pork Patty Bento is packed with vegetables that are prepared in different ways. The standard size of…

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Eggplant with Minced Pork (Mābō Eggplant)

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