A Japanese Encounter to usher in the New Year!

Japanese Cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world. Some of the dishes may look elaborate but the recipes are in reality really very easy to do. Greet the New Year with a healthy start - A Japanese Encounter after all the enjoyable high protein Christmas foods. Happy Cooking!

Seize-the-attention Starter:  
Japanese Tuna Tartare

(serves 4, prep time 15-20 minutes)

400g (14 1/3oz) sashimi-grade tuna, finely chopped

2 tablespoon sesame oil

Herb Oil

2 tablespoon chopped spring onions

2 tablespoons black or white sesame seeds

Juice of 2 limes

2 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 teaspoon chopped pickled ginger

1 teaspoon wasabi paste

 Place tuna, spring onions, sesame seeds, lime juice, ginger and sesame oil in a bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix in soy sauce and the wasabi paste and then add to tuna and toss well. Place an oblong, square or round pastry cutter on a serving plate. Spoon in a quarter of the marinated tuna and press down firmly to compact. Gently remove pastry cutter. Repeat step to make 4 servings. Drizzle herb oil decoratively and serve immediately. 

Taste Inspiring Main: 

Miso Prawns

(serves 4, cooktime 10 mins)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

700g (1 ½ lbs) Prawns, peeled and deveined

A handful of fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves

A handful of chopped spring onions

Marinade

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 clove garlic, peeled and  crushed

2-3 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon Miso paste

Juice 1 large lemon

Mix the marinade ingredients well and set aside.

In a large pan, heat a little extra virgin olive oil over high heat. Cook the prawns for a few minutes or until they turn pink. Add the marinade and toss prawns to ensure they are well coated and take off the heat. Serve over a bed of cilantro and garnish with spring onions. Drizzle with remaining marinade and serve immediately.

Refreshing Desserts: 
Mango & Green Tea Ice Cream

2/3 cup water

1/3 cup loose green tea leaves

1/2 cup sugar

3 ripe mangoes

3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Combine water and tea leaves in a saucepan. Bring just to the boil, then remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Strain, discarding the leaves. 

Transfer  tea mixture to a saucepan, add sugar and bring to the boil for about 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and leave to cool for about 30 minutes.
Peel mangos and cut flesh into small pieces. Place in a food proccessor or blender, add lemon juice. Add tea and blend into a puree. Add tea and blend until smooth. 

Transfer mixture to a plastic container or deep cake tin and freeze for at least 3 hours

Serve with a sprig of mint leaves and fresh mangoes.

All these recipes and more are found in my award winning cookbook "Modern Dining for Life". I hope you will be inspired to cook and to try out more exciting recipes in this book. As a cook, there is nothing I want more than people to enjoy my cooking and eat healthily. This is my motivation behind all my cookbooks

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Gourmand International Award Winning Cookbook "Modern Dining for Life" is published by industry reputable Marshall Cavendish Cuisine Asia and is available at all major bookstores. Price SGD 32.00 per copy (excl. gst). For more information, please contact vivien.lee@astraonair.com.