Konbu is a dried kelp in the form of flat black sheets with white powder on the surface, used to flavor Sushi Rice (page 44) and Basic Dashi Soup Stock (page 12). The kelp’s flavor infuses quickly in water, so do not wash it before cooking—just wipe to remove any dust or powder. Konbu is often removed before a dish is served.
Lotus roots are the thick tubers of the aquatic lotus plant. It has a crunchy, powdery taste in its raw form. It is sold either covered in mud in the vegetable section, or cleaned and wrapped in plastic packets in the refrigerator section of the supermarket. A good substitute is jicama or cauliflower.
Mirin is a sweet cooking wine made by mixing steamed glutinous rice with distilled spirits and sugar. The resulting liquid contains 12% to 14% alcohol. Avoid products labeled “aji-mirin” as they are a MSG-flavored version.
Miso is an important seasoning in Japan—a fermented paste made from soybeans and rice, wheat or barley. It is available in various colors and flavors, but the most common are red and white misos, which are used in miso soups. Readily available in Asian food stores.
Nori refers to the dried leaves of a seaweed called laver, and is generally sold in 8 x 7-in (20 x 17 cm) sheets and used for wrapping sushi or cut into strips as a garnish. Nori is best toasted to make it crisp and fragrant (see instructions on page 66). Also sold pretoasted and packed flat in bags.
Palm sugar varies in color from gold to dark brown and is made from the sap of the coconut or aren palm. It has a rich flavor similar to dark brown sugar, molasses or maple syrup, all of which make good substitutes. Available in Asian food stores in plastic containers or packets.
Ponzu is a dressing made from citrus juice (lemon, lime or orange) mixed with soy, sugar and vinegar. Available bottled but you can also make your own using the recipe on page 11.
Prepared Japanese mustard is similar to English mustard, but hotter—it is a blend of ground mustard seeds without flour. It can be purchased in powdered form in small cans or as a ready-to-use paste in tubes.
Red beans (azuki) are small, red and oval in shape with a light, nutty flavor and a fairly thin skin. They are used to make red rice for auspicious occasions, or boiled and sweetened to make a sweet bean paste, which is the base for many Japanese desserts. Sold dried or as a sweetened paste in cans.
Rice vinegar is a light, mildly tangy vinegar brewed from rice. Its color varies from almost white to pale gold.
Saké is a brewed Japanese rice wine. Chinese rice wine or dry sherry may be substituted.
Sansho pepper is made from the ground seeds of the Japanese prickly ash plant. Available in small glass bottles in Asian food stores, it gives a hot flavor to fatty foods such as eel. Substitute dried Sichuan pepper or ground red cayenne pepper.
Sesame oil should be used sparingly as a seasoning and not for frying. It has a rich nutty flavor and fragrance. Available in most grocery stores. Japanese sesame oil is milder than Chinese, so when using the latter, you may want to dilute it with a bit of vegetable oil.
Sesame paste is made from toasted sesame seeds that are ground up like peanut butter, but unsweetened. Commonly available in Asian food stores. Substitute tahini or make your own by pan-roasting and then grinding the seeds in a food processor.
Sesame salt (goma shio) is a mixture of toasted black sesame seeds (either whole or ground) and salt, and is a popular Japanese condiment.
Sesame seeds are available either white or black and are often pan-roasted (page 33) and sprinkled over cooked foods for added flavor.
Seven-spice chili mix is a potent blend of ground chili with other seasonings such as mustard, sansho pepper, black sesame and poppy seeds. It is often sprinkled on noodles, grilled items and one-pot dishes.
Shiitake mushrooms, also known as Chinese black mushrooms, are sold fresh or dried. They have a dark brown outer skin, a beige inner flesh, and a slightly woody flavor. Dried shiitakes can be substituted for fresh ones; soak for 10 to 15 minutes in hot water until tender, then drain. Discard the stems.
Shirataki noodles are thin strings of konnyaku, a glutinous paste obtained from the starchy elephant foot plant. They are eaten in sukiyaki and other hotpots. Substitute mung bean vermicelli (glass noodles).
Shiso leaves (also known as perilla leaves) have a fresh, slightly minty flavor. They are served with sashimi (and should be eaten with it), made into tempura and used in various ways to garnish sushi. Substitute mint leaves. The buds are made into a strong-flavored condiment, and the very young buds are made into tempura.
Short-grain Japanese rice is now grown in California and can be readily purchased everywhere. The most common variety is uruchi mai or nonglutinous rice (see pages 44–45 for recipe for cooking Sushi Rice). The glutinous variety, mochi gome, absorbs more water than regular rice and is much stickier. Uncooked rice should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Soba noodles are thin, light brown noodles, sold fresh or in dried bundles. Follow the directions on the packet when boiling and rinse in cold water after cooking to remove the starch. Substitute buck wheat spaghetti.
Somen noodles are very fine, flat wheat noodles normally sold in dried sticks. Boil until cooked but still firm, then rinse in cold water to remove the starch. Substitute ramen or angel hair pasta.
Soy sauce (shoyu) is fermented from soya beans and salt, and commonly used in marinades, sauces and dips. Substitute normal Chinese soy sauce.
Tezu vinegared water (page 44) is used for moistening the fingers when making sushi to prevent the rice from sticking to them.
Thai chili sauce is used mainly as a dipping sauce. Some sauces are sweeter than others and go particularly well with either chicken or seafood, and are so labeled. Available in bottles or jars.
Tofu (soybean curd) is available in various forms. Firm tofu has a slightly stronger and more sour flavor; soft tofu crumbles easily but has a more silky texture and refined flavor. Tofu skin is the thin layer of soy protein that forms on the surface of soybean milk when boiled to make tofu. The dried variety (tofu sheet) is produced when the film-like layer is skimmed and dried. Deep-fried tofu slices (abura-age) must be blanched before serving. Seasoned tofu slices are now available in cans or frozen packets in many Asian food stores. When cut in half, these slices serve as food pouches (pages 52, 58).
Udon noodles are thick, round, whitish-beige wheat noodles. Boil until cooked but still firm, then rinse to remove the starch; finally, reheat and serve al dente. Substitute Chinese wheat noodles or angel hair pasta.
Wakame is a type of seaweed available in dried strips. Soak in water for 5 to 10 minutes before using. Also sold seasoned and packed in plastic, in the refrigerator section of the supermarket.
Wasabi (Japanese horseradish) is unrelated to Western horseradish but produces a similarly sharp, biting effect on the tongue and in the nose. It is used to season sushi and is commonly