Recipes for Tom

A variation of gomadofu [sesame tofu] featuring kabocha pumpkin. Among the many ways to enjoy this creamy tofu, serving it with bl...

An or anko sweetened azuki bean paste comes either as tsubuan with visible beans, or this silky version called koshian . Koshian highlights ...

A super easy tart crust that you would never know is made of okara soybean pulp! This requires no flour sifting or dusting of your pastry b...

Pickled fiddleheads fully boosted by kombu kelp. Yummy!

A gentle nyumen -- somen noodles in warm broth – with a creamy texture and the toasty aroma of grilled eggplant. When prepared with fewer s...

As with other salted food, mentaiko contains a high amount of sodium. Simply soaking it in water or even in salted water makes it bland. The...

A much-beloved snack in fall and early winter. When I was a child, a vendor pushing a cart filled with blackened rocks and reddish-purple sw...

A party paella with botan-ebi spot shrimp at the height of their season! The broth is also made with spot shrimp, infusing the rice with the...

Very comforting dumplings with salmon in season and vegetables from the garden. Tofu contributes to the gentle taste.

Temarizushi , small globes of sushi with assorted ingredients, is another fun way to serve homemade sushi. Here is an example with ohyo hali...

Tango no sekku , one of five traditional seasonal festivals, falls in May in Japan. It is now called Kodomo no Hi or Children's Day, an...

A regional favorite snack from the Takayama and Gokayama areas in Gifu and Toyama prefectures. Simple rice cakes made by pounding regular st...

This somewhat thick, flavorful rice porridge is tasty and gentle on the stomach. It also warms your body from the inside. Dried scallops giv...

Wrapped in aromatic cherry leaves, this is a salty-sweet and tasty confectionery. The crepes made of flour and sweet rice powder are normall...

A typical sweetened azuki bean paste for a number of Japanese sweets.  Pre-made bean paste from store shelves is handy but has a clear sugar...

Bamboo shoots are the taste of spring. While boiled bamboo shoots are available in vacuum packs, cans and in open bins at Japanese grocery s...

Far less sweet than store-bought candied orange peel but still sweet enough to use with cookies and cakes, which usually are already loaded ...

Slightly salty porridge with the soft sweetness of azuki .

One of my potluck or party dishes. Even people who usually avoid vegetable dishes enjoy the rich custard and aromatic basil, and finish the...

Crunchy yet crumbles as you bite in. Among a number of pie/tart crust variations, this slightly salty crust is my favorite for quiches. ...