Washism

Had ramen for lunch at Kichijoji at a famous ramen stall called chabuton.

This was Js tonkotsu (white pork broth based) ramen with the standard noodles and charsiew.

I had the cold ramen with a flatter ramen, chilled clear chicken broth and chicken.

This was really refreshing and had a subtle hint of jasmine tea flavour in the soup.

Its been quite common to add jasmine tea to soups these days in Japan and i find the taste light and soothing.

Managed to get the noodle pumpkin today at the farmers mart!=)

Looks like butternut squash on the outside.

Steamed it for 20 mins and the shreds came out really easily with a fork.

Stewed with onions, shiitake and dried shrimps.

This reminds me a lot of mums pumpkin stew.

Because it is so tasty, i usually cant resist second and third servings.

Because the pumpkin, shiitake and shrimps exude a lot of flavourful broth in the process of simmering, the dish is tasty right down to the simmering broth.

I used

1/2 a pumpkin

1 onion (roughly chopped)

1cup of dashi stock

2 tbs soya sauce

2 tbs sake

1/2 tbs mirin

Basically, everything goes into a pot, and is simmered for at least 15min on low heat after it is brought to boil.

like having a mini noodle dish.

this goes very well with rice.

Main for dinner was salt grilled hokke fish, which both J and i have been craving.

I cant wait to cut up the watermelon we bought from the farmers mart too!!! ^^