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Japanese Noodles
Noodles are a staple of Japanese cuisine. They are often served chilled with dipping sauces, or in soups or hot dishes.Sakui, S. (2009, July 1st)Somen: Chilled, the Japanese Noodles are a Summer Delight ''Los Angeles Times.'' Retrieved January 9th, 2010 Noodles were introduced into Japan from China during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) over a period beginning around the end of the Heian period (794–ca. 1185) until the early Kamakura period (ca. 1185–1333). Japanese noodles ''Ramen'' are thin, wheat-based noodles made from wheat flour, salt, water, and ''kansui'', a form of alkaline water. The dough is risen before being rolled. They were imported from China during the Meiji period. How it made the jump from China to Japan is still under debate, but it's generally accepted that in 1910 a Chinese restaurant in Yokohama started serving a dish known as lamian. ''Ramen'' noodles have a firm texture and are usually pale yellow in color. The noodles may vary in shap ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ramen
is a Japanese dish, Japanese noodle dish. It consists of served in a broth; common flavors are soy sauce and miso, with typical toppings including , nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), and scallions. Ramen has its roots in Chinese noodle dishes. Nearly every region in Japan has its own variation of ramen, such as the ''tonkotsu'' (pork bone broth) ramen of Kyushu and the ''miso'' ramen of Hokkaido. History Etymology The word ''ramen'' is a Japanese borrowing of the Standard Chinese, Mandarin Chinese ''lamian, lāmiàn'' (, "pulled noodles"). However, historian Barak Kushner argues that this borrowing occurred retroactively and that various independent Japanese corruptions of Chinese words had already led to Japanese people calling this Chinese noodle dish "ramen". One theory suggests that the Japanese mistook the Chinese particles "le" (了) or "la" (啦, a contraction of 了啊) for a "ra" sound when Chinese cooks would announce "hăo le" (好了) to communicate t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shirataki Noodles
Shirataki ( ja, 白滝, often written with the ''hiragana'' ) are translucent, gelatinous Japanese noodles made from the corm of the konjac yam. They are part of traditional Japanese cuisine, but they are also appreciated by people with allergies or intolerances to wheat, gluten or eggs, or by people on a diet because of their low caloric value. Composition The konjac yam, whose corm (a thick underground stem) yields the yam-cake (''konnyaku'') from which the noodles are made, is also called devil's tongue yam or elephant yam. Hui, Yiu. ''Handbook of food science, technology, and engineering''. Volume 4. CRC Press: 2006. The word ''shirataki'' means "white waterfall", referring to the appearance of these noodles. Shirataki noodles are made from 97% water and 3% konjac, which contains glucomannan, a water-soluble dietary fiber. They are very low in digestible carbohydrates and food energy, and have little flavor of their own. Manufacture There used to be a difference in manuf ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kitsune
In Japanese folklore, , are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to ''yōkai'' folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form. While some folktales speak of employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers. Foxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto or spirit, and serve as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as to a deity. Conversely foxes were often seen as " witch animals", especially during the Edo period (1603–1867), and were thought of as goblins who could ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Udon
Udon ( or ) is a thick noodle made from wheat flour, used in Japanese cuisine. It is a comfort food for many Japanese people. There are a variety of ways it is prepared and served. Its simplest form is in a hot soup as with a mild broth called made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. It is usually topped with thinly chopped scallions. Other common toppings include prawn tempura, (mixed tempura fritter), (sweet, deep-fried tofu pouches), (sliced fish cake), and spice added to taste. Standard broth differs by region. Dark soy sauce is added in eastern Japan, while light soy sauce is added in the west. Instant noodles are often sold in two (or more) versions accordingly. More unusual variants include stir-fried and curry udon made with Japanese curry. It is often used in or Japanese hot pot. Origin There are many stories explaining the origin of udon. One story says that in AD 1241, Enni, a Rinzai monk, introduced flour milling technology from Song China to Japan. Flou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wheat Flour
Wheat flour is a powder made from the grinding of wheat used for human consumption. Wheat varieties are called "soft" or "weak" if gluten content is low, and are called "hard" or "strong" if they have high gluten content. Hard flour, or ''bread flour'', is high in gluten, with 12% to 14% gluten content, and its dough has elastic toughness that holds its shape well once baked. Soft flour is comparatively low in gluten and thus results in a loaf with a finer, crumbly texture. Soft flour is usually divided into cake flour, which is the lowest in gluten, and pastry flour, which has slightly more gluten than cake flour. In terms of the parts of the grain (the grass fruit) used in flour—the endosperm or protein/starchy part, the germ or protein/fat/vitamin-rich part, and the bran or fiber part—there are three general types of flour. White flour is made from the endosperm only. Brown flour includes some of the grain's germ and bran, while whole grain or ''wholemeal flour'' is made ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hiyamugi
Hiyamugi ( ja, 冷麦, lit=chilled wheat) are very thin dried Japanese noodles made of wheat. They are similar to but slightly thicker than the thinnest Japanese noodle type called '' sōmen''. The Western style noodle that most closely resembles ''hiyamugi'' is probably vermicelli. They are the second thinnest type of Japanese noodle after ''sōmen'', while the well-known udon is a thicker style of wheat noodle. ''Hiyamugi'', like ''sōmen'' is traditionally enjoyed cold during the summer months. While ''sōmen'' are sometimes served hot in a dish called ''nyumen'', ''hiyamugi'' is typically served cold, sometimes over ice or floating in water in a clear glass bowl. The chilled noodles are served with a dipping sauce on the side called ''tsukejiru'' that is made with '' dashi'', soy sauce and mirin. History ''Hiyamugi'' are mentioned in Zenrin Kouta is a Japanese map publisher. Founded in 1948, the company is known as a maker of residential maps and software used in p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sōmen
, ''somyeon'' ( ko, 소면; 素麵), or ''sùmiàn'' () is a very thin noodle made of wheat flour, less than 1.3 mm in diameter. The noodles are used extensively in East Asian cuisines. Japanese ''sōmen'' is made by stretching the dough with vegetable oil, forming thin strands that are then air dried for later use. This is distinct from a similar thin noodle, ''hiyamugi'', which is knife-cut. In Japan, ''sōmen'' is usually served cold with a light dipping sauce called ''tsuyu''. South Korean ''somyeon'' may be eaten in hot or cold noodle soups. ''Sōmen'' is typically high in sodium. Other names are ''nyūmen'' (煮麺) in Japanese, for a version served warm in soup, and the Chinese name ''guàmiàn'' (), which can be further classified into ''lóngxū'' () for the variant with long and thin strands and ''fèngwei'' () for the variant with flat and broad strands. East Asian cuisines Japan Sōmen are usually served cold with a light flavored dipping sauce [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yakisoba
''Yakisoba'' ( ja, 焼きそば ), "fried noodle", is a Japanese noodle stir-fried dish. Usually, soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour, but soba in yakisoba are Chinese noodles (Chuuka soba) made from wheat flour, typically flavored with a condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce. The dish first appeared in food stalls in Japan around the 1930s. Preparation Yakisoba is prepared by frying ramen-style wheat noodles (also called "Chinese noodles" 中華麺) with bite-sized pork and finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, onions, bean sprouts, and carrots. It is then flavored with yakisoba sauce, salt, and pepper. It can be served with a variety of garnishes, such as ''aonori'' (seaweed powder), '' beni shōga'' (shredded pickled ginger), '' katsuobushi'' ( bonito fish flakes), or Japanese-style mayonnaise. Serving Yakisoba is most familiarly served on a plate either as a main dish or a side dish. A more novel way of serving yakisoba in Japan is to pile the noodles into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tempura
is a typical Japanese dish usually consisting of seafood, meat and vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. The dish was introduced by the Portuguese in Nagasaki through fritter-cooking techniques in the 16th century. The word ''tempura'' comes from the Latin word , a term referring to times of fasting when the church dictated that Catholics go meatless. Preparation Batter A light batter is made of iced water, eggs, and soft wheat flour (cake, pastry or all-purpose flour). Sometimes baking soda or baking powder is added to make the fritter light. Using sparkling water in the place of plain water makes a similar effect. Tempura batter is traditionally mixed in small batches using chopsticks for only a few seconds, leaving lumps in the mixture that, along with the cold batter temperature, result in the unique fluffy and crisp tempura structure when cooked. The batter is often kept cold by adding ice or placing the bowl inside a larger bowl with ice. Overmixing the ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zaru
A is generally a flat or shallow basket made from bamboo used in the preparation and presentation of Japanese cuisine. It also has variations made of plastic or metal similar to a strainer, sieve or colander. ''Zaru'' are air dried after use to prevent the growth of bacteria or fungi on the mat and extend their lifespan. However, drying in harsh sunlight can cause the bamboo of the ''zaru'' to crack. Reflecting the zaru's capacity to soak up liquid, this term is also used as slang for a person who can drink a lot of alcohol without showing signs of inebriation. File:Zaru.jpg, ''Zaru'' made from bamboo File:Seiro_soba_at_Takasho_in_Nezu,_Tokyo.jpg, ''Soba'' served on a ''zaru'' See also * List of Japanese cooking utensils * Chinois * Filter * Sieve * Sokuri ''Sokuri'' ( ko, 소쿠리, ) is a round, rimmed woven basket made of finely-split bamboo. It is used for straining washed grains, drying vegetables, or draining fried food in Korea. It measures between 25 and 50& ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Buckwheat
Buckwheat (''Fagopyrum esculentum''), or common buckwheat, is a flowering plant in the knotweed family Polygonaceae cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop. The name "buckwheat" is used for several other species, such as '' Fagopyrum tataricum'', a domesticated food plant raised in Asia. Despite its name, buckwheat is not closely related to wheat. It is not a cereal, nor is it even a member of the grass family. Buckwheat is related to sorrel, knotweed, and rhubarb, and is known as a pseudocereal because its seeds' culinary use is the same as cereals, owing to their high starch content. Etymology The name "buckwheat" or "beech wheat" comes from its triangular seeds, which resemble the much larger seeds of the beech nut from the beech tree, and the fact that it is used like wheat. The word may be a translation of Middle Dutch ''boecweite'': ''boec'' (Modern Dutch ''beuk''), "beech" (see PIE *''bhago''-) and ''weite'' (Mod. Dut. ''tarwe'', antiquated Dut. '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soba
Soba ( or , "buckwheat") is a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat. The noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or hot in a noodle soup. The variety ''Nagano soba'' includes wheat flour. In Japan, soba noodles can be found in a variety of settings, from "fast food" places to expensive specialty restaurants. Markets sell dried noodles and '' men-tsuyu'', or instant noodle broth, to make home preparation easy. A wide variety of dishes, both hot for winter and cold for summer, uses these noodles. The amino acid balance of the protein in buckwheat, and therefore in soba, is well matched to the needs of humans and can complement the amino acid deficiencies of other staples such as rice and wheat (see protein combining). The tradition of eating soba arose in the Edo period. History of soba in Japan, development of eateries The tradition of eating soba originates from the Tokugawa period, also called the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868. In the Tokugawa period, eve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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