Skilled and dedicated chefs in white pristine uniforms may come to mind when Japanese cuisine is mentioned. From aspiring trainees who started with years of intense apprenticeship and training, they become culinary masters only after years of experience under their belt. Such is their level of dedication to perfection that they are always continually honing their culinary skills to provide the best Japanese cuisine as only a true culinary expert can.
While us home chefs may only achieve their expert level of culinary mastery in our dreams, we can at least strive to head in the right direction. The best way to start is by understanding the basics and knowing where the source of Japan’s flavours are derived from.
When you are starting out in a new cuisine, you have to build your pantry of basic necessities first. For Japanese food, these include Japanese rice and noodles like soba, udon, ramen and so forth. In addition to these staples, you will need to stock up on the key ingredients of the various Japanese seasonings and sauces and these condiments are what create the uniquely Japanese flavours that are vital in Japanese cooking.
Rice wine vinegar, mirin and cooking sake are some of the aforementioned essentials and while substitutes can be found in case you run out, nothing beats using the correct sauce for the perfect flavour, like a true chef. So let’s get acquainted with the source or rather, the sauce of Japan’s flavours, shall we?
Rice Wine Vinegar
This is a type of clear vinegar made from fermented rice that has an acidic salty flavour in accordance to its fermentation duration. This vinegar is the base ingredient that forms sushi rice and gives it its light but tangy taste.
Obento Rice Wine Vinegar is the perfect condiment to shape your sushi into onigiri, marinate fish and meats, and add a tangy flavour to Japanese style salads, dipping sauces, soups and stir-fries.
Mirin
Mirin is a Japanese rice wine with a sweet aftertaste that contributes to a vital flavour of Japanese cuisine. It adds a unique umami tang and richness to sauces and also has a glazing property that gives many dishes a shiny finish.
Obento Mirin Seasoning is a specially blended condiment with flavours and properties of Mirin. It is very often used in salads, stews, grilled food, teriyaki and vegetables and a key ingredient to make the favourite of all Japanese people, the ramen egg (ajitsuke tamago).
Cooking Sake
Japanese Cooking Sake is rice based and another staple of Japanese cuisine. When used for cooking, it tenderises meat, cuts fishy odours and deepens the intensity of flavour in dishes.
Use Obento Japanese Cooking Sake as a taste enhancer for steamed seafood, a marinade for meats and for creating sauces and other simmered dishes.
These three sauces can be used individually, but when you combine them in various ways, you can create a whole new taste! For example, by using mirin and sake and a few other Japanese basics, you can create Mentsuyu, which is a soup base or dipping sauce for soba and udon.
As you can see, with just these 3 essential ingredients, you can unlock a treasure trove of dipping sauces, marinades, broth bases and glazes. You may not be aspiring to be a famous Japanese chef, but with Obento Rice Wine Vinegar, Obento Mirin Seasoning and Obento Japanese Cooking Sake, you can still try your hand in creating flavourful Japanese wonders right in your own home.
About Obento
Obento is one of the leading Japanese food brands that has been in the Australian supermarkets since 2002. They provide authentic Japanese flavours to everyone with its comprehensive range of food products. From a complete range of the Japanese staple condiments including mirin seasoning, cooking sake, rice wine vinegar, yakitori sauce, ponzu sauce, sushi & sashimi soy sauce, sushi seasoning, to other foodstuff and ingredients such as panko breadcrumbs, tempura mix, a variety of noodles, yaki nori seaweed, sushi rice, sushi kit and more! To discover what other Obento products are on the shelves, do check them out at your local supermarket.