DINING WITH THE CHEF Season 5


#501 “Chicken Kuwayak”
Our theme this episode is frying. We’ll be making a traditional Japanese dish called kuwayaki: pan-fried chicken with a sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, mirin, and sake. The sweet and savory combination of soy sauce and mirin is an iconic Japanese flavor. Today, we’ll be marinating chicken and frying it to juicy perfection, adding the sauce to coat as we fry. We’ll also be making beautiful, delicious shrimp rice. The pink of the sakura shrimp and the green of the Japanese herb mitsuba come together for a wonderful springtime feel, as well as a great combination of textures and flavors. Join us and enjoy a meal that feels like spring is here!

#502 “Saikyo–zuke with Spanish Mackerel”
Our theme for this episode is marinating. Saikyo-zuke is a marinating technique that uses a base of white miso from Kyoto to slowly marinate meat or fish before grilling. We'll be sharing some tips on how to make this fragrant and delicious dish at home. We'll be marinating Spanish mackerel, a fish that comes into season in spring, to make a dish with the sort of flavor you'll usually only find at a high-end Japanese restaurant. For our side dish, we'll be making sake-steamed clams and spring cabbage. Enjoy the tender, juicy spring cabbage, cooked with soup full of the rich flavor of asari clams.

#503 “Dry Curry Rice with Omelet”
Chef Rika prepares her special dry curry rice, made by stir-frying curry and rice together in a frying pan. Alongside the spices, she adds two secret ingredients: sushi vinegar and soy sauce. The dry curry rice is served topped with an omelet, for a wonderfully mild flavor when eaten together. Chef Rika also makes two side dishes: pickled cauliflower, and spinach and tomato soup. Both of these are simple to make, for an easy way to add more healthy vegetables to any meal.

#504 “Hambaagu with Grated Daikon”
Our theme this episode is frying. We’ll be making hambaagu with plenty of beef, served with grated daikon radish, for a delicious favorite of kids and adults alike! The hambaagu are made with bread crumbs, eggs, and other ingredients to make them juicy and flavorful, while the grated daikon radish gives these hearty hambaagu a nice light, clean aftertaste. We’ll also teach you the secrets of how to prepare hambaagu that are tender enough to cut with chopsticks. For our side dish, we’ll be making miso soup with a Western-style twist: bacon and celery! Miso soup works surprisingly well with nearly anything — the rich flavor of the bacon is an especially good match for miso. The soup makes a delicious side dish for our hambaagu, for a perfect pairing.

#505 “The Classic Nori Bento”
In this episode, Chef Rika will be making nori bento, a beloved home-cooked comfort food. Rice is covered with bonito flakes and sprinkled with soy sauce, then topped with a layer of torn nori seaweed, then covered with another thin layer of rice, to make a beautiful many-layered result. On top of the rice and nori seaweed, we’ll be adding two quick and easy old-fashioned bento staples: grilled salmon and tamagoyaki rolled omelet. We’ll also be preparing kenchin soup with plenty of delicious vegetables. With granulated dashi, this soup is quick and easy to make!

#506 “Rika’s Napolitan”
In this episode, we'll be making Napolitan, a Japanese spaghetti dish flavored with tomato ketchup. Chef Rika will be sharing her own original recipe: the secret ingredient is douban-jiang, a spicy chili bean paste that goes perfectly with the sweetness of tomato ketchup! We'll also be introducing Japanese-style gratin, another popular comfort food in Japan.

#507 “Early Summer Tempura”
Our theme this episode is deep-frying. We’ll be making tempura, an iconic Japanese dish, using ingredients that come into season in spring and early summer. The keys to great tempura are a light, crispy batter and fresh ingredients. The great flavors of the ingredients are emphasized by deep-frying them in batter, for a delicious result. We’ll also be making aka-dashi red miso soup with shijimi clams, which goes wonderfully with tempura. The shijimi clams give the soup a great flavor along with the red miso, for the perfect palate cleanser after eating tempura. We hope you’ll join us and learn how to make tempura, usually found only at specialty restaurants, at home!

#508 “Okonomiyaki”
In this episode, we'll be showing how to make two electric griddle dishes perfect for dinner parties. The first of these is okonomiyaki, a popular standard throughout Japan. We'll be mixing vegetables and mentaiko seasoned cod roe into the batter to make the Yukimasa family's okonomiyaki recipe, and we'll show you how to cook it up nice and fluffy. Our second dish is easy fried udon noodles with curry sauce — add curry powder to the same sauce recipe Chef Rika uses for her okonomiyaki, to make fragrant and flavorful fried udon noodles!

#509 “Blanched Sashimi with Shira-ae Sauce”
Our theme this episode is blanching. Sashimi is a popular Japanese dish best known as fresh seafood, sliced and served raw with soy sauce. In this episode, though, we'll be serving blanched sashimi on a bed of shira-ae sauce made of tofu, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and more, to dip and enjoy. For our side dish, we'll be making bamboo shoots with powdered bonito. When shaved into flakes, dried bonito is a crucial ingredient in the dashi stock at the heart of Japanese cuisine. We’ll also be sprinkling on powered bonito at the end to provide the dish with even more delicious flavor.

#510 Tuna Sashimi Three Ways
In this episode we focus on tuna, a widely beloved fish. Our main dish is rolled sushi filled with tuna and bell pepper. Our first side dish is tuna mille-feuille: tuna, avocado, and okra served layered in a cocktail glass, for a dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Our other side dish is seared tuna served as a salad, with a chopped onion dressing to give it a fabulous aroma and satisfying texture. We also share advice on how to thaw frozen fish, to keep it as delicious as possible. These delicious tuna recipes make for fun and beautiful party food!

#511 “Sweet and Sour Meatball”
This episode’s theme is thickening sauces. We’ll be making light, tender meatballs, deep-fried to crunchy perfection, and serving them in a thickened sweet and sour sauce. The sauce is made with dashi for a rich Japanese-style flavor, seasoned for a combination of savory, sweet, and sour that people of all ages will love. The clear, shiny sauce adds a beautifully special feel, and with the bright colors of the red, yellow, and green bell pepper, this dish is sure to whet the appetite! For our side dish, we’ll be making green peas with eggs, a dish that combines the rich flavor of dashi with light, tender eggs, for a wonderfully delicate result. With the green of the peas and the yellow of the eggs, along with the three colors of bell pepper, these colorful dishes are perfect for early summer in Japan.

#512 “Two-minute Steak with Wasabi Sauce and Rice”
In this episode, we'll be making steak, a dish well known around the world. After cooking it medium-rare, we'll be flavoring it with soy sauce and butter for a steak that pairs perfectly with wine, serving it on rice in a uniquely Japanese style. For our side dish, we'll be making fried kabocha pumpkin. We'll cut it into bite-sized pieces, then flavor it with nam pla and coat it in potato starch, before frying it to a delicious crisp. Rika will also be preparing a refreshing salad of boiled turnip, fresh arugula, and a special dressing made with sushi vinegar and olive oil.

#513 “Donburi Rice Bowls”
In this episode, we'll be taking a look at donburi rice bowls, a traditional Japanese fast food, great for all sorts of situations! First, we'll be making a hearty rice bowl topped with seafood kakiage, a type of mixed tempura. We'll share tips to help you easily fry it perfectly at home. Our second rice bowl is a healthy twist on chicken rice, made with chicken and cucumber — ideal for a light meal or a late-night snack! We'll be topping our third and final rice bowl with a combination of egg and onion, for a pleasant balance of sweet and savory that makes a great finish to a meal. It's easy enough to prepare that even beginners should have no trouble! Join us and learn how to make these beautiful and unique rice bowls at home, for three delicious quick and easy meal options!

#514 “Bo-sushi with Horse Mackerel”
Our theme this episode is sushi. We'll be introducing bo-sushi, a unique variety of sushi that takes advantage of the natural shape of the fish. Different regions use different ingredients for bo-sushi, such as mackerel or crab; in this episode, we'll be using horse mackerel, a fish commonly eaten throughout Japan. We'll teach you how to marinate the horse mackerel in vinegar to help it keep longer, as well as knife techniques to fillet and spread open the fish while keeping its shape. For our side dish, we'll be making egg drop soup, with tender bits of beaten egg floating in it like blossoming flowers.

#515 “Kushi-katsu”
Our theme this episode is deep-frying. Chef Saito’s hometown of Osaka is famous for the casual favorite kushi-katsu, and we’ll be making a beautiful twist on these fried skewers: crisp naganegi long onion and juicy tuna, skewered, breaded, and deep-fried to a crunch, and served with two deliciously addictive dipping sauces! We’ll also be preparing two kinds of onigiri rice balls with ingredients from the Kansai region of western Japan. In addition to triangular onigiri coated with delightful little bubu-arare rice crackers from Kyoto, we’ll also be making cylindrical onigiri topped with nara-zuke, a pickled vegetable. Join us for a delicious taste of the Kansai region of Japan!

#516 “Rika’s Shoyu Ramen”
In this episode, we'll be making one of modern Japan's most famous dishes: ramen! Chef Rika's ramen recipe features a light, clean soup made with pork back ribs for great flavor, and seasoned with soy sauce. The pork back ribs aren't just for making the soup: we'll also be serving meat from the ribs on top of tofu, with deliciously tart ponzu, for a great appetizer.

#517 “Three Ginger Dishes”
In this episode, we’ll be preparing three of Chef Rika’s specialties made with ginger, perfect for the summer heat! Our first dish is a salad made with ginger and cucumber — we’ll learn about useful knife techniques, as we prepare a refreshing dish that takes advantage of crisp uncooked ginger. Our second dish is fried oysters with a ginger seasoning, coated with a crunchy breading to seal in the flavor. Lastly, we’ll be making sui-gyoza boiled dumplings filled with a mixture of pork and shrimp seasoned with grated ginger, and topped with Rika’s sesame sauce, made with plenty of finely chopped ginger. These three simple recipes offer easy ways to master different uses for ginger!

#518 “Nishiki-yaki Steamed Salmon”
Our theme this episode is steam-frying. We'll be preparing a dish perfect to serve on special occasions: salmon is marinated in a soy-sauce-based marinade, then topped with colorful toppings like egg, tofu, mushrooms, and carrot. The various flavors come together to make this a luxurious dish that is as beautiful as it is delicious. For dessert, we'll be making warabi-mochi. Using warabi-ko bracken starch, we can make a deliciously chewy, wiggly dessert with a mild sweetness, and which goes perfectly with kinako toasted soybean powder and kuromitsu black sugar syrup.

#519 “Oyako-don～Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl”
Our theme this episode is topped rice bowls. A bowl of rice with delicious toppings is a quick and easy, single-dish meal popular in Japan. We'll be introducing one of the many common rice bowls: oyako-don. We'll show you the techniques needed to prepare the chicken and onion, with the great flavor of dashi and beaten egg, cooked until the egg is perfectly rich and fluffy, and then we’ll top it with deliciously crisp naganegi long onion to provide a great accent. We'll also be making another variant on oyako-don, using flaked salmon — a popular ingredient in bento lunches — and salmon roe, for great taste and a fun texture. The green, yellow, red, and pink of these dishes are sure to make them a colorful delight!

#520 “Chicken Rice Burger”
In this episode, we’ll be making a lunch platter featuring a Japanese twist on the quintessential fast food, the hamburger. For the buns, we’ll be using grilled onigiri, a beloved Japanese comfort food, with chicken teriyaki as the filling. Teriyaki sauce is easy to prepare, making this a great dish for Japanese cooking beginners. Instead of French fries, we’ll be deep-frying thin slices of burdock root and carrot to make simple chips as a side dish, full of the great natural flavor of these vegetables. Finally, we’ll be serving the meal with sake mixed with soda water, for a clean, refreshing flavor to go along with this uniquely Japanese meal!

#521 “Sesame Grilled Naganegi”
Our theme this episode is grilling. We’ll be grilling naganegi long onion with sesame oil: a simple recipe with a fragrant and surprisingly sweet result. Grilling the naganegi in a traditional Nambu cast-iron skillet, and serving it directly from the skillet at the table, makes for a main dish that’s as quick and easy as it is delicious! We’ll also be preparing namafu dengaku, featuring the uniquely addictive chewy texture of yomogi-flavored namafu, topped with plenty of two different sauces made with red and white miso. Both of these dishes may use just a few simple ingredients, but the delicious results are sure to whet the appetite!

#522 “Tango's Local Specialty Dish Barazushi”
In this two-part episode, our host Yu Hayami will be visiting the Tango region of Kyoto Prefecture, known as the “back room of Kyoto” and home to many developments in Japanese cuisine over the years. This region has long enjoyed incredible natural beauty and bounty from both land and sea, such as Amanohashidate — considered one of Japan's three most beautiful views — as well as outstanding foods like premium “taiza-gani” snow crab, and Tango's unparalleled koshihikari rice. In this first half of Yu's visit, we'll be learning about barazushi, a local variety of sushi that is a natural fit for a region that has flourished as a grower of rice. We'll be talking with Chef Osamu Maekawa, who has worked to share barazushi with the rest of Japan, and he'll show us a recipe that anyone can try at home.

#523 “Creative Kyotango Cuisine”
In this two-part episode, our host Yu Hayami will be visiting the Tango region of Kyoto Prefecture, known as the “back room of Kyoto” and home to many developments in Japanese cuisine over the years. This region has long enjoyed incredible natural beauty and bounty from both land and sea, such as Amanohashidate — considered one of Japan's three most beautiful views — as well as outstanding foods like premium “taiza-gani” snow crab, and Tango's unparalleled koshihikari rice. In this second half of Yu's visit, she'll be visiting Chef Yukinori Yoshioka, who has recently become a secret sensation in the gourmet world for his focus on dishes that can only be enjoyed in the Tango region. We'll take a look at some of his dishes that rely on exceptional local ingredients, such as female snow crab and Tango beef, for a new style of Kyoto Cuisine.

#524 “Chef's Chicken Nanban”
Our theme this episode is marinating. After trying chicken nanban in its home region of Miyazaki Prefecture, Chef Saito fell in love with this dish. Chicken is coated and deep-fried, then placed in sweet-and-sour nanban sauce for the coating to soak up, and served with a rich tartar sauce, for a delicious combination of flavors and textures. For our side dish, we’ll be making boiled eggplant, served with ginger and soy sauce. Chef Saito will teach techniques for how to cut eggplant and how to keep the color of its skin beautiful, for a simple side dish with an elegant feel.

#525 “Roast Beef Sushi”
In this episode, we'll be making a rather unusual dish: roast beef sushi. Chef Rika will be preparing roast beef with her own unique method. The juicy fat from the meat goes perfectly with the tartness of the sushi rice! We'll also be making easy gari pickled ginger, by simply marinating it in vinegar, and using that gari and colorful vegetables to make chirashi sushi.

#526 “Stuffed Shiitake with Teriyaki Glaze”
Our theme this episode is grinding. Our main dish is stuffed shiitake mushrooms with teriyaki glaze: we’ll be stuffing shiitake mushroom caps with a ground shrimp filling, then shaping them into balls. These charming stuffed mushrooms are then fried and coated with a glossy teriyaki sauce, for a delicious dish that’s certain to whet the appetite. For our side dish, we’ll be making suri-nagashi, a smooth Japanese-style soup, with ground kabocha squash. By adding the same dashi stock in two different ways, and with a few little tricks, the result is a deliciously rich and mellow soup.

#527 “The Tastes of Satoyama"
In this episode, we'll be going on a trip with Chef Yuri Nomura, who has played active roles in various food events in Japan and overseas, and has made appearances in magazines and on TV. Chef Yuri's destination is Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture, a town surrounded by mountains, which has long flourished through its forestry industry. In recent years, the town has seen increasing numbers of new residents, and the new efforts of these youthful residents — both in food and in fields like IT — have earned this region worldwide attention of late. Chef Yuri will be visiting a friend, Taichi Manabe, who is the originator of these projects to contribute to the region, as well as farmers who have worked with Taichi to hand down and develop their farming lifestyles and traditions. During her visit, Chef Yuri will talk with Taichi and these local farmers about issues that the town faces in the present and future, while trying some traditional local dishes. Chef Yuri will use freshly picked organic produce and umeboshi pickled plums — a local specialty — to make vegetable terrine, a salad full of the natural flavors of its ingredients. We'll also learn how to prepare irizake, a traditional seasoning. Join us for a taste of the delicious food and warm hospitality of Kamiyama's satoyama.

#528 “The Traditional Iriko Dashi Broth”
*This program was first broadcast on Aug. 3, 2018
Alongside the dashi made from bonito flakes and kombu kelp, there is another dashi beloved by the people of Japan: iriko dashi, made from iriko, or dried baby sardines. In this episode, we're following Chef Yuri Nomura on her travels in Kagawa Prefecture as she learns more about iriko dashi, visiting people who make delicious iriko. Kagawa is famous for udon noodles, and there are udon noodle shops in Kagawa that make their soup with dashi made using only the finest iriko. We'll visit the fishers and processing plant to discover the secrets behind this clear yet rich and flavorful dashi broth, and find out how to pre-treat the baby sardines to avoid any "fishy" flavors, for delicious rice cooked with plenty of iriko — a local favorite! We'll also learn about a great blend of iriko and nuts that goes perfectly with drinks, and which makes a great first step into working with iriko!

#529 “Veggie Miso Ramen”
In this episode, we’ll be focusing on miso, an iconic fermented seasoning from Japan. In addition to being a health food with great nutritional value, it’s also simply delicious with a wide variety of ingredients — especially vegetables! We’ll be learning about two ways to use miso: in an all-purpose miso dressing, and in miso ramen, a widely beloved favorite. Rika’s miso ramen is topped with plenty of vegetables, for a delicious and healthy meal. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn easy ways to use this versatile condiment, and make your home cooking even better!

#530 “Cuisine at the foot of Mt. Fuji (1)”
Mt. Fuji has long been a popular destination for visitors from overseas. The area around the foot of the mountain deserves a closer look, as well, for its rich natural features and outstanding food culture. For this two-part installment of Cook Around Japan, our host Yu Hayami will be visiting Yamanashi and Shizuoka, the prefectures that border Mt. Fuji. In this first episode, we’ll be visiting Yamanashi, the heart of the Japanese wine industry, which has come to be known for world-class wine in recent years. We’ll learn about the history and evolution of Japanese wine culture, including a trip to a unique temple that makes wine, for an exclusive look at shojin-ryori Buddhist cuisine that pairs well with wine. If you’re a wine lover, you won’t want to miss this episode!

#531 “Cuisine at the foot of Mt. Fuji (2)”
Mt. Fuji has long been a popular destination for visitors from overseas. The area around the foot of the mountain deserves a closer look, as well, for its rich natural features and outstanding food culture. For this two-part installment of Cook Around Japan, our host Yu Hayami will be visiting Yamanashi and Shizuoka, the prefectures that border Mt. Fuji. In this second episode, we’ll be visiting Shizuoka's Suruga Bay, one of Japan’s preeminent fishing destinations, to enjoy the area’s incredible seafood. We’ll try Shizuoka oden featuring hanpen fish cake made with fresh horse mackerel and sardines, as well as a famous local chef’s luxurious twist on agedashi nasu (Deep-fried Eggplant) that shines a spotlight on delicious dashi made with bonito flakes, a key part of Japanese cuisine. Don't miss this great look at outstanding local seafood dishes!

#532 “Temari Sushi”
Our theme this episode is decorating. We’ll be making temari sushi, a charming bite-sized style of sushi with beautiful toppings, said to have originated in Kyoto. The colors red and white are considered auspicious in Japan, so this sushi is topped with salmon and scallops, to make a dish perfect for serving at a house party! Our side dish is oyster mizore-jiru soup, a warm dish that’s especially good for the colder months. This soup is made with grated daikon radish for a look evocative of snow, and topped with yuzu citrus to give this elegant dish a bright yellow accent and a refreshing aroma. Chef Saito will also share some of the delicate presentation techniques used in Japanese cuisine.

#533 “Ten Don (Tempura Rice Bowl)”
*This program was first broadcast on Jan. 18, 2019
In this episode, we’ll be making ten don, or tempura rice bowls, a popular dish in Japan. We’ll be using shrimp, corn, and other colorful ingredients, and Chef Rika will share her secret technique to easily make crunchy, delicious tempura. For our side dish, we'll be making chrysanthemum greens seasoned with vinegar — the perfect match for ten don! The mild bitterness of the chrysanthemum greens goes wonderfully with the flavor of the vinegar, for a deliciously refreshing side dish.

#534 “Miso Stir Fry with Lotus Root and Chicken”
Our theme this episode is seasoning. We’ll be making a stir-fry, a home-cooked dish popular for its casual simplicity, and add a seasoning made with miso to give it a deliciously sophisticated flavor. Chef Saito will share his own unique seasoning blend, too: by mixing miso with other distinctively Japanese seasonings, you too can bring out the best of ingredients’ flavors and give dishes a satisfying depth! For our side dish, we’ll be cooking rice with sweet potato, an ingredient commonly eaten throughout Japan in autumn and winter. We’ll also learn about how to use a versatile Japanese seasoning that has long been beloved as a drink, to help enhance the sweetness of other ingredients.

#535 “Shrimp Chirashi Sushi”
In this episode, we'll be making beautiful chirashi sushi. This dish is perfect for winter, which is a great season for parties: not only is chirashi sushi healthy and delicious, it's also incredibly picturesque and great for sharing on social media! This sushi features toppings in five different colors, arranged in straight lines, for a striking appearance that will make you want to show this dish off! For our side dish, we’re preparing chawan-mushi savory custard, a popular side for sushi, served topped with a gorgeous thickened ankake sauce made with crab and naganegi long onion. This meal is a great way to learn about the careful techniques used in Japanese cuisine, including how the rice is cooked, how the ingredients are prepared, and advice for cooking eggs. And the result makes for a spectacular dish to serve at your next party!

#536 “Deep-fried fish with An Sauce”
*This program was first broadcast on Dec. 7, 2018
Our theme this episode is deep-frying. We'll be making crispy fried swordfish, served with a thick an sauce full of the rich flavor of dashi and plenty of vegetables. This hot, delicious dish is certain to warm both the body and soul in the cold of winter. We'll also be making mushroom rice with three kinds of mushrooms commonly eaten in Japan: shiitake, maitake, and eringi mushrooms. The mushrooms are cooked along with the rice — and we'll be adding the Chef's own original seasoning, made with dried shrimp, that makes any mixed rice dish even better!

#537 “Kesennuma, the fishing port town”
In our Cook Around Japan segment, we visit different parts of the country and explore their local foods. For this two-part installment, we’re visiting Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. This first episode focuses on Kesennuma Port, where the resilient townspeople have rebuilt the area after countless disasters over the years. One of our regular chefs, Rika Yukimasa, will be visiting this port town, and learning about the simple yet sophisticated techniques used by local chefs to serve freshly caught bonito tuna, kichiji rockfish, Pacific saury, and more.

#538 “Kesennuma's oysters and sake”
Our chef Rika Yukimasa visits Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Japan to meet a sake brewer, and an oyster farmer whose work has achieved worldwide recognition. Today's recipes: 1) Kesennuma Fisherman's Oysters, 2) Rika's Oyster and Scallop Tempura.

#539 “Chikuzen-ni (Simmered Chicken and Root Vegetables)”
In the segment Authentic Japanese Cooking, professional chef and Japanese cuisine expert Tatsuo Saito will teach us about the fascinating essence of Japanese cooking. Today’s recipes: 1) chikuzen-ni (simmered chicken and root vegetables), 2) octopus rice. We hope that this look at Japan's food culture will inspire you to try these authentic dishes at home!

#540 “Three Wasabi Dishes”
Learn about easy, delicious, and healthy cooking with Chef Rika! Wasabi is great for so much more than just sushi! Recipes: 1) Octopus, Cucumber and Shiso leaf Salad with Wasabi Dressing, 2) Pork Steaks with Wasabi and Butter Sauce, 3) Udon Noodles with Vegetables and Wasabi

#541 “Yuba-an Sauce with Rice”
*This program was first broadcast on Oct. 5, 2018
Our theme this episode is simmering. We'll be making a shiny yuba-an sauce that is as beautiful as it is delicious, served on top of a bowl of rice mixed with ground chicken and egg. The sauce is made with lots of yuba, a traditional Japanese ingredient made from soybeans, mixed in to a sauce base made with plenty of flavorful dashi, for a truly elegant combination. For a side dish, we'll be making refreshing sweet pickled cucumbers, topped with dried small sardines. We'll show you how you can make the pickling brine in the microwave, for a quick and easy side dish that can be prepared in just a few moments.

#542 “Korokke Trio”
Learn about easy, delicious, and healthy cooking with Chef Rika! Recipes: 1) Korokke (Camembert cheese, canned sardine, kabocha squash) , 2) Bean sprout and bell pepper salad. These three kinds of korokke are quick and easy to prepare!

#543 “Kabura-mushi (Steamed Turnips)”
*This program was first broadcast on Dec. 29, 2017
Our theme for this episode is steaming. We'll be making kabura-mushi, or steamed turnip, steaming pure white grated turnip together with shrimp and vegetables for a beautiful traditional Japanese dish. The fluffy white of the grated turnip is evocative of snow, and the thick and shiny yet clear sauce shimmers like ice, giving it a look wonderfully reminiscent of winter scenery in Japan. We'll also be making delicious and nutritious kayaku gohan, or rice with chicken and various vegetables mixed in.

#544 “Onigiri [Rice Balls]”
*This program was first broadcast on Mar. 2, 2018
In this episode, we'll be making onigiri rice balls, a favorite in Japan among young and old alike. This simple dish is made by lightly salting freshly cooked rice, and shaping it into triangles or rough cylinders, then wrapping it in nori seaweed. Chef Rika will be showing us some tricks to make rice balls even tastier. For our side dishes, we'll be making kimpira and tamagoyaki rolled omelet — perfect for bento meals! Our crisp kimpira is made with potato and carrot, while the tamagoyaki omelet has a deliciously tender, fluffy texture.

#545 “Mushi Sushi”
Learn about Japanese home cooking with Master Chef Saito, based on traditional Japanese cooking techniques! Featured recipes: 1) Mushi sushi 2) Clear dashi with clams

#546 “Donabe Hot Pot”
Learn about easy, delicious, and healthy cooking with Chef Rika! Featured recipes: 1) Donabe Okowa Rice, 2) Shichimi Meatball Hot Pot, 3) Daikon and Cucumber Salad.

#547 “Chicken Miso Gratin”
*This program was first broadcast on Mar. 8, 2019
Our theme this episode is grilling. We’ll be making chicken miso gratin, for a Japanese take on Western-style ingredients: stir-fried chicken and boiled potatoes, covered with béchamel sauce seasoned with miso, then heated in the toaster oven until browned and delicious. The secrets to this dish’s rich flavor are kombu kelp dashi, full of savory umami flavor, and miso — and they go great with béchamel sauce! For our side dish, we’ll be making spicy simmered konnyaku and lotus root. These two characteristic Japanese ingredients are stir-fried and seasoned with a soy sauce-based sauce, for a great combination of the chewy texture of the konnyaku and the crunchiness of the lotus root. Adding red chili pepper helps give them a delicious bit of heat as an accent, for a side that goes great with drinks, too!

#548 “Japanese Vegetarian Cuisine”
Learn about easy, delicious, and healthy cooking with Chef Rika! Featured recipes: 1) Shredded Vegetable Salad with Roasted Sesame, 2) Tofu Miso Steaks, 3) Deep-fried and Marinated Vegetables.

#549 “Kesennuma, the fishing port town”
*This program was first broadcast on Dec. 13, 2019
In our Cook Around Japan series, we visit different parts of the country and explore their local foods. For this two-part installment, we’re visiting Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. This first episode focuses on Kesennuma Port, where the resilient townspeople have rebuilt the area after countless disasters over the years. One of our regular chefs, Rika Yukimasa, will be visiting this port town, and learning about the simple yet sophisticated techniques used by local chefs to serve freshly caught bonito tuna, kichiji rockfish, Pacific saury, and more.

#550 “Kesennuma’s oysters and sake”
*This program was first broadcast on Dec. 20, 2019
Our chef Rika Yukimasa visits Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Japan to meet a sake brewer, and an oyster farmer whose work has achieved worldwide recognition. Today's recipes: 1) Kesennuma Fisherman's Oysters 2) Rika's Oyster and Scallop Tempura.

#551 “Nagasaki: A Culinary Tour Through Town”
Our host, Yu Hayami, and chef Yasuhiro Watanabe stroll around Nagasaki to find delicious local foods and cuisine. Featured recipe: Hatoshi (shrimp toast).

#552 “Nagasaki Cuisine: Exploring a Fountain of Culture”
Our hosts, Yu Hayami and chef Tatsuo Saito, visit historic places to find the origins of the food culture in Nagasaki and cook the local delicacies. Featured recipe: Nanban-zuke