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potato starch

Blog, Spring Food

Mimosa Day (ミモザの日) International Women’s Day

07/03/2025 Leave a comment


Mimosa Day (ミモザの日)

March 8th is International Women’s Day, as designated by the United Nations, which in Japan is better known as Mimosa Day (ミモザの日). Similar to “Festa della donna” in Italy where women receive bouquets of mimosa flowers to symbolise their strength and beauty.

To gift a bouquet of mimosa flowers is to deliver a message of love and friendship. It symbolises respect, elegance, dignity, kindness and gratitude.

Recently more people in Japan are giving mimosa as gifts to express gratitude. Mimosa are bright yellow clusters of small pom-pom flowers that are soft and fluffy. They are also popular as a dried flower decorations often seen made into wreaths. It is given in Italy by men to women but in Japan due to the language of flowers they are often given as a gift for friends. Many people like to express their gratitude on mimosa day by giving a gift of mimosa.

In Japan, Mimosa trees grow in small city gardens and sometimes as trees in the streets. Mimosa is often sold by the branch in flower shops. Bring a touch of spring into your home by displaying mimosa. 

For the last few years I have been making  wagashi (Japanese sweets) to symbolise today.


When I go travelling anywhere other than Japan I am always trying to get my Japan fix, looking for shops selling ingredients, or cafes for that perfect vegan Japanese meal.

I am always on the look out for shops selling Japanese gifts or pottery.

I like visiting Japanese style gardens or visiting Japanese exhibitions.



All the above are from my trip to Paris last year.  While wondering around I came upon a Japanese style wagashi confectionery store called “La Maison du Mochi” selling freshly made mochi with a variety of original flavours using carefully chosen ingredients.





I was inspired by one such wagashi mochi roulé, “rolled mochi” with nut purée to make this years wagashi for mimosa day. If you are ever in Paris definitely pay them a visit.

How to make my “lemon mochi roulé with almond and white bean paste filling” inspired by La Maison du Mochi in Paris

To make the nut filling:

I decided to go for an almond style marzipan with white bean paste. If you cannot get white bean paste you can make it without.

Add to a bowl 150g of ground almond flour to the almonds add x2 tablespoons of agave and x1 heaped tablespoon of white bean paste.

Start to cream the above ingredients together until it forms a stiff dough. Add a little more agave if needed, you don’t want the mixture too wet or too dry. Put to one side while you make the mochi.

100g of joshinko flour

x1 tablespoon of sugar

x1 teaspoon of turmeric (for the yellow colour)

A small drop of lemon essence for flavour if you wish

Add the above ingredients to a bowl and mix

You will also need some potato starch for dusting and a piece of parchment paper.

To the joshinko flour add 130ml of cold water and whisk to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and cook in the microwave for 3mins.

After this time take the bowl out and remove the plastic wrap. Using a damp spoon scrap the mochi from the sides. When the mochi is cool enough to handle, with damp hands remove the mochi from the bowl and start to knead it. When it’s nice and kneaded scatter some potato starch onto a work surface and roll it out with a rolling pin with a dusting of potato starch to stop it sticking. Roll it into a rectangle as much as possible.

Take the almond filling you had put to one side and roll it out to the same size on parchment paper then flip it over onto the top of the mochi. Cut the edges so you have a rectangle you can patch up any filling and re roll until you get a regular shape. Keep any off cuts to one side.

Start to roll the mochi into a log shape, then with a potato starch dusted knife carefully carve the mochi into pieces. Carving the mochi will stop it getting squashed. If you like use any offcuts to make pretty flower decorations for the top using a cutter.


As with all mochi they are at their very best eaten within a few hours of making. Store that day in an airtight container or if you do not plan on eating them all in one day they freeze beautifully. Just put them in a container and take one out an hour to defrost before you plan to eat it. They are perfect enjoyed with a nice green tea.



I think you can definitely have fun with this recipe I know I’m going to be making more this year in different colours. Why not try making pink ones for Sakura season or matcha ones. You can colour the mochi and flavour the almond paste. If you end up making these please tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations.
The recipe is my gift to you this mimosa day.

Blog

Father’s Day in Japan Chichi no Hi (父の日)

13/06/2024 Leave a comment


Father’s Day in Japan is called Chichi no Hi (父の日) and is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. In Japan there are two words for “father”. One is “otosan”, which is used for father in general and the other is “chichi”, which is used only for your own father.

Father’s Day arrived in Japan well after the 1980’s, even though it was first celebrated in 1910 in America.

With Japanese fathers working long hours and often not at home that much, It is an occasion to gather the family and to enjoy a particular day for a father and his children although still rather more of a low-key celebration in relation to Mothers Day.

One thing that is common to give a father on Father’s Day is a handmade greeting card or thank you notes. The most popular way to celebrate Father’s Day in Japan is to give presents so what kind of gifts are given to Father’s on this day in Japan ? The most popular is what Japanese call shiko-hin (what you don’t need, but can’t live without). These can be in the form of luxury goods or things like alcohol or sugar that are consumed purely for enjoyment. These are things that provide small comforts and happiness in everyday lives.

Obviously alcohol plays a large roll In Japanese culture with craft beer and nihonshu (Japanese sake) brands going all out to produce that extra special gift for Father’s Day especially limited edition in a nice presentation box. Shochu liqueur and Whiskey are also favoured with personalised drinks tumblers and beer glasses being popular as an accompaniment.

Other popular gifts are given for the father’s personal leisure activities like golf, cycling or other interests. Jinbei 甚平 is sometimes given as a gift, this is a traditional set of Japanese loungewear clothing worn in the house. Consisting of a side-tying, tube-sleeved kimono-style top and a pair of trousers.

Of course food plays an important role with unagi (eel) うなぎ being the most popular Father’s Day gift according to Takashimaya, one of Japan’s major department stores. Unagi is usually considered a luxury item of food and reserved for special occasions.

Today I’m going to show you my easy recipe for vegan Unagi using tofu as the main ingredient.

First make your homemade Eel sauce, or unagi no tare a thick and sweetened soy sauce.

Add to a pan two tablespoons of mirin, one tablespoon of sugar and one table of sake and heat gently to dissolve the sugar then add two tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce. Simmer on a low heat to reduce and set aside.

You will need to use firm tofu for this. I used the firm variety from the Shizenno Megumi range. The tofu is made using traditional Japanese techniques by a small group of passionate members bringing traditionally made tofu to the U.K. If you  want to know more about this tofu why not check out my previous recipes using “Shizenno Megumi” tofu.

Drain the tofu from its liquid wrap in a paper towel or muslin cloth and microwave for one minute, this will help to dry out the tofu without pressing. Mash the tofu then tip it into the middle of a cotton cloth so you can use to it to squeeze out the liquid, a nut milking bag is especially good for this.

Squeeze out as much liquid as possible then tip the tofu into a bowl and set aside.

I used around a 2”piece of Yamaimo which is super sticky when grated as a binder you could also use taro ( Satoimo) if you cannot get hold of yamaimo.


I used a Japanese Kyocera ceramic grater to grate it fine, they are also perfect for grating ginger and daikon so definitely well worth adding to your Japanese kitchen utensils. Peel the outer skin off the yamaimo and grate it. Add this to your tofu along with a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of aonori (aromatic dried green seaweed powder). Mix to combine. Finally add a tablespoon of Japanese potato starch and mix together.

Then cut a large piece of toasted nori into six individual pieces and place shiny side down. Spread the tofu yamaimo mixture over the nori, I pushed a chopstick into the middle and across to make eel like markings to make it look more authentic.


Add a shallow layer of oil to a frying pan and cook tofu side down until golden.

Then flip over to make it extra crispy.

Place the pieces under a hot grill and cover with your special sweet glaze. Cook until hot.

Unaju 鰻重 is one of the most traditional popular ways to eat it. Grilled eel served with a sweet sticky soy sauce glaze and sansho pepper placed on top of steamed rice  and served in a lacquerware box called a Jubako 重箱. Una” is the abbreviation of “unagi” and “ju” is the abbreviation of “jubako”. 


Also called Unadon 鰻丼 when placed in a bowl of rice short for unagi donburi.

On Father’s Day it is also custom to serve up Unagi with soba noodles on the side.


How ever you decide to make it I’m sure you will feel better no eels were harmed in the making of this meal.

Summer Food

Vegan Unadon (Eel Rice) 鰻丼

27/07/2021 Leave a comment

Doyo-no-Ushi-no-Hi 土用の丑の日 falls this year in Japan on the 28th of July. This is a day when it is tradition to eat unagi (freshwater eel) starting in the Edo period. Apparently this is said to help give relief from the fatigue of intense summer heat and humidity  during the Japanese summer. Unaju is one of the most traditional popular ways to eat it. Grilled eel served with a sweet sticky soy sauce glaze and sansho pepper placed on top of steamed rice  and served in a lacquerware box called Jubako.

Also called Unadon when placed in a bowl of rice short for unagi donburi.

The over consumption of eel has made it endangered but illegal fishing still goes on. So why not make a vegan version instead. Over the years I’ve made vegan versions using eggplant and tempeh, this year I made a vegan eel using tofu and taro potato.

First make your sauce add to a pan two tablespoons of mirin, one tablespoon of sugar and one table of sake and heat gently to dissolve the sugar then add two tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce. Simmer on a low heat to reduce and set aside.

You will need to use firm tofu for this. Drain a pack of tofu from its liquid wrap in a paper towel or muslin cloth and microwave for one minute, this will help to dry out the tofu without pressing. Mash the tofu then tip it into the middle of a cotton cloth so you can use to it to squeeze out the liquid, a nut milking bag is especially good for this.

Squeeze out as much liquid as possible then tip the tofu into a bowl and set aside.

I used three peeled and grated taro potato as a binder. It has a sticky texture when grated. I used a Japanese Kyocera ceramic grater to grate it fine, they are also perfect for grating ginger and daikon so definitely well worth adding to your Japanese kitchen utensils.


Add this to your tofu along with a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of kombu dashi powder or grated kombu. I used a Japanese Oroshigane wasabi stainless steel grater to do this. If you do not have either grater try to use a fine grater setting. Mix to combine. Finally add a tablespoon of Japanese potato starch and mix together.


Then cut two pieces of nori and place shiny side down. Spread the tofu taro mixture over the nori, I pushed a chopstick into the middle to make it look more authentic but you don’t have to do this. Add a shallow layer of oil to a frying pan and cook tofu side down until golden.

If you like make your nori crispy by flipping it over.
Place your warm cooked vegan eel on to steamed rice and drizzle over your sweet soy sauce glaze . Finally finish with a sprinkle of sansho pepper.  Serve if you like with miso soup and simple pickles.