7 things you need to do when you come visit Japan
If you are considering or already decided upon visiting Japan, here is a list of what you should not miss out on when you come and visit.
Chinsuko Biscuit
(ちんすこう)
Chinsuko (ちんすこう) is a traditional Okinawan biscuit which is simple yet a very comforting treat. Made from just three ingredients (sugar, oil, and flour), this biscuit similar to shortbread has a subtle sweetness and a satisfying, crumbly texture. It’s an ideal snack for moments when you crave something light yet flavorful, making it perfect for tea time or as a small dessert after a meal.
Table of Contents
A little bit about Chinsuko Biscuit (ちんすこう)
Chinsuko Biscuit is a very traditional Okinawan treat and whenever someone goes to holiday to Okinawa, this is what everyone brings back to their family and friends as souvenirs for them to enjoy. It really simple but comforting and we guess that embodies the very chill and relaxed nature of the Okinawan people.
As it is relatively sweet, this biscuit pairs really nicely with anything bitter, like tea, coffee or bitter matcha. This maybe more of a snack rather than a dessert but it would also go very nicely with vanilla or salted caramel ice cream. You can also make a bunch when you cook it and store the leftover in a tupperware so that you have some leftover for snacks for the next couple of days. After all, the dishes and snacks from Okinawa is somewhat different from main land Japan. Okinawa used to be a different kingdom and also a place which was known for trades with surrounding countries which may explain the subtle differences in taste. In any case, Chinsuko is very similar to the taste of shortbread, in case you wanted to know beforehand what to expect.
List of Ingredients you will need
(Serving for 4 people)
- ・Cool Agar: 10g
- ・Sugar: 42g
- ・Oil: 42g
Recipe
- 1. Combine the sugar and oil in a bowl and mix well.
- 2. Sift the cake flour into the sugar and oil mixture, and mix well until it is in a consistency where it can be shaped into a dough.
- 3. Shape the dough into sticks about 4-5 cm long and 1.5 cm thick. Bake them in the oven at 170°C (338°F) for about 14 minutes.
- 4.Once cooled, its ready to be devoured!
Super easy right?
Other recommended recipes
If this is the kind of dish you like, we have compiled some a list of dishes that you might also like for your next cooking session below.
Yakisoba (焼きそば)
Yakisoba is a dish made of noodles cooked on a hot plate mixed together with flavored with cabbage, bean sprout, pork, seafood and etc, which is then flavored with Japanese Bulldog sauce.
Tempura (天ぷら)
Tempura is a common Japanese cuisine that often consists of meat, fish, and vegetables that have been battered and deep-fried. As it is cooked in light batter, it is not too oily and the crusty coating and light salting brings out the real flavors of the ingredients being cooked.
Tonkatsu (とんかつ)
Tonkatsu (とんかつ) is a Japanese deep-fried pork cutlet. The outer coating is made extra fluffy, yet crunchy by using Panko (bread crumbs) to coat the meat, which is then fried in oil.
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)
Mainly famous in Osaka and Hiroshima, Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a savory Japanese pancake which can be customized to your taste. While the standard pancake is made out of flour, eggs, cabbage which is topped off with the bull dog sauce (A Japanese sauce similar to Worcestershire sauce) , mayonnaise, Aonori (shredded seaweed) and bonito flakes, you can choose the main ingredient which goes into the pancake. While the most popular is the one with pork ribs, you can also opt to choose different kinds of ingredients, such as squid, fried noodles and Mochi.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
- (Serving for 4 people/8 Okonomiyakis)
- ・Cake Flour… 14 ounces (400 grams)
- ・Eggs… 4 eggs
- ・Cabbage… 1/2 pieces
- ・Thin slices of Pork Ribs…40 slices
- ・Dashi…1 Tablespoon
- ・Bulldog Sauce… Appropriate Amount
- ・Mayonnaise… Appropriate Amount
- ・Aonori… Appropriate Amount
- ・Katsuo Bushi… Appropriate Amount
Instructions
1. Chop the cabbage into fine pieces. We want the crunchiness of
the cabbage but we do not want each pieces to be too big.
2. Mix the cake flour, Dashi, eggs, the cabbage and 1.6 cups of
water into a bowl. Mix the ingredients together until it becomes
a nice batter.
3. (Optional) If you have other ingredients at hand such as squid,
octopus, Tenkasu and Mochi, you can also mix it into the batter
prior to cooking it on a hot plate.
4. Wait for the pan or the griddle to heat up nicely. Once its hot
enough to start cooking, pour the oil evenly onto the surface.
5. As the batter is meant for 8 Okonomiyakis, make sure that you
divide the batter evenly. Place the batter onto the sizzling plate
and spread it nicely to make it nice and round.
6. Put the slices of pork onto the Okonomiyaki.7. Once one side is crispy, flip the Okonomiyaki over.
8. Once the pork is nice and crispy, flip it over again.
9. Pour the Bulldog Sauce evenly onto the top surface. Once top is
covered in Bulldog Sauce, pour Mayo on top of it.
10. Pour the Katsuo Bushi and the Aonori on top and the
Okonomiyaki is good to go!
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