Today, my husband and I finally received a package which my mother-in-law sent from Japan. As I mentioned in
my previous entries, she has sent some Japanese foods to us many times since we moved to the U.S. from Japan. Anyway, I'm going to share with you 8 Japanese products she sent for us. :)
1. Katsuobushi, Dried Bonito Flakes (かつお節)
Have you ever had katsuobushi? Katsuobushi is dried bonito flake which is used as topping for
takoyaki and
okonomiyaki. My late grandmother used to make fish broth from katsuobushi to cook miso soup. Now, I use
hondashi, broth powder made from bonito, for miso soup because it's easier.
2. Hijiki, Dried Sea Vegetable (ひじき)
Hijiki is dried sea vegetable and is rich in fiber, calcium, iron and magnesium. In Japan, hijiki is used many Japanese foods. I cooked okowa, Japanese sticky rice, with using hijiki she sent before. You can check out my previous entry,
How to Cook Okowa. We really love okowa, so I'll make okowa again soon.
3. Kaicyu Shiruko, sweetened red bean soup with monaka (懐中しるこ)
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| Shiruko, sweetened red bean soup |
Shiruko (しるこ) is Japanese sweetened red bean soup. Because these include monaka, thin cresp wafers made from mochi, these are called kaicyu shiruko (懐中しるこ). The sweetened red beans are sandwiched between monaka. These are instant ones made by Bunmeido (文明堂), which is a famous Japanese confectionery established in Nagasashi prefecture in 1900. I only need to add hot water to them. :) My husband really love Japanese sweets made from sweetened red beans. Indeed, while I was writing this entry, he made this shiruko. :) I was surprised that this shiruko was so delicious! Bunmeido always makes the best ones!
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| Bunmeido Kaicyu Shiruko |
4. Ogi Yokan, Japanese Traditional Red Bean Sweets (小城羊羹)
Yokan is a thick, jellied dessert made of red bean paste, sugar and etc. Ogi (小城) is a famous city located in Saga prefecture. Ogi is well known as yokan city. The city has 20 yokan stores. Even though there are many confectioneries sell traditional Japanese sweets called wagashi (和菓子) in Japan, confectioneries sell only yokan are very rare even in Japan. My husband really loves yokan made in Ogi city.
5. Okaki, Japanese Rice Crackers (おかき)
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| Okaki, Japanese Rice Crackers |
These are okaki, Japanese rice crackers. Did you know that Trader Joe's has started selling
their okaki recently? You can check out my previous entry,
Trader Joe's The Crispy Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets. Trader Joe's okaki tastes pretty good, but typical Japanese okaki is fluffier (and crunchy). The most well known Japanese okaki manufacture company is Kameda Seika (亀田製菓). My mother-in-law sent the latest Kameda Seika's okaki for us.
This is onion okaki. It has 9 packages of okaki in it.
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| Kameda Seika Onion Okaki |
Onion is called tamanegi (たまねぎ) in Japanese. This cracker was so delicious! I noticed its onion taste! :)
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| Kameda Seika Onion Okaki |
This is gobo okaki. It also has 9 packages of okaki in it. Gobo is burdock roots, a Japanese vegetable. By the way, I love gobo miso soup so much. You can check out my previous entry,
How to Cook Gobo Miso Soup.
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| Kameda Seika Gobo Okaki |
This okaki was the best I've ever had in years! When I opened the package, I noticed delicious gobo aroma! I wish you could try it!
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| Kameda Seika Gobo Okaki |
6. Yamaiso Ajizuke Nori, Seasoned Nori (味付海苔)
Nori (のり/ 海苔) is Japanese dried seaweeds which are known as ingredients of rice balls, sushi rolls and so on. This nori is already
seasoned with soy sauce and sugar. I'll make rice balls with this nori.
7. Marutai Bou Ramen (マルタイ 棒ラーメン)
I often mentioned about
Marutai Instant Ramen in
my previous entries. I think the best Japanese instant ramen is ones made by Marutai. Marutai Bou Ramen has been
our favorite since we were children. Marutai is a Japanese company that
makes instant ramen. The company established in Fukuoka in 1947 and
started selling Bou Ramen in 1959. Because our hometown is Fukuoka, Marutai instant ramen reminds us of our families live in Fukuoka. :) This Bou Ramen has two servings of instant tonkotsu ramen. I cannot wait to have it.
My husband is really good at cooking instant ramen, so he will cook it for our lunch soon. :)))
8. Maruha Crab Meats (カニ缶)
This is crab meat can we actually sent to her last month. We sent a set of six cans of crab meats as a Japanese
traditional year-end gift to my parents-in-law. She told me that crab meats we sent were really high-end, and those were too expensive for only her and her husband. That's why she gave each can to each of our relatives such as my parents and my brother-in-law. That's why she ended up sending one crab can to us. We didn't expect that. She is a very very kind woman. We thought can products last for years, so our parents-in-law would sometimes enjoy crab meats for a long time. What should we send to her next?
My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.
My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
My entries related to Japan can be seen here.
My entries related to
cooking can be seen here.
My entries related to
my favorite recipes can be seen here.
My entries related to
foods my husband cooked can be seen here.
These are also my entries you might like.
■Review - Marutai Nagasaki Agodashi Soy Sauce Ramen
■Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen - What My Husband Cooked This Weekend
■Don Quijote (Donki) Haul - What He Got in Japan
■Japanese Breads Haul - Convenience Stores in Japan
■Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo - Japan Haul (Oct 2016)
■Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan - Haul (2014)
■What He Got at Haneda Airport, Tokyo International Airport - Japan Haul
■What He Got at Drugstore in Japan - Haul
■Japanese Drugstore Shopping List - 6 Best Japanese Products You Can Purchase at Drugstore in Japan!
■Myojo Chukazanmai, The Best Japanese Instant Noodles!
■Japanese Instant Noodle Haul
■Japanese Cup Noodle Haul
■Hiyashi Chuka, Japanese Summer Cold Noodles
■Top 10 Products You Should Buy at Japanese Supermarkets (for Beginners!)
■My Top 15 Must Eat Foods in Japan - My Favorite Japanese Foods
■Top 10 Most Popular Japanese Foods
■How to Make Japanese Deep Fried Chicken, Kara-Age
■How to Cook Japanese Curry
■How to Cook Miso Soup
■8 Interesting Japanese Kitchen Gadgets!
■My Top 10 Favorite Japanese Snacks
■My Top 10 Favorite Japanese Sweets
