Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) - Japanese Savoury Egg Custard
Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) is a traditional Japanese savory egg custard. The name literally means to "steamed in a tea bowl" as it is typically served in a small teacup or a special dish called a chawan. Chawanmushi is a popular appetizer in traditional Japanese restaurants and sushi restaurants, and beloved by a wide range of age groups, from children to adults.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 4/5 cup Dashi (Japanese soup stock)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp say sauce
- some mitsuba (Japanese parsley) Sub: celery leaves or cilantro
- some slices preferred protein (sea bream)
Instructions
Prepare ingredients
- Cut sea bream into slices, and cut mitsuba into half inch.
Prepare custard mixture
- In a bowl, add the egg and whisk gently without creating too many bubbles.
- Add dashi, say sauce, and salt, and whisk gently.
- Strain the egg mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into another bowl to make a smooth and silky texture.
Cooking
- Put ingredients into the chawan bowls, and pour the strained egg mixture over the ingredients in each cup. Cover with lids or aluminium foils.
- Place the chawanmushi cups in a steamer and cook with medium heat for about 9 minutes until the custard is set. 【TIP】How to check if it's done? insert a toothpick into the custard, and if it it comes out clean, it's ready!
- 【TIP】Don't have a steamer? In a large pot, place the chawanmushi cups with their lids on and pour water to the halfway up the sides of the cups. And cook it with the pot covered with a lid.
- Enjoy your chawanmushi as your hot appetizer!