Shirasu Don - Japanese Delight

Ingredients

• 2 cups (470ml) steamed rice 2 cups (470ml) steamed rice
• 1 cup (150g) shirasu (baby anchovies) 1 cup (150g) shirasu (baby anchovies)
• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 radish, thinly sliced 1 radish, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine) 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• Nori seaweed, for garnish Nori seaweed, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 250 kcal / 1046 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 5g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 45g, 2g
• Protein: 10g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to create the dressing.
2. 2.
   Rinse the shirasu under cold water and drain well.
3. 3.
   In a separate bowl, combine the shirasu with half of the dressing and let it marinate for 5 minutes.
4. 4.
   Place the steamed rice in a serving bowl and arrange the marinated shirasu on top.
5. 5.
   Garnish with cucumber slices, radish slices, and nori seaweed.
6. 6.
   Drizzle the remaining dressing over the dish and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
7. 7.
   Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh flavors of Shirasu Don.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Shirasu (baby anchovies) — Rinse the shirasu under cold water to remove any excess saltiness before using in the recipe.

Tips & Tricks

• For added crunch, lightly toast the sesame seeds before sprinkling them over the dish.
• Customize the dish by adding other fresh vegetables such as avocado or thinly sliced carrots.
• Adjust the amount of dressing according to your taste preference. You can make it more or less tangy by adjusting the amount of rice vinegar and soy sauce.
• Serve Shirasu Don with a side of miso soup for a complete Japanese meal experience.
• If shirasu is not available, you can substitute it with small cooked shrimp or diced tofu.

Serving advice

Serve Shirasu Don in individual bowls, allowing each person to mix the ingredients together before enjoying. This dish is best served fresh and should be eaten immediately to fully appreciate the flavors and textures.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, arrange the cucumber and radish slices in an attractive pattern on top of the shirasu and rice. Sprinkle the dish with finely chopped nori seaweed for an added touch of elegance.