Halle-freaking-lujah!
The word 'vegan' is virtually unknown in Japan (or maybe a little in large metro areas such as Tokyo), so we have searched for places that provide organic and 'macrobiotic' food items, while keeping an eye on the ingredients used.
A macrobiotic diet in Japan consists of a balance of wholegrains, vegetables, soy, seaweed and beans, but sometimes includes fish so I just make sure to avoid that. The main idea for this diet and lifestyle is to consume less processed food to maintain a good balance in health, and sometimes is even recommended as a recovery method for those who suffer cancer. (Info sourced from Wikipedia...maybe not as reliable, but it'll do.)
So! We began our vegan lifestyle again with a fresh new outlook and confidence, and so far we've been to a handful of small grocers and a few good restaurants that provided vegan-friendly meals. It's all been rather fun! But I think the best thing we've come across so far is dried soy 'meat', particularly one that mimics karaage, or Japanese fried chicken. And I understand that some people who follow a vegan diet cringe at food that mimics meat, but I personally don't mind (so long as it's not built into the shape of a carcass...that's a bit weird). I can still have karaage without the murder, so yay!
After all of that, here is the glorious karaage...with fish-free miso to boot!
I'd never cooked with dried soy before, so this was a first experience for me, and I was definitely not disappointed. We bought soy chunks by a brand called Ohsawa Foods, and the cooking process was very simple. Just boil some water to 80 degrees (I just brought water to a boil because I'm a professional...not really), then throw in the soy chunks and let them soak for about half an hour. Then squeeze out the water, put them all in a bowl and I usually stir in a couple of tablespoons of soy sauce, some garlic powder and grated fresh ginger. Fresh garlic would be better, but we don't have any of that. #brokelife
After sitting in the mixture for 5 minutes, heat up a whole lot of oil of your choice, coat the soy chunks in flour or starch (I usually stir in some spices too) and fry baby, fry! Fry the pieces until they are a lovely brown colour (not too long or they'll become too dark and tough), drain them and get ready to nom!! I honestly think the texture resembles KFC, but y'know, is a whole lot better. Unless you think about the oil content, then maybe it's not that much healthier, but it's definitely less cruel, so that's a plus!
Just look at it...my inner fat person was very happy eating this. And I understand it's not an everyday meal, but hey, I'm just so happy to know I can indulge without contributing to anything horrible. So if you're heading to Japan for an extended period of time and have access to a stove, I recommend these soy chunks for a treat, since the cooking process is very simple, the texture and the taste doesn't disappoint, and it's just enjoyable. Look for them in organic or macrobiotic shops, because I haven't found them in regular supermarkets. Oh, and make sure to drink some cold green, oolong or barley tea when eating as to cut through the oil consumption!
Happy eating guys! Until next post~
