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Nametake
Soy-simmered enoki mushrooms
Nametake (なめ茸): enoki mushrooms simmered in soy and mirin into a glossy relish for rice
Jars of nametake sit in almost every Japanese fridge: enoki mushrooms cooked down in sweet soy until they turn silky and slightly slippery, ready to spoon on plain rice, tofu or a bento's onigiri for a quick hit of savoury flavour. Homemade takes ten minutes and costs a fraction of the shop jars. The common mistake is chopping the enoki too short, which turns the relish to mush; 3 cm lengths keep a little bite. Chef's tip: add the vinegar at the very end, off the heat, for a brighter taste and a longer life in the fridge.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 7 oz enoki mushrooms2 packs
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirincontains a little alcohol, which simmers off; alcohol-free: 2 tsp sugar plus 1 tbsp water
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Cut the root ends off 7 oz enoki mushrooms, then cut the bundle into 3 cm lengths and pull them apart with your fingers.
Step 3: Add the enoki and simmer, stirring often, for 6–8 minutes, until they have collapsed, gone glossy and the sauce has turned thick and slightly sticky.
8 minStep 4: Turn off the heat and stir in 1 tsp rice vinegar.
Step 5: Cool, then keep in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Spoon over hot rice or into a bento cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 30 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nametake take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of enoki mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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