soy sauce – Notes From a Messy Kitchen

Indonesia: Gado Gado

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Asia

Indonesia

When I first started this journey, I figured my Indonesian dish would be a homage to Bali where we spent our honeymoon. I’ve long intended to recreate the dishes we made in our cooking class using the cook book they sent us home with as a souvenir. I’ve also always...

Johanna

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Chilled Silken Tofu with Garlic Ginger Green Beans

Cooking Time: 30

Uncategorized

I have a new food crush, and an unlikely one at that: silken tofu (also known as “soft” or “Japanese-style” tofu). In the past, my only experience cooking with it was in sauces or vegan desserts – usually to make something creamy without the use of dairy. Recently, I found myself eating...

Johanna

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Peru: Lomo Saltado

Cooking Time: 60 minutes + 30 for fries to soak

South America

Peru

If we could make some sort of deal to swap Valentine’s Day for a second Halloween, I would most definitely be on board. I think I liked the holiday back in the day when it was just another excuse to craft and get too much candy from my grandparents. Us...

Johanna

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Singapore: Hainanese Chicken Rice

Asia

Singapore

Hainanese chicken rice is the national dish of Singapore, served everywhere from school cafeterias, to street vendors, to fancy restaurants, to Singapore Airlines. The dish traces back to Chinese immigrants who came from the Hainan province and settled in different parts of what is now Southeast Asia. Although most often...

Johanna

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Tuvalu: Tuna Coconut Curry

Australia

Tuvalu

Like its neighbor Nauru, prior to embarking on this culinary journey, I had no idea that Tuvalu existed. The small island nation – made up of nine islands formerly known as the Ellice Islands – is located in the South Pacific. There is some variation across the islands, but unsurprisingly,...

Johanna

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China: Jiaozi (Pork & Chive Dumplings)

Cooking Time: 3 hrs

Asia

China

Almost immediately after I first announced my 2017 culinary challenge, my friend (and former co-worker) Jean came to me and said “I call China!” She made me promise to save China for her, and we both got excited about the plan to make dumplings together. They’d be an all day...

Johanna

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Japan: Okonomiyaki

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Japan

I have to tell you, this is one of our favorite recipes on our culinary journey so far. In fact, this is the only dish to date we’ve made twice – “just to use the leftovers!” I justified. It’s easy to make, and just so good! This is a popular Japanese street...

Johanna

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The Philippines: Chicken Adobo

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

The Philippines

The Philippines is a large archipelago with more than 7,000 islands, each with its own regional flavors. Filipino cuisine represents a cultural crossroads, with Malay, Hindu, Arab, Chinese and Spaniard influence. One dish that is fairly ubiquitous in Filipino households is adobo, a cooking style that involves a marinade of vinegar, soy,...

Johanna

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South Korea: Bibimbap

Cooking Time: 90 minutes

Korean

Bibimbap – translating quite literally to “mixed rice” – is perhaps one of Korea’s best known dishes, and something I’ve been meaning to make since my trip to South Korea. Bibimbap has become increasingly common in the U.S. in recent years, and I don’t doubt that this is in part...

Johanna

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North Korea: Mul Naengmyeon

Cooking Time: 90 minutes + time for broth to chill

North Korean

We’re starting our culinary journey in North Korea, where I’d venture to guess you haven’t eaten a meal. Since foreign visitation is strictly limited, so is our insight on their cuisine. Technically speaking, I actually have been to North Korea, but we stayed within the strict limits of the DMZ and...

Johanna

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Ingredient: soy sauce