Thursday, July 30, 2020

ume syrup kakuni


Last night I made kakuni (shoyu pork) using ume syrup in place of mirin.

It was pretty easy to do.

Adapted from Cookpad
500 grams pork belly block
2 slices ginger
50 cc (1/4 cup) ume syrup
2 tablespoons shoyu
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon sake

Cut pork into sizes of your liking, I cut my block into 12 pieces.
Put the pork into a pot of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes, drain.
In a pan without putting any oil, brown the pork to get color on it.
Put the pork back into a pot, with water to cover, bring to a boil then down to a simmer.
Cook for 1 hour.
After 1 hour, add the ume syrup, shoyu, brown sugar and sake and cook for 1 hour with an oshibuta (drop lid) on top.

NOTES: I should have boiled the meat for the 10 minutes to get rid of some of the fat.

I also should have made it a day ahead so I could scrape off most of the oil too.

I didn't get a good sear on the pork before simmering it, so I seared it after I cooked the pork.

This was melt in your mouth tender, would definitely make this again.

UPDATE: Japan had 1000 cases yesterday.  Iwate prefecture was the only prefecture that had no cases since the beginning of this pandemic until yesterday! Iwate now has 2 cases....boo!

Tokyo has had 200+ cases everyday for the past week.  We need more testing. 

Hoping the main branch of government will step up, though it doesn't look like they will because they are not in session at the moment...cowards!

Stay safe everyone. Keep positive.

8 comments:

  1. Did the ume syrup give the kakuni a different flavor? Sugoi!
    I always meant to ask you, when you removed the ume from the batch, did you taste it? Did it have to be discarded?

    Arghhh, just when Japan and Honolulu were working out details for travel, cases on both sides are going up. Hope it doesn't jeopardize the works. Today, the governor announced plans to roll back the opening of businesses again. :(
    v

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  2. I'm sorry to hear about the rise in cases; it makes me sick! I don't know about you, but it has been really hard to keep spirits up in the middle of this pandemic, and the news everyday stateside...it makes me want to scream especially where it concerns politics and specifically politicians who do not or will not address the situation for how serious it is to the world Are they that DUMB?!!!! oh and the people whining about wearing masks because it compromises their freedom - PFFFFFTTTTTT!

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  3. no V it didn't have a different flavor, when I made the ume syrup, I used the fruit to make jam.

    Rowena, it is making me mad that local government is supposed to use all their monies while the main branch of government is on summer break :( the US and the mask thing is totally crazy.

    Thanks Jalna :)

    Take care everyone.
    Kat

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  4. On the ume subject. Have you tried the Hawaii Foodland Maika'i brand of ume arare? Everytime I go, they're out. The line is really expanding. Now, I'm a little wary of Foodland Farms. A cashier tested positive & I don't know what to tell myself. Yup, I give myself little encouraging lectures. The funniest is that "you are samurai" & will get through this. : ) Don't stop trying to be safe! Li

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  5. Have you tried the Hawaii Foodland Maika'i ume arare? Recommended but always out when I go. Might be awhile. A cashier just tested positive for Covid19. Might not be going there anytime soon.

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  6. Thanks Kirk :)

    No Li, I don't think I have tried the ume arare from Foodland, will try the next time I am back in Hawaii. Thanks for the tip!

    Take care you two.
    Kat

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