Nimono (Simmered Dishes) (1)

"Nimono" is Japanese cooking traditionally used. For "Nimono", the ingredients (vegetables, fish, meat or tofu) are boiled or simmered in broth, typically dashi containing sugar, sake, mirin and soy-sauce and these seasonings penetrate the ingredients. The seasonings particularly penetrate the ingredients well when the nimono is slowly cooled after they are cooked.


Pumpkin Nimono

[Ingredients] (serves: 4)

• 1/4 medium pumpkin
• 30 ml thin soy sauce
• 50 ml mirin
• 350 ml water
• 50 ml sake
• 3 tbsp sugar

[How To Cook]

1. Cut the pumpkin into 4 to 5 cm pieces. Thinly slice the corner of the pumpkin which prevents them from losing their shape when simmered.
2. In a pot, place the water, sake, mirin, sugar, and place the pumpkin with the skin face down. Use enough broth to cover the pumpkin pieces.
3. Cover with a cooking sheet and cook. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 more min.
4. When the pumpkin becomes soft, add the soy sauce and simmer for 2-3 min. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.