Mirin, a drink similar to saki but with less alcohol, is also a must-have condiment when cooking Japanese cuisine. Serve steak with Quick Cucumber Pickles (see recipe link below).
Similar to a schnitzel or cutlet, this easy dish is delicious served either hot or cold in a sandwich. Or you can serve it with steamed rice and a salad for a complete meal. If you can't find mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine), you can substitute 1 tbsp (15 mL) each boiling water and granulated sugar.
Maki rolls are what many people really refer to when they say 'sushi'. The rolls consist of almost any kind of filling surrounded by sushi rice, rolled up in a sheet of roasted nori (seaweed) and sliced into bite-size pieces. Tobiko, or flying fish roe, adds a hint of crunch and colour. Find tobiko, nori sheets, Sriracha and mirin in Asian supermarkets and some large grocery stores. Serve with sushi soy sauce.
Tsukune are flavourful grilled chicken meatballs, and they're right at home nestled into piquant peppers. Depending on your heat tolerance, you can either remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños for milder spice or leave them in for extra kick. Make sure you pierce both the jalapeños and the chicken inside when skewering the peppers to help keep the chicken in place during grilling.
