Sides | My Recipes

Pickled Daikon

Pickled Daikon

by Dana | Jan 8, 2025 | Autumn, Sides, Winter

Japanese Pickled Daikon (tsukemono)

This recipe can be used for making homemade pickles.

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Prep Time 1

Cook Time 20

Pickling Time 5

Total Time 5 1 20

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 14 Servings

Equipment

1 Bowl
1 Small Pot
1 Mason Jar This needs to be big enough to hold the pickles and have a lid.

Ingredients

1000 grams Large Daikon
salt
10 grams Sugar
1.5 grams Bonito Or less if you are not used to bonito
1 piece Kombu I cut this into smaller pieces to layer it in the jar.
2 cups White Vinegar You can use Rice Vinegar, but this is expensive and I think white vinegar works just as well.

Instructions

Cut the daikon into slices (1/8 Inch or 3mm or so thick). If you want them smaller, you can half or quarter the slices. I use cookie cutters and make them into shapes because I enjoy the cute pickles.
After cutting, put the slices in a bowl and salt them. Make sure there is a light layer of salt on all the slices. You can let them sit with the salt for however long you want, but do at least an hour because it draws out excess moisture.
When the daikon is close to being done, combine the vinegar & sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil and let it boil for a minute or so. Then take off the heat.
Drain the bowl with the daikon. Dry the daikon with a paper towel to remove the rest of the moisture.
Add some of the vinegar mixture to the mason jar, then add some bonito, kelp, and a layer of daikon. Add more vinegar and repeat the layering until the jar is full or you are out of daikon. You want the daikon to be covered and not above the liquid line so that it is able to pickle.
You can leave the pickles out to ferment for a week or so, but eventually store in the fridge.

Keyword Healthy

Sticky Rice in the Microwave

Sticky Rice in the Microwave

by Dana | Jan 4, 2025 | Grains, Recipes, Sides, Vegetarian

Sticky Rice in the Microwave

How to achieve sticky rice for Onigiri, Sushi, or other Japanese Meals

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Course Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 4 Onigiri

Calories 160 kcal

Equipment

1 Glass Microwave Container Make sure there is a good lid
1 Microwave

Ingredients

1 Cup Nishiki Premium Sushi Rice You can choose any brand, but this has worked for me and is available on Amazon
1 TBSP Rice Vinegar (Optional) If you are making Sushi or Onigiri, Rice Vinegar is needed. If you are making plain rice, you do not need this.

Instructions

Preparation

Wash the rice with water. I use a strainer, but you can also fill the cooking bowl with the rice, then water, swish it around, then drain. Repeat process about three times.

Cooking

If using 1 cup rice, add 2 cups of fresh, cool water to the bowl where you have the rice prepped. Put the lid on the bowl. Place it in the microwave.
In the microwave, I set it for 10minutes on 0 heat so it can soak and I do not have to do anything for it to go to the next step. Some microwaves may not have an ability to set multiple times and temperatures, then just do this manually.
So set the microwave as below:
-10 minutes on Power 0
-5 minutes on High Power
-10 minutes on 50% or Medium Power

Notes

While rinsing the rice and soaking the rice seem like wasted time, they are not.

Rinsing the rice helps remove the starch so your rice sticks together.

Soaking the rice helps it to absorb the water prior to cooking so that it can cook through the whole grain without getting super mushy.

Keyword Healthy

Easy Risotto

Easy Risotto

by basicmatrix | May 2, 2023 | Grains, Recipes, Sides, Vegetarian

Easy Risotto

This version of risotto is easy and simple to make. I often do not add cheese since the starch of the rice provides the creaminess of the dish and is indulgent without the added calories. Try it both ways and tell me your thoughts.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 17

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, French, Italian

Equipment

1 Glass 2 Quart Casserole Bowl microwave-safe glass dish with a lid
2 Measuring cups

Ingredients

1 cup Arborio rice
1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth do not substitute with water
3/4 cups white wine

Optional Mix-Ins

1 cup sauteed mushrooms
1/2 cup cooked shallots
1 - 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese

Instructions

In the dish, microwave the broth to boiling (2-3 minutes on high).
Pour in rice. Cover and cook for 6 minutes on medium (50%).
Stir in the wine and optional mix-ins if you want their flavors to infuse with the rice. Cook for another 10 minutes on medium (50%). When this completes, add salt to taste and stir. You may want to add butter or olive oil or more cheese.

Brown Long Grain Rice

Brown Long Grain Rice

by basicmatrix | May 2, 2023 | Grains, Sides, Vegetarian

Brown Long Grain Rice

This recipe is for microwaving any long-grain brown rice, including Basmati. Cooking rice in the microwave is an easy way to cook rice without using a stovetop eye and it will not burn.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Indian

Servings 4 People

Equipment

1 Glass 2 Quart Casserole Bowl microwave-safe glass dish with a lid

Ingredients

1 cup Brown Basmati or Brown Long Grain Rice
2 cups vegetable broth or water You can also use spice-seasoned water based on what type of rice you would like. Example - add turmeric for an Indian dish.

Instructions

Add the rice and broth into the dish. Place the lid firmly on the dish. Put it in the microwave.
Set the microwave for 10 minutes on HIGH and then 25 minutes on medium or 50%.
Note: You should be able to program the whole set at once; check your handbook if it is not apparent on your microwave.
At the end of the cooking time, add olive oil or butter and salt to taste. Fluff with a fork and serve.

Notes

The cooking times will vary based on your microwave. If the broth boils over, set the microwave to 10 minutes on 80% and 25 on 40% or adjust as needed.