Hijiki Nimono

Photo: flickr user Conveyor belt sushi

Ingredients

2 ounces Hijiki

2 ounces Carrots

1 Age puff (deep-fried tofu)

Block hard tofu

5 Green beans

2 tablespoons Sesame oil

1 cup Dashijiru (soup stock)

3 tablespoons Shoyu (soy sauce)

2 tablespoons Sake

2 tablespoons Mirin

1 teaspoon White sesame seeds lightly sauteed

Seven pepper, to taste (Shichimitogarashi)

Preparation

Rinse the hijiki in a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water. In 3 times the amount of warm water, soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the hijiki with a tea strainer. (Sand and pebbles will sink to the bottom of the bowl.) Return to fine-mesh strainer and drain off excess water. Grate the carrots into matchstick slivers. Dip the age puff for 30 seconds in boiling water, and cut into matchstick slivers. Place tofu in a heated skillet and mash with a spatula. Let it simmer in its own water until reduced to small crumbs. Snap the ends off the green beans and place in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes. Immerse in iced water, drain, and cut into 1/2-inch-long pieces.

In a heated skillet, saute sesame oil, hijiki, carrots, age, and tofu (all completely drained of water). When ingredients have acquired a shiny appearance, add dashijiru, shoyu, sake and mirin. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until liquid has been absorbed. Turn off heat and add green beans.

Place in serving dish and sprinkle with sauteed sesame seeds.