Hi all - If you don’t get the reference in the email title, I suggest you drop what you’re doing and start Tiger King on Netflix immediately. We binge-watched the insane series that everyone can’t stop talking about and I still can’t stop thinking about it.
Anyways, onto the food! I’ve been cooking a lot of comfort foods lately, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite recipes that are keeping our tummies and spirits happy during these weird times. The best part about comfort foods is that you’ll likely find a lot of the ingredients already in your refrigerator and pantry.
My favorite is easily Japanese Chicken Curry. The recipe below is very versatile because you can make it with box mix (no shame in the box game), with your own homemade curry mixture, and you can throw it inside a pie. Yes, a Japanese chicken curry pot pie. Now that we are all at home more, try your hand at making my perfect pie crust recipe too!
Next, is a hearty Korean stew called Kimchi Jjigae. We always have some type of kimchi in the fridge which is just a pickled and fermented version of your veggie of choice. You cook it and simmer with Spam or any type of pork protein (or leave it out for a veggie version) and serve it over hot rice. Delish! This is a great dish for people just starting to cook with Spam and/or kimchi.
Lastly, I’m featuring our Kiyota family recipe for chow mein. It’s really not a very technical or difficult recipe but it’s how my aunties at home make it and it reminds me of going to the chow mein dinners hosted by our Japanese-American community in Colorado. You can make it with an array of different ingredients, just incorporate what you have and what you like. Taking a first bite of it instantly transports me home, sitting around my grandparent’s kitchen table, joking around and eating with my family.
I hope you guys are all doing well. It makes me so happy to see photos of you cooking my recipes! I love to see what everyone is making in their kitchens and the creativity that’s come out of it. If you guys have any questions about cooking with limited ingredients or getting creative, please reach out! I’m happy to answer any questions.
Combining two classic comfort foods from two different countries equals a winning combination. Learn how to make an Asian version of American pot pie with savory Japanese curry.
Learn how to make spicy Korean kimchi stew with this one pot recipe. You can spice it up with different toppings and garnishes. One of the most comforting recipes around!
