Ozoni & Osechi [Japanese New Year Menu/日式年菜]

 

Zoni (ozoni/お雑煮) is one of the auspicious dishes eaten on New Year's Day. It is a soup containing mochi (rice cake) as main ingredient, and the soup base is varies according to the region. White miso soup for us in Kansai area. 

This is a recipe passed down from my hubby's family. You may add other ingredients if you want to. I made my own mochi (rice cake/麻糬) last year, and will be making again this coming new year. 

 

Ozoni/お雑煮

Ingredients (4 servings)

4 pcs Rice cake, toasted

4 cm Daikon, peeled & divide into 4 pcs

4 cm Carrot, peeled & divide into 4 pcs 

4 pcs Tofu, 3x3cm each

4 Sato-imo (Baby yam), peeled

Poached Spinach for garnish

Soup:

800 ml water or dashi stock

2 tsp dashi powder (omit this if you use dashi stock)

2-3 tbsp (heap) white miso paste

1 tsp (heap) awase miso paste 

Salt to taste

Methods:

1. Put the daikon and baby yam into a pot then add in enough water. Bring to a boil, then turn to low heat and cook for 8-10 minutes. Drain.
2. In the same pot, add in the dashi stock, carrot and tofu. Bring to a boil then cook on low heat for about 5 minutes. 
3. Add in the miso paste and salt to taste (if necessary). 
4. Adust the amount of miso paste to taste. If you prefer creamier soup, add more white miso paste.
5. Divide the soup into 4 bowls, add toasted mochi and spinach on the top. Serve warm.

This is Osechi (おせち）I prepared last year.

I wll be making it soon. 

去年做的日本年菜，多几天又要开始忙了。

Toshikoshi soba ( 年越し蕎麦/越年荞麦面), "year-crossing noodle" that we had last year on the new year eve.