“It’s simple, delicious, and has deep roots,” says Tam who is the founder of the seafood market Pesce Lulu at The Hugh in New York. “It’s very cleansing and comforting while still being healthy.” Cooking together is a big part of the Tam family, and he enjoys instructing his daughters in the kitchen. (“Teaching my children how to cook is like teaching them how to live,” he says.) His home menu is full of healthy staples, especially soups prepared with halibut-bone- and other umami-packed broths. But when asked to share a recipe with Fatherly, Tam immediately suggested chawanmushi. He continues the tradition his grandmother began, regularly preparing the dish for his family and friends. “It’s something that we love to make together on the weekends,” he says. The basic structure of chawanmushi, which translates to “steamed in a bowl” and is often served as an appetizer, is that whisked eggs are combined with a rich dashi and such seasonings as soy sauce and mirin. The mixture is then strained into individual heatproof bowls, crocks, or cups, which are then placed in a casserole dish with boiling water. The mixture is steam-baked until solid but still creamy and traditionally served with a variety of toppings including scallion, shitake mushrooms, and shiso. Chawanmushi is quite easy to prepare, requiring only a few ingredients. Flavor and personality can be added by tweaking the type of broth, toppings, and seasonings. In addition to the simplicity of the dish, Tam loves its customizability. “I’ve adopted and made it casually or for a special occasion with many different variations: Seafood, fish broth, seaweed broth, shiitake broth, topped with ikura, dried bonito, hazelnut oil, sesame oil, truffle oil, and even fresh truffles,” he says. Tam adds that every culture, family, and person has a unique spin on the dish, so the possibilities are really endless. “You can add any ingredient to make it your own,” he says. “If you want Mexican flavors, add salsa. If you want it to be super decadent, add truffles. The flavors and ingredients you add will help make it feel uniquely yours.” If you’re new to chawanmushi, try a base recipe before you start riffing. Here, courtesy of Chef Tam is his version, which can be made in under an hour.
Chef Jeffrey Tam’s Chawanmushi/Gyeranjjim Recipe
Yield: serves 4 Time: 40 minutes Tools
Small sauce panFine sieveMedium bowlWhisk6-8 oz. ramekins or small bowls
Ingredients
1 (5-8 inch) piece kombu3 tbsp. bonito flakes3 caps dried shitake mushroom1 tsp. mirin1 1⁄4 tsp. soy sauce3 large eggs
Instructions
