Mini-size donabe are excellent for small side dishes.
I made a quick fish & nuts dish with my mini-size classic-style donabe, "Rikyu Tokusa".
This dish is called, "Tazukuri", in Japanese, and it's a traditional New Year dish in Japan. But, of course, you can enjoy it all year round. It's so rich in calcium and makes a great side dish or a snack.
Tazukuri
Ingredients:
2 oz dry baby sardines ("gomame")...can be found at Japanese grocery stores
1/4C walnuts
1T sesame seeds
(for the sauce)
2T sake
2T sugar
1T mirin
2T soy sauce
Procedure:
1. For the fish, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roast them at 300F for 15 minutes in the oven. Remove from the oven and let them cool down. The fish should be light-crispy.
2. Increase the oven temperature to 400F. Roast the walnuts for 8 minutes in the oven. Remove from the oven and break them into smaller peaces by hand.
3. In a small-size donabe, combine the ingredients for the sauce. Bring to simmer over medium-heat. Simmer until the sauce is thickened and reduced by half (3-4 minutes).
4. Remove from the heat and immediately add the baby sardines and walnuts. Stir quickly. Serve at room temperature.
