Green papaya Spring rolls

Fresh fruity salad Spring rolls.

A green papaya from… the North. It’s produced in Aichi prefecture. Well, with these long hot Summers, they can easily grow tropical fruits.

As you can see, the fruit “sweats” a milky liquid. I was surprised to find so few grains in it.

Cress greens, cucumber sticks, the grated papaya (mixed with kabosu lime juice). The powder is sesame, goji berries and a little salt.

Wrapped in rice paper.

Served with sweet chili sauce.

As a side : abura age (fried tofu pockets) filled with kurigohan (chestnut rice), then toasted.

Yamamomo on the pie, when strawberries grow on trees…

It’s a second version of the Japanese flavor pie. I have added yamamomo a season fruit.

So this is the beast. The “Chinese strawberries”. They grow on trees, particularly in Shikoku islands. In Japanese, they are called 山桃 yamamomo (mountain peaches). Even though it’s a very ancient Japanese fruit, it’s not so common on markets these days. I’m glad when I can get some.

pie base here

Then place a few yamamomo (the greenest, not so good to eat raw) and the filling and a little cane sugar on each.Bake.

Coat with raspberry jelly. Let cool.

Like the basic pie, it’s delicious served chilled.

A Japanese flavor pie

So that’s this month’s Daring Baker’s challenge.

Rachael from pizzarossa was our lovely June 2013 Daring Bakers’ host and she had us whipping up delicious pies in our kitchens! Cream pies, fruit pies, chocolate pies, even crack pies! There’s nothing like pie!

You’ll see 2 more soon :
yamamomo pie
crostata with ume plum jam
no bake cherry cream pie

I have used local ingredients. We have not so many fruits that do well in pies in Japan, buy sweet potatoes are ideal.

栗黄金 kurikogane (chestnut yellow gold sweet potato)

The baked potato becomes colorful.

Yuzu, the Japanese aromatic citrus.

As the potato is naturally very sweet, no added sugar here. I approximated the amounts for the dough.

I’ve prepared it like a flaky pie dough.

Flowers instead of a top or a net.

My exps in plant based milks and yogurts

Here is a post to make the point about my adventure in the plant-based milk and yogurt world…
That doesn’t go much out of the beaten paths, but for me there were novelties. Also these food are very different so I made my tasting files for each.
If you want wider information about dairy-free cooking, there is a compilation post about it (here).

MILKS :

Soy milk (tutorial)

+Tastes good cold or hot.
++Useful to make tofu, yuba, yogurt, etc.
++ Very cheap ingredients.
-A bit long and complicated to make.

Almond milk (tutorial)

+ Tastes great cold.
+ Useful to make blanc-manger.
– Raw almond are very expensive here.
++ The most convenient and quickest to make.

Sweet corn milk (recipe)
+ Tastes fresh and original cold.
+ Quick and easy to make.
– Seasonal ingredient, no so cheap (I think frozen corn is pre-cooked, I didn’t try)

Sesame milk (tutorial)
+ Tastes great warmed.
+ Convenient and easy to make.
+ Cheap ingredient.

Recipes :
kurogoma tonyu (black sesame paste in soy milk)
hot sesame milk

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Coconut milk yogurt
+ Very tasty
+ Super easy to make
– or + It stays liquid
– A little fat (has to be drunk in small amounts)

Soy milk yogurt (thick type recipe)
+ Tasty
+ Great texture
+ Cheap ingredient
– Some prep needed to thicken it

Recipes :
coconut milk lassi

Let’s just open a can…

That’s it lunch is ready !
Well, yes, I could, but I wanted to eat a little more. So :

Yeah, like that. I’ve prepared it all one hour in advanced, covered the plate with a bell and let flavors mix. Kept it in the fridge.
That was delicious !