Lindy’s Ono Recipes

Nishime is another Japanese dish served for the New Year celebration. It is a combination of vegetables, pork or chicken and seaweed, simmered in a pot. This dish is considered very healthy because of the variety of vegetables. These are some of the vegetables, besides carrots, included in this delicious dish:

shiitake mushrooms - Japanese mushrooms are a good source of nutrients and they contain eight essential amino acids as well as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and dietary fiber and enzymes. Scientists today are discovering that shiitake may be instrumental in helping to combat serious ailments including heart disease, cancer, and life-threatening viral conditions.

konnyaku - jelly-like food produced from Japanese yam. Konnyaku contains no fat, is rich in dietary fiber and is very low in calories. It has recently been found that it normalizes the level of cholesterol and sugar in the blood, and also prevents high blood pressure. It is an excellent aid to digestion and has been perceived as an excellent health food in Japan.

takenoko - bamboo shoots & gobo - burdock root are good sources of thiamin, vitamin B6, and potassium

araimo - dasheen is a tuberous vegetable that is related to the Hawaiian taro. It is high in protein, carotene, fibre, potassium and phosphorus

konbu - seaweed that is rich in potassium, calcium, iodine and carotene

Hasu or Renkon - lotus root is rich in vitamin C and iron.

Whew! How can you not eat nishime now? I think I should make it more often than my once a year task.

In my collection of laminated recipe cards, I use the basic sauce and instructions for Pork & Konbu in preparing this “oishii” delicious Japanese dish.