I really want to try to make this Nabeyaki Udon recipe: https://www.lafujimama.com/nabeyaki-udon I can get all the ingredients from my local (UK) supermarket, except the dashi. I also can't get the ingredients to make my own dashi. So I'm thinking of ordering some pre-made dashi online. Any recommendations? There's this one from Amazon: http://amzn.eu/6j2OmX3 which has lots of good reviews, but I don't know how authentic it is. While we're at it, would this mirin be ok? https://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Morrisons-Mirin-Seasoning/353235011 Thanks! (@Iain Aschendale hope you don't mind me tagging you as I have a feeling you might know the answers to my questions!)
I really wish I could help you, but neither of those brands are familiar to me, so I'd just have to say trust the reviews and good luck. Sorry I couldn't be of help.
That’s ok, I appreciate you taking a look! To be honest the only real criticism of the dashi I could find was “contains MSG” which is a bonus as far as I’m concerned. The mirin I’ll have to just take a chance on. I’ll report back when I’ve given it a go!
"Contains MSG" is not a criticism when it comes to Asian food, it's a sign of authenticity. You can buy shaker bottles of MSG here, called Ajinomoto. Basically, MSG is the umami flavor, which is why you buy dashi in the first place, so just run with it.
Yeah, I’m ok with MSG and I know it’s a staple seasoning in Asian cooking. The criticism of it was from westerners who still believe MSG is bad for you.
Or those of us whose migraines are triggered by the stuff. A friend who was visiting from Japan made dinner and decided to sneak some MSG into it to prove some asinine point. Not a good idea. I was out of commission for two days, and he finally confessed.
I don't approve of that sort of thing, but I know it's brought about (the "proving a point" thing) by people like my... ...relative.... who has a rotating series of Munchausen-esque allergies. One year at Thanksgiving they'll be fatally allergic to potatoes, six months later they'll be sharing a recipe for potato gratin but don't even show them a picture of a carrot, or whatever. Idiots like that tempt unaffected people to "test" people who claim unusual allergies.
And three-quarters of the US population became gluten-intolerant pretty much overnight a few years ago. BS.
Do you not have any oriental shops close by? they should sell dashi! Otherwise you could make a dashiesque stock by: getting some nori seaweed (you can get them in any uk supermarket in the Asian department) 4 sheets of nori seaweed 1/2 cup Fish sauce 1 cup Dried mushrooms 3 cups of water Chop the nori seaweed up into strips in a saucepan or stock pot combine all ingredients bring to the boil simmer on a low heat for 30mins Allow to steep over night Sieve and if necessary filter all solids from the liquid and use the liquid as your dashi bingo bango bongo!
Isn't dashi just processed bonito flake? If so, just get bonito flake, we use it in a lot of things. Unfortunately we finished our supply and I don't know the brand we use.