All tagged Cooking Basics

The Japanese Cucumber #ACAinJapan

Today we begin with one of Japan’s most common vegetables that’s used on a daily basis and that is the Japanese Cucumber! It is known as “Kyuri” in Nihongo and I have to say that this has become my favorite type of cucumber! Like other cucumber varieties, the Japanese cucumber has a light and crisp taste. However, this cucumber is not bitter and it actually has a slight sweetness to it when you take a bite…

Peeling & Deveining Head-On Shrimp

Let’s talk about how to do something that most of us detest...peeling and deveining head-on shrimp! It can be a rather cumbersome task and it’s worth it to ensure your meal is top-notch!

Dealing with head-on shrimp can be a bit intimidating to some because you’re seeing everything such as eyes, antennae, legs, and all! However, there is a bonus to purchasing head-on shrimp, which is the ability to use them in multiple ways. Once you peel the shrimp you can of course eat the meat in a myriad of delicious ways. You can also save the shells and heads to make a flavorful seafood stock that is perfect for sauces, soups, and stews. Let’s say you peeled some shrimp for dinner but you didn’t have the time to make a stock. You can always store them in the freezer and make the stock at a more convenient time in the future.