ODEN

Oden is Japanese style of "Pot-au-feu"; pots of slow cooked vegetable, tofu and some fish balls. Japanese eat this as appetizer with hot sake in the winter.  Once all the vegetables and some meat are boiled and cooked, simmer in very low heat and let them soak up the taste.  Actually the pot stars to taste better the second day.

Most of these ingredients are very Japanese unique such as Konnyaku; hard texture of jello made from yams, Kichuwa; Grilled fish paste, Yaki Tofu; Grilled tofu or so on.  Also it's stocks are varies from regions.  South and the West Japan make them in light color dashi and the East Japan make them in dark soya sauce stock. 

珍しくおでんを作ってみた。反省点は紀文の練り物を使ったこと。香港では質の良い練り物が手に入らないので、手作りするべきだと思った。実はがんもどきもお豆腐屋さんのものを使用していまいち。卵とじゃがいもしか好きでない夫にも不評だったので、来年はもっと気合いを入れて作りたい。