A Fat-Burning Dish ... Dried Daikon, Shitake & Onions

This dish is said to help burn fat in the body and be good for the lymph system because of the dried daikon, a traditional Japanese food. It's kind of exotic and tastes great. And, it's one of my 19-year-old daughter's favorite foods I make!

I prepare and eat it the same day, and then once a day for the next two days. I think I made this side dish weekly or every other week the first several years of my macrobiotic journey. It's still definitely on my list of frequently made dishes. This is how I prepare it ...

DRIED DAIKON, SHITAKE & ONIONS
1 6 ounce package of dried daikon (I used Eden brand), soaked in water and reconstituted
3-4 dried shitake mushrooms, soaked in water and reconstituted & sliced
1 onion, cut into half moon slices
2 tablespoons of mirin
2 tablespoons of soy sauce (I use Eden brand or Mitoku)
soaking water from shitakes and daikon
1 teaspoon of sesame or other oil

Heat oil in a cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet on a medium-high flame. Add the onion and saute 2-3 minutes.

Add dried daikon and shitake and saute another few minutes. Add enough of the soaking water to the skillet to have it come halfway up to the daikon, onion and shitake. Turn flame to high to bring to a boil, turn to low. Simmer, covered, for 40 minutes. 

During the last 10 minutes, add the mirin and soy sauce and continue cooking uncovered to cook off any extra liquid in the dish. I like a little liquid left in the pan so that this dish is not completely dry.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

This stores well in the refrigerator for three days. To reuse, take out of refrigerator an hour or so before eating. No need to reheat!

Serves 8-10.

Note: To make this wheat- and gluten-free, use tamari wheat-free soy sauce, or for a soy-free version, substitute soy sauce with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.

Have you ever tried daikon, dried or fresh? Would you consider adding it to your diet?

Comments

[Laura]

YUM! YUM! YUM! I just discovered dried daikon last week, and I love it!!!!!! I love to just it it dried, and it is also delicious cooked with mushrooms and onions.

I am going to two of Warren Kramer's workshops next weekend, and I have a consultation with him next Saturday. I will send you an e-mail after that to let you know how everything is going.

Also, while I'm here, thank you so much for Kristina Turner's book!!!!! It just arrived yesterday, and I'm looking forward to reading it today on this rainy, storm Chicago Sunday.

[thedaintypig]

I have been dying to try dried daikon! This looks so good! I just can't seem to find it anywhere here in Canada. I'll have to scour deeper in the Japanese markets, I guess.
I normally eat fresh daikon everyday--either raw, or steamed. It is so good! Do you have any really tasty ways you prepare fresh daikon?

[Meghan (Making Love In The Kitchen)]

This looks so good- and so simple. I have yet to see Daikon radish but perhaps I have not been looking for it. Will have to source it and give this a try.

[Maggie]

This sounds delicious. I have never used dried daikon - I've probably seen it but didn't think to pick it up. I have a bunch of dried shitakes that I want to use anyway so I'll have to try this if I can find dried daikon.

[aTxVegn]

This recipe has ingredients I absolutely love. I assume fresh daikon offers the same health benefits as dried, right?

[Carol]

This looks delicious Meg. Thank you for sharing and I just checked Eden's website and you can order the dried daikon right on-line (edenfoods.com). I'm especially looking forward to this food as I still am cleansing my lymph system. Love to you!

[Kati]

This recipe sounds really good! I've only ever had fresh daikon, but I've been looking for a way to try out the dried variety. I'll have to pick some up at the store tomorrow.

[San]

Meg, I loved reading about daikon in your book. Sounds like something I should be eating.

I've finished the book, and yes, I've blogged about it!

:-D

[maria]

we eat fresh daikon radish (grated in salads) in greece - never seen it here in dried form

i love its spicy crunchy taste