【明報專訊】Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸), which means "steaming in a small bowl" in Japanese, is a warm and soothing dish made with fresh ingredients.

．1 tablespoon of bonito powder (鰹魚粉) / chicken powder

．1 small shrimp

．1 piece of mushroom

．1 piece of crab stick, shredded or cut into pieces

．1 egg

．150ml boiled water (for a single serving)

(1) Break the egg into a small cup or bowl and beat it until the egg white and yolk mix well. Do not beat too quickly to avoid air bubbles.

(2) Dissolve the bonito/ chicken powder in the water and add it to the egg.

(3) Put in the crab stick, shrimp and mushroom.

(4) Cover the cup/ bowl well without any holes and put it into a wok or steamer. Steam for about 6-8 minutes.

■Do you know

Dried bonito flakes and powder are staple seasonings in Japanese families. They are famous for their fresh sweetness. Although a bonito lump (鰹魚塊) looks like a wooden block (picture 10) before it is made into flakes or powder, it is a preserved, sun-dried body of a medium-sized fish similar to tuna and mackerel.

■Glossary

soothing (adj) 使人安慰的

beat (v) 發打

staple (adj) (食物)主要的

mackerel (n) 鯖魚

[Smarties' Power English 第242期]