Reddit mentions of Katsuobushi - Dried Shaved Bonito Flakes, 0.88oz

Hiyayakko is great in the summer.

• chilled cube of silken tofu
  
• katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)
  
• grated ginger
  
• thinly sliced scallions
  
• soy sauce
  
  Just lay the katsuobushi on top, a bit of ginger on the side, sprinkle scallions on top and drizzle with soy sauce.

Dashi. But if you can't find the ingredients to make it, which is rare these days but possible, here is my "quick" faux-dashi recipe. Really just a method to making a quick delicious broth from pantry stuff mostly. Note that I give the ingredients depending on what I have in my /r/frugal pantry. And I have good access to a variety of interesting stuff... here goes:

Ingredients
> Either: Fish Base Better Than Bouillon (found in soup aisle), or in a pinch if you are desperate Ossem Chicken Consomme or what my Polish family grew up with Vegeta Seasoning.


> If you can find it, I get it in my health focused local co-op but not this brand: dried kombu. This makes it extra yummy but if you dont have it, like the rest of the substitutions in my "quick broth" method, it'll probably turn out fine.


>the cherry on top of the sundae, if you have the extra few minutes: katsuobushi, & your miso of choice, soy sauce of your choice, mirin if you have; if not, keep an eye out for it, grated ginger root if you're feeling fancy


> Depending on whether you want a soup or broth for rice, you may want vegetables and maybe some protein like chicken or egg or even fish (which I've cooked some types in the broth and comes out lovely).


> Need rice maybe.

Method:
In a good sized pot - one that can hold at least 2-4 bowls of soup or enough water to make rice, so, 1-2 liters depending? Fill with water only 3/4 of the way up, for room to boil. Add strip of dried kombu Heat water, ladle some nearly boiling into a small bowl and dissolve a couple teaspoons or tablespoons, depending on desired strength of broth, of fish Better Than Bouillon. Pour into pot, taste, adjust. Don't make it too salty yet. If you don't have BTB, season your water with the Ossem or Vegeta - it won't be quite as nice as using BTB, which is my secret quick dinner weapon- I use it in all the flavors it comes in. Important thing is that you have good flavor here but the sodium level isn't bad yet. Subtle.

When water is boiling, remove kombu and set aside. You can shred it and add a bit on top of the rice later, make a salad, or just toss it and make me cry.

Reduce to low simmer. Use your katsuobushi if you have it and want to but I admit to neither having tried it yet nor being that skilled yet to teach another about it but there are guides better than mine online. This is just a quick way to make yourself a tastey liquid for dinner.

Season with soy sauce, mirin, whatever you may have on hand that pleases you.

Turn off burner. Let stand a few minutes. If you wish, ladel a bit of the liquid into a bowl again and mix with some miso; it's good for you! Return miso mixture into pot. I don't usually do this with rice because the liquid is flavorful enough without it, but if I'm at the end of making a real soup from it with veggies etc I will add miso before serving along with some appropriate fresh herbs, optional.


Keep in mind:
If you're making rice with it, a too-salty broth will make the rice too strong. Try to get used to a lower salt level in your life and you'll appreciate a whole new world of taste sensitivity. And your heart will thank you.

Rice is like a backdrop to the more potent things you eat, and a flavorful stir-fry is nice when paired with a more delicate rice. Dare I suggest you try jasmine rice sometime, it is one of my favorites even though it's long-grained. Lovely aroma, I could eat it plain!

If making a soup with it, experiment with different flavor profiles, bases, and vittles like sweet potatoes cubed up, bits of chicken or pork, fresh parsley and/or dill, wakame seaweed (a favorite in my house), and yes even tofu!

Anyway, hope that wasn't too long... I am getting midnight cravings talking about rice and good broth (I make an insane bone stock that turns into jelly in the fridge, yum... that's for another day!)

Edited: fixed some things!

buy some stuff online and make your own yakisoba!!! it will be better i promise.

if you can find fresh or frozen ramen noodles at an asian market, buy those, otherwise cook your usual instant ramen noodles for about half the time you normally would, do not add the broth packet, and strain the water.

in a pan, heat up some vegetable oil, and saute some ground or diced pork, cabbage, carrots, and onion. once this is almost done, add the cooked ramen noodles and some "yakisoba sauce".

you can buy yakisoba sauce premade, or just mix worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, ketchup, soy sauce and sugar together, heat to dissolve sugar and whisk together.

cook the noodles, veg and pork with the yakisoba sauce for a minute or two on high till the noodles brown a little bit.

put on a plate and garnish with kewpie mayo and katsuobushi.

here are links to buy what you need;

yakisoba sauce - https://yummybazaar.com/collections/japan/products/yakisoba-sauce-by-otafuku-17-6-oz

katsuobushi - https://www.amazon.com/Katsuobushi-Shaved-Bonito-Flakes-0-88oz/dp/B001CWI4DU

kewpie mayo - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000WKU8K/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_1_w

those toppings and the sauce should come out to around $25 and should make 20-30 servings, then all you have to do is grab a ramen packet, pork and a bit of veggies and fry dat shit up...and that is how to make a very very simple, but legit japanese yakisoba, not the americanized instant version. will prob taste alot different than "beef taco" flavor. much less spice and much more umami. the yakisoba sauce, katsuobushi, and kewpie mayo all have natural or chemical flavors that trigger the sense of savoriness and meatiness...aka that same indescribable taste that makes it hard to stop eating doritos or hot cheetos or some snack with MSG