EATOO UK

Recipe from White Mausu

The ultimate vehicle for Peanut Rãyu, IWMO (In White Mausu's Opinion).

It's somewhere between a Korean bibimbap and a Japanese donburi.

You can swap out the ingredients for whatever's in season, or whatever's left in the fridge. Mushrooms work just as well as aubergines. If tofu isn't your bag, try a different protein. And you can basically pickle anything and it'll taste good.

If you only do one thing with our rãyu, do this. You won't be disappointed.

Peas

Boil½ bag of peas (we love peas).They don't take long. Run them under the cold tap once boiled to stop them cooking more.

Pickles

We always have a jar of pickled radish in the fridge. It keeps for weeks (watch it go bright neon pink) and is an amazing acidic kick in your salads and sandwiches, especially the melted cheese variety. Mix sliced radish with rice or any clear vinegar, some sugar, ginger and a few Sichuan peppercorns. And wait. Either few Hours or a few weeks.

Cucumber pickle can be super quick. Finely slice a cucumber ideally using a mandoline, sprinkle with salt, sugar and grated ginger, and leave for 10 minutes or so for it to release its juices.

Kimchi

Shop-bought is fine - or make your own if you fancy!

Aubergines

Preheat your oven to 200°C. Cut and chuck onto a baking tray with low sides, making sure it's not overcrowded (if it is, we beg you, use two trays!) Cover the aubergines in LOTS of olive oil. They really do love oil - it's what makes them go deliciously gooey. Add some miso and salt and pepper.

Roast for about 20 minutes. The chunks should be totally soft when pressed and the edges should be a little charred. Sometimes they need a good shuffle about and a little longer in the oven. Taste to check if they need any more seasoning.

Tofu

Always press your tofu a ton to get all the liquid out - this is the key to a crispier crust. Wrap the block in a tea towel as if it's a precious ornament, stick it between two plates, then puta big heavy object on top (we use a utensil jar.) Leave it to squish for a few hours, or overnight if you like it super dry.

When it's suitably squished, marinade in some glugs of tamari and sesame oil. Season and sprinkle with sesame seeds, then roast in the oven at 180°Cfor 20 minutes.

Sticky Japanese Rice

Rice cookers are the best thing EVER. They do all the work for you and your rice comes out perfectly fluffy every time. No rice cooker? No problem. We work off a ratio of 1½ cups of water to every I cup of rice. Wash the rice a few times in a sieve, put it in a big pot, add some salt and the water and bring to a proper boil. Put a lid on your pot, turn the heat down to low and cook for 15 minutes - no peeking!

Assemble all of the above on top of your sticky rice. We like to go around in a circle giving each thing its own space. Keep the kimchi, rãyu, peas and cucumber apart – their auras are too similar. Pop your crispy egg, tofu or whatever you're having centre stage and top with chives, coriander and spring onion.