Attempting a jjigae – a Korean style spicy tofu and mushroom soup

Jjigae - mushroom and tofu soup

This wasn’t really a jjigae. It was an attempt at recreating the spicy Korean soup, but with no recipe, no fish or meat, and without many of the proper ingredients. And having eaten it all of three times in my life. What could possibly go wrong?

The result turned out better than I feared, but not as good as I’d hoped. And in part, it was all down to me trying to keep it vegetarian. Not sure why I felt the need to do it, other than a perverse and vague feeling that it’s good to be veggie sometimes. Continue reading

Smoky silk: aubergine and smoked tofu with udon noodles

Smokey tofu and aubergine udon noodles

There’s nothing better for a night when you’re feeling a bit crappy than a full on assault on the senses. This delivers that attack in spades. Chilli heat, silken aubergines and smoky tofu. All those strong flavours maintaining a fragile truce.

Blues are banished – along with any remaining subtle taste buds – in the pungent, silky-smooth smoky chilli miasma. Continue reading