Simmered Daikon with Matcha Miso — A Warm Taste of Japanese Winter
Simmered Daikon with Matcha Miso — A Warm Taste of Japanese Winter
Hello everyone, I’m Keko, one of the online staff members 😊
As the air grows colder and evenings become longer,
there’s something deeply comforting about sitting down to a warm bowl of food that gently steams before you.
One such dish that captures the quiet elegance of a Japanese winter is Simmered Daikon with Matcha Miso —
a humble yet refined recipe that celebrates balance, aroma, and warmth.
🌿 A Harmony of Flavors: Daikon and Matcha
“Furofuki Daikon” is a classic Japanese dish — thick slices of daikon radish,
slowly simmered until tender and sweet, then topped with a savory miso glaze.
By adding a touch of Matcha Premium,
the sauce gains a beautiful green hue and a subtle bitterness that enhances the mild sweetness of white miso.
It transforms a simple home-cooked dish into an elegant, modern expression of Japanese taste.
| 🥣 Ingredients (Serves 2–3) For the simmered daikon Daikon radish: ½ (about 400g) Dashi broth (kombu + bonito): 500ml Rice water (or water with a spoonful of rice): for parboiling For the matcha miso sauce White miso: 50g Mirin: 1 tbsp Sake: 1 tbsp Sugar: 1–2 tsp (to taste) Matcha Premium: 1 tsp (about 2g) Water: 2 tsp (for dissolving matcha) For garnish (optional) Yuzu peel, toasted sesame, or kinome leaves |
👩🍳 Directions
１、Prepare the daikon
Cut into 3cm thick rounds. Peel thickly and bevel the edges to prevent cracking.
Score a shallow “X” on one side to help the flavor absorb.
２、Parboil
Boil the daikon in rice water for about 20 minutes until tender.
Rinse gently under cool water to remove starch and bitterness.
３、Simmer
Add dashi broth to a pot with the daikon.
Simmer gently over low heat for 20–30 minutes, until a skewer passes through easily.
４、Make the matcha miso sauce
In a small saucepan, combine white miso, mirin, sake, and sugar.
Stir over very low heat until thick and glossy (be careful not to burn it).
Remove from heat, add dissolved matcha, and mix until smooth.
５、Assemble
Place the daikon in a warm bowl, spoon the matcha miso generously over the top,
and garnish with yuzu peel or sesame if desired.
🍶 Best Enjoyed With…
The subtle bitterness of matcha pairs beautifully with white miso’s soft sweetness,
making this dish an ideal companion for warm hojicha or a glass of sake.
It’s a dish that soothes the senses — elegant, aromatic, and deeply grounding.
🌱 Tips & Variations
Always dissolve matcha in a little water before mixing — this prevents lumps.
Keep the heat low when cooking miso to preserve its delicate sweetness.
Try adding a touch of red miso for extra richness or yuzu pepper for a spicier note.
Substitute daikon with taro or turnip for a different texture.
❄️ A Taste of Japanese Winter
This Simmered Daikon with Matcha Miso captures the quiet beauty of Japanese winter —
the warmth of home cooking, the harmony of simple ingredients,
and the appreciation for flavors that comfort both body and soul.
When you take that first bite,
you’ll feel the balance of sweet, savory, and slightly bitter notes —
like the calm of winter sunlight filtering through shoji screens.
A dish to be enjoyed slowly, with gratitude and warmth. 🍵