Sweet
Honolulu
Bon Dance @ Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Sunset @ Lanikuhonua
Winter sunset @ Hawaii Kai
Bon Dance @ Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Seasoned Aburage (chili garlic flavored)
Around this time of year I get so envious of the millions of people around the world experiencing the cooler fall weather due to the changing of seasons. It's mid-October and I'm still dripping in the shade, it's like Mother Nature hit the "repeat summer" button on her Hawaii playlist. In fact, a few afternoons ago my neighbor told me his outdoor patio thermometer read 94 degrees Fahrenheit! I think that's why recently and in the past couple of years it's been taking me so long to get enthusiastic about baking pumpkin desserts. Hard to feel the fall vibes as I sit here sweating in my tank top and shorts.
Because of Hawaii's continuous heat, zaru soba (a refreshing cold noodle dish eaten during Japan's humid summer months) is prepared all year-round in my house. And one of my family's favorite toppings for zaru soba is this seasoned aburage.
If this seasoned aburage sounds and looks familiar, it's because back in February I shared with you a recipe for it but with a stronger sesame flavor. The recipe I'm sharing with you today is very similar, but has more of a chili garlic flavor. Both versions are liked equally by my family, and normally I'll interchange the two every now and then for a change in taste.
Adding seasoned aburage as a topping to zaru soba seems like a local Hawaii thing, and if you haven't tried it yet I recommend you do. As I mentioned back in February, it'll give your soba noodles an extra kick of flavor.