Oh, where to start, in the past or in the present! At times during the development of this writing I became excited, enchanted and entangled in the world of Japanese desserts. From wagashi to mochi. So if I don't just start we'll get nowhere and we'll begin with today. In researching this article, I learned that in the strict sense of Japanese tradition, there is no sweet course to a meal. It ends with rice, pickles and tea. Sweets are regulated and very sparingly, as an partner to tea. However the country does have another informal meal called oyatsu that commonly occurs at 3pm everyday. Oyatsu consists of a drink, tea for adults and milk or a soft drink for the young ones, accompanied by a sweet or savory snack.
Some of my favorite Japanese snacks are Pocky, slim biscuit sticks with one end coated in chocolate. There are many other flavors such as sesame, green tea and a dark chocolate one called Men's. I've yet to figure out why that is. A savory compliment to a cocktail wasabi green peas are a great alternative at your next party! And of course there's that late 20th creation mochi ice cream. These confection spheres are about as big as a ping pong ball with an outer rice shell surrounding ice cream. And as recently as last week Japanese desserts are growing trend inNew York where Kyotofu opened last week offering Japanese-inspired Western-focused desserts such as black sesame sweet tofu, warm chestnut mochi chocolate cake and sansho-pepper tofu cheesecake.
Kasutera, simple sponge cake, a popular specialty of Nagasaki. Originally from Castilla region of Spain many cakes were brought to the country by Portugese missionaries through the port of Nagasaki during the 16th century. According to history this cake was able to be preserved for a long time. In the Edo era, it was a sweet that was precious and was served for the envoys from Korea. Over time the recipe was adapted to fit to the Japanese palate.
Today this sponge cake can be found at festivals, from street vendors and in local markets. It's a treat and a special commercial jingle sung by bears.
Kasutera is traditionally made of simple natural ingredients with the essence of honey as the most common. However, today there are many variations - - powdered green tea, cocoa, and brown sugar. A good pan de castilla is moist, has a very fine texture, and is very light. It should have a dark brown and sugary top and bottom - the sides are usually cut off, exposing the yellow crumb.
Kasutera Pan de Castilla Cooking for the American Table" by Susan Fuller Slack 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar |
Instructions: Using clean dry beaters beat the egg whites in a large bowl on low speed 1 minute, increasing speed to medium-high. When foamy, sprinkle in 1 tablespoon sugar and cream of tartar. Beat until stiff but not dry. With a spatula, fold the egg whites in three steps. Pour batter into pan. Tap gently on the counter to remove air bubbles. |
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