1. Toast ½ tsp white sesame seeds and ½ tsp black sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant.
2. Add ½ tsp Szechuan peppercorns and ¼ nori sheet (torn into small pieces) to a mortar and grind them finely, or use a spice grinder if you prefer.
3. Combine the ground spices with 1 tbsp chili flakes, 1 tsp orange zest, and ¼ tsp ginger powder in a sealable jar. Give it a good shake to mix everything together.

1. If you’re making your own kimchi and gyoza wrappers: amazing. If not, no worries! Just use store-bought and make sure to thaw the wrappers before using.
2. Set up your kimchi, the gyoza wrappers, and a small bowl of cold water. Also, prep a large plate dusted with a bit of flour to place your finished dumplings. Now put on your favorite series or podcast and get into your folding zone.
3. Take one wrapper and place about 1–1.5 teaspoons of kimchi filling in the center. Dip your finger in the water and moisten the edge of the top half of the wrapper. Fold it up like a taco and press the left tip with your left hand. Then, using your right thumb and index finger, create small pleats along the top edge, pressing each one firmly into the back side of the wrapper. Continue pleating until it’s sealed and you’re holding your first little dumpling. Place it on the floured plate. Don’t stress if it’s not perfect, this takes a bit of practice. Scroll down for the video tutorial at the end of the recipe if you need a visual! Repeat until all the wrappers and filling are used up.
4. Once all your gyoza are ready, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and place as many gyoza as will fit flat-side down in the pan. Let them fry for a few minutes until the bottoms are golden and crispy. Lower the heat, carefully pour in a splash of water, and immediately cover with the lid. Be careful, the oil shouldn’t be too hot or it might splatter! The gyoza will now steam. Keep the lid on until the wrappers turn translucent, about 10–15 minutes. If the water evaporates before they’re done, just add a little more.
5. Once translucent, remove the lid, turn the heat back up to medium, and let them crisp up again for 5 more minutes. Remove and repeat with the next batch.
6. Serve all your gyoza hot with this easy dipping sauce and a sprinkle of shichimi spice. Oh, and this cucumber salad goes so good with it.

1. Sesame Sauce: First, toast the white sesame seeds in a small pan until they turn golden brown, without adding any oil. Transfer the toasted sesame seeds to a mortar and grind them to a semi-coarse consistency. Then, place the sesame in a medium-sized bowl and mix it with tahini, rice vinegar, soy sauce, mirin, salt, mayonnaise, sesame oil, water, and a grated clove of garlic to create a creamy sauce. Pour the sauce into a squeeze bottle and refrigerate.
2. Tonkatsu Sauce: In a small pot, mix together tomato paste, honey, sugar, apple cider vinegar, water, and salt, and gently heat the mixture. Meanwhile, cut the dried plums into small pieces and add them to the pot. Peel the apple, cut a quarter of it into small pieces, and add it to the pot along with the other ingredients. Peel the ginger and garlic clove, grate them into the pot, and stir well. Finally, add soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and mirin. Heat the mixture for a few minutes and bring it to a brief boil until the sugar dissolves and the apple softens. If your sauce it still too thick, add gradually more water until it reaches your desired consistency. Use a hand blender to puree the sauce until smooth, and if needed, strain it through a fine mesh strainer. Pour the sauce into a squeeze bottle and refrigerate.
3. Chicken Schnitzel: If you bought whole chicken breasts, cut them horizontally using a butterfly cut so that you end up with two teardrop-shaped pieces. Place each piece between two layers of plastic wrap and gently and evenly flatten them with a meat tenderizer. Repeat this process with each piece of chicken and set them aside on a plate. Prepare the breading station using three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place the flour; in the second bowl, beat the eggs; and in the third bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with panko. Dredge each chicken piece in flour, making sure it’s fully coated, then shake off the excess and dip it in the beaten egg, coating both sides. Finally, press the chicken into the breadcrumb-panko mixture, ensuring it’s well-covered on all sides. Set the breaded chicken pieces aside on a plate.
4. Rice: Cook the rice according to the package instructions. If you don’t have the instructions, rinse the rice in a medium-sized pot until the water runs clear. Drain the water, then add fresh water in a 1.5:1 ratio to the rice (so, for this recipe, use 420g of water for 280g of rice after rinsing). Place the pot on the stove over high heat and cover with a lid. Once the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Let the rice cook with the lid on for about 15 minutes. The rice is done when you see small, even holes forming between the grains. Leave the pot on the turned-off stove with the lid on.
5. While the rice is cooking, heat a large pan for the schnitzel. Add clarified butter or another high-heat oil to the pan and fry the chicken on both sides over medium heat until golden brown. Place the fried schnitzel on paper towels to drain.
6. While the chicken is frying, slice the onions for the Tsuyu sauce. Halve the onions and then cut them into thin strips.
7. Napa Cabbage: While the chicken is frying, quarter the napa cabbage and slice two quarters into thin strips. Wash them under cold water and spin them dry. Set the cabbage aside. If you’d like to add a special touch, you can drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of my Chinese Holy Trinity Oil over the cabbage and massage it in.
8. Tsuyu Sauce: Once the chicken is done frying, remove the remaining fat from the pan and place it back on the stove. Add soy sauce, mirin, sugar, dashi powder, and water to the pan and bring it to a quick boil. Then, add the onions and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes until the onions are soft but still slightly firm.
9. Once the Tsuyu sauce is ready, you can start plating. Take four bowls. First, add the rice, then drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of Tsuyu sauce and some onions over the rice. Next, add a handful of napa cabbage on top, and drizzle the sesame sauce over it in a zigzag pattern. Slice the schnitzel into thin strips and place it on top of the cabbage. Finally, drizzle the remaining Tsuyu sauce and onions over the chicken, and finish with a zigzag of Tonkatsu sauce. Optional: garnish with fresh scallions.

PREPARATIONS

• Here’s the recipe for Gyoza dough. You’ll need about 20 sheets, cut them into squares rather than rounds. Or, just get ready-made Gyoza wrappers from the Asian market.
• Here’s the recipe for ginger oil. You’ll need about 2-3 tablespoons.
• Here’s the recipe for Chinese Five Spice. You’ll need 1/4 teaspoon.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. First, prepare the Gyoza filling. Peel and finely grate the garlic cloves into a medium bowl. Then, slice the spring onion into thin rings and add to the garlic. Next, add the ground pork, ginger oil, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, Chinese Five Spice, and the egg. Mix everything well.
2. Take a large plate and sprinkle some flour on it. This will be the resting place for the filled Gyoza so they don’t stick to the plate. Also, prepare a small bowl with some cold water and have your Gyoza dough ready.
3. Fill each Gyoza wrapper with 1 teaspoon of the pork filling. Dab a little water around the edge of the wrapper, fold it diagonally to seal, and press out all the air so the filling is well enclosed. Wet one side of the long edge, fold it over, and press firmly. Place on the floured plate. Repeat until all the filling is used up.
4. Heat 1 tbsp of high-heat oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the Gyoza. Fry for a few minutes until the bottoms are crispy. Lower the heat and add about 100ml / 1/3 cup of cold water to the pan (be careful, it may splatter if the oil is too hot). Cover the pan with a lid and let the Gyoza steam.
5. Meanwhile, fold the Nori sheet three times in the middle and cut it into thin strips with scissors. Mix the Nori strips with cornstarch in a small bowl. Add a bit of water and stir well. Heat about 1 cm of high-heat oil in a small pan or pot to around 180°C / 356°F. Fry the Nori strips for 2-3 minutes, then remove and drain on paper towels.
6. The Gyoza should now be a bit translucent and the filling cooked through. Remove the lid and turn the heat back to medium to crisp up the Gyoza again.
7. Meanwhile, make the Miso Glaze. In a small bowl, mix Mirin, honey, soy sauce, and ginger oil. Heat for a few seconds in the microwave (or in a small pan) until it simmers. Stir in the Miso paste well, add 3 tbsp warm water to thin it a bit and set aside.
8. Finely chop the fresh coriander and set aside.
9. Optionally, place seaweed salad in the center of the plate, arrange 5 Gyoza on top. Drizzle with Miso Glaze and top with fried Nori strips, chopped coriander, and toasted sesame seeds. Finish with a splash of ginger oil and serve immediately.

1. Preheat your oven to 135°C / 275°F.
2. Grease your baking pan with a teaspoon of butter and set it aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: rice flour, sugar, matcha powder, and baking powder.
4. In another medium bowl, combine the wet ingredients: oat milk, coconut milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk these together well.
5. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until you have a smooth, creamy batter.
6. Pour the batter into the greased pan, smoothing it out to an even layer, and bake for about 70 minutes.
7. Once done, take the brownie out of the oven and let it cool completely. As it cools, it will sink slightly and the surface will dry out, but it will become deliciously gooey.
8. For the topping, fill a small pot with water and bring it to a simmer, then take it off the heat. Break the white chocolate into small pieces and place them in a small metal bowl. Set this bowl over the simmering water pot to melt the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil, mix well, then pour the melted chocolate over the cooled brownie. Let this cool down again.
9. I got a bit impatient and cut into the brownies too soon while the chocolate was still soft – it was a bit messy, but I wasn’t mad about it! Once everything is fully set, cut the brownie into 9 even squares and enjoy.

• Cut the red cabbage into eighths and finely shred or slice one eighth. Place it in a medium-sized bowl and marinate with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and salt. Set aside.
• Detach 4 leaves from the head of lettuce and wash thoroughly. Pat dry and set aside.
• Halve the chicken breast lengthwise, then cut each half again crosswise. Place each piece between two layers of plastic wrap and pound to about 0.5 cm / 0.2″ thickness using a meat mallet. Lay the flattened meat on a plate.
• Set up a breading station with three shallow dishes or bowls. Fill the first dish with 1.5 heaped tablespoons of wheat flour, crack an egg into the second dish and whisk it. In the third dish, mix together 3 heaped tablespoons each of panko and breadcrumbs. Coat each piece of chicken first in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in the egg, and finally, press into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring it’s well coated on all sides. Place the breaded pieces side by side on a plate.
• Heat clarified butter in a large frying pan and fry the breaded chicken pieces on both sides until crispy, about 3 minutes per side or until cooked through. Let the meat drain on kitchen paper.
• Place half of the slices of bread flat on a clean work surface, then place a lettuce leaf on each. Top each with a piece of cooked chicken, followed by a zigzag pattern of Kewpie mayo and Tonkatsu sauce. Add about 2 tablespoons of red cabbage salad on top of the sauces. Finally, top the sandwiches with another slice of bread. If desired, trim the edges all around and cut the sandwiches in half in the middle with a sharp knife.

1. Let’s start with the sushi rice: Wash the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This is important as it removes all the starch and prevents the rice from becoming mushy. Now, place the rice in a rice cooker or pot and add 400ml (1 + 2/3 cup) of water. I use a little less than 1:1.5 ratio rice to water, as there’s still water left on the rice from washing. Let the rice cook.
2. To get that authentic sushi flavor, the rice will be soaked in a sauce. For this, heat rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small pot until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Set aside to cool. As it cools, the sauce will thicken slightly.
3. Now, let’s prepare the salmon filling. Rinse the salmon under cold water, dry it, then chop it into rough cubes. In a bowl, mix it with Sriracha, and it’s ready. Keep the salmon chilled until use.
4. By now, the rice should be cooked. Transfer it to a medium-sized bowl and pour over the rice vinegar-sugar-salt sauce. Mix everything until the sauce is distributed and absorbed by the rice. Let the rice cool completely.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the topping sauces. For the light sauce, simply mix mayonnaise and Sriracha, thinning it with a bit of water to make it easier to spread. For the dark sauce, heat soy sauce, Mirin, and sugar in a small pan or pot until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool. Once the sauce is cold, it will thicken a bit. I like to pour the sauces into squeeze bottles, but you can also spoon them over the sushi later or use them for dipping. Keep the sauces chilled until use.
6. In the meantime, you can prepare your work surface. Take a bamboo rolling mat, also known as Makisu, and wrap it on both sides with a layer of plastic wrap. Press the ends well onto the mat. Then fill a medium-sized bowl with a little water, as you’ll need it for your fingers to prevent the rice from sticking to them. Then you’ll need a cutting board and a sharp knife to halve the rolls. Finally, halve your Nori sheets and set them aside.
7. Once the rice is cold, you can start rolling. Place the Makisu with the sticks horizontally in front of you. Place a Nori sheet with the shiny, smooth side down on the bamboo mat. Dip your fingers in the water and take about 1 heaped tablespoon of rice, spreading it with your fingers on the Nori sheet. It takes a bit of practice to handle the rice, but just take your time and moisten your fingers again if it becomes difficult to spread the rice. I press and push it in the direction I want it. I leave about 1/2-1cm (0.2″-0.4″) free at the top edge of the Nori sheet. When the rice is evenly distributed, turn the Nori sheet over so that the rice side is now facing down. Place a strip of the salmon filling in the center of the Nori sheet, a bit more than a finger thick. Now roll the Nori sheet so that the bottom end lands directly over the salmon filling. Then press everything tightly from the outside, then close the roll with a twist and press again. Take the finished sushi roll and halve it on the cutting board. Proceed the same way with the other rolls and set them aside.
8. Now prepare the tempura batter. Mix flour, cornstarch, and salt in a large bowl. In a glass, stir the egg and ice-cold water starting with 100ml (3.5 oz) of water, and pour it into the dry ingredients. Quickly whisk everything until it’s creamy. If the batter is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water and stir. We aim for a creamy-thick consistency. Better too thick than too thin, so really only adjust the water carefully. It also depends on how much liquid the egg brings. Pour the batter into a flat dish. Do the same with the Panko.
9. Now you can bread the rolls. Take two forks and place the first roll in the tempura batter, distributing the batter over the entire roll. You can also gently turn it. Lift it up and let the excess batter drip off. Now place the roll directly into the Panko and press it onto the roll with the forks. You should now have a compact roll where the batter adheres well and nothing drips. Bread the rolls one by one and set aside.
10. Now heat the frying oil to 190°C/375°F in a small, deep pot. Make sure to use enough oil so that the rolls can be completely submerged. I used solid vegetable fat in block form. Once the temperature is reached, place two rolls at a time into the oil. Be careful as the oil may bubble when the rolls are added. It’s best to use a foam spoon for this. The temperature will then drop to about 175°C/347°F. Fry the rolls in the oil for a total of 5 minutes. Each roll only absorbs about 10g (1/3 oz) of fat. I weighed the fat before and after 😀 This is because the fat is hot enough to instantly seal the crust. That’s why it’s also important to bring the fat to the right temperature. If the fat is too cold, the roll absorbs more fat and becomes soggy and not crispy.
11. When the rolls are done frying, remove them from the fat and let them drain on a rack and cool slightly. Cut the rolls into 6 pieces each and arrange them on a plate. Next, drizzle the light and dark sauces over the rolls in a zigzag direction. Finally, you can sprinkle some sesame and finely chopped spring onions as a topping.