Crispy pan-fried Atsuage

Japanese Home Cooking

Lately, my go-to “gourmet” meal has been simple pan-fried Atsuage (thick fried tofu). When you find a good-quality Atsuage, you don’t need to do anything fancy—just searing it until it’s golden and crispy is enough.

It’s delicious with just some grated ginger and a splash of soy sauce. But today, I tried something different: I used a spicy miso sauce that was hidden in the back of my fridge. The sauce is a mix of gochujang, miso, garlic, sesame oil, and beet sugar. It was the perfect match!

Toddler-friendly plates

For my 1.5-year-old, dinner tonight was a:

  • Steamed sweet potatoes
  • Spinach with sesame dressing (Goma-ae)
  • Miso soup
  • Mixed rice (Takikomi gohan)

Watching the table get absolutely messy while they eat—it’s a chaotic sight. Still, I can’t help but wonder how long this stage will last.

I know one day, I’ll miss these messy little moments.