David Chang's Chawanmushi
Prep Time
4 minsCook Time
4 minsFree Time
to enjoy a face mask
The umami essence of this savory Japanese egg custard comes from dashi, a stock made from dried kelp (kombu). Compared to our Silky Chinese Steamed Egg Custard, this version uses a higher liquid to egg ratio for an even silkier custard. Chef's hats off to Peter Serpico, former Momofuku chef, for crafting the perfect proportion of dashi to egg: 7 eggs per 1 quart of liquid!
All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well.
What You’ll Need
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- ½ cup (115ml) cold dashi stock (use store-bought hondashi, dashi concentrate, or make your own)
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon agave
- 1-2 small sheets or 1 larger sheet Korean gim (roasted seaweed)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
Preparation
- Whisk together the eggs, soy sauce, and agave or sugar in the Anyday Small Dish. Make sure the eggs are very well beaten, which will help make the custard smooth. Slowly pour the dashi into the eggs and stir gently to mix. Use a small strainer to skim bubbles from the surface.
- Cover with the lid (knob lifted) and cook in the microwave at Power Level 5for 3-5 minutes, or until the custard has barely set and jiggles uniformly when gently moved like flan. If the custard looks too soupy in the center, add 30 seconds at the same power level until barely set, but be careful not to overcook!✕
Certain foods cook best in the microwave at lower power levels.Â
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Different microwaves have different settings. See your microwave manual (or look it up online) to learn how to change your microwave’s power level.
For many microwaves: enter the cook time, press the “Power” (or “Power Level”) button, and select a number between 1-10. Other microwaves may require selecting the Power Level first, and then entering the cook time.
Microwaves list power levels in different ways. Here’s a guide to help you adjust:
PL 10 = 100% = High (default)
PL 9 = 90% = High
PL 8 = 80% = Med-High
PL 7 = 70% = Med-High
PL 6 = 60% = Medium
PL 5 = 50% = Medium
PL 4 = 40% = Med-Low
PL 3 = 30% = Med-Low
PL 2 = 20% = Low
PL 1 = 10% = Low
You will know if the power level has been successfully changed if you hear periodic changes in the microwave’s tone after it begins cooking.
- Top with chopped or crumbled gim and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sesame oil and enjoy.
Serving suggestions & tips
- For a spicy kick, top with some chilli crisp.
- Enjoy chilled and topped with tobiko or salmon roe for a savory appetizer. Serve over rice to make it a full meal.
Recipe notes
- Make instant dashi by mixing together 1 teaspoon of hondashi granules with 1 cup of water.
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.
