
Dave Chang's Chawanmushi
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.
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Product Size
Prep Time
6 minsCook Time
12-15 minsFree Time
to enjoy a face mask
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (270ml) cold dashi stock (use store-bought hondashi or make your own)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon agave
- 2-4 small sheets or 1 larger sheet Korean gim (roasted seaweed)
- 1 ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Preparation
- Whisk together the eggs, soy sauce, and agave in the Medium Shallow Anyday dish. Slowly pour the dashi into the beaten eggs, stirring constantly. Cover with the lid (knob lifted).
- Cook in the microwave at Power Level 5✕
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.
- Once finished, top with chopped or crumbled gim and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sesame oil and enjoy.
Serving suggestions & tips
- Make instant dashi by mixing together 1 teaspoon of hondashi granules with 1 cup of water.
- 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!
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.