Recipe - Osechi Tazukuri おせち料理の田作り

Last year I made osechi ryori, the traditional New Year's Day Japanese food, for Shinji's family. The easiest of all of the dishes is gomame, or tazukuri. These dried anchovies and dressed with a sweet soy sauce are addictive.

50 grams dried anchovies
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons mirin
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 Tablespon sake
vegetable oil
toasted sesame seeds (optional)

In a dry saute pan, cook the dried anchovies over medium high heat. Cook until the anchovies are crispy. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In a large saute pan add the sugar, mirin, soy sauce, and sake and cook until the mixture bubbles. Adde the anchovies and stir until all of the fish are covered in the sauce.

Move to a bowl that is lightly oiled with vegetable oil. Toss in the oil. At this point, if you like, add some toasted sesame seeds.