Chawan Mushi
- 2 teaspoons instant dashi powder (see Note)
- 2 cups warm water
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup salted roasted cashews, coarsely chopped
- 4 ounces lump crabmeat, broken up
- 1 scallion, cut into fine matchsticks (2 inches)
- 4 small shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and caps very thinly sliced
- In a medium bowl, whisk the dashi powder into the warm water until it is dissolved.
- Let the sediment settle, then pour the clear dashi into a large measuring cup; rinse out the bowl.
- In the same bowl, using chopsticks, very gently stir the eggs until blended, without incorporating too much air.
- Stir in the dashi, then strain the mixture back into the measuring cup.
- Divide the cashews between 4 shallow 1-cup bowls.
- Top with the egg mixture and wrap each bowl in plastic.
- Carefully set the bowls in a steamer basket set over boiling water and steam for 14 minutes or until the custards are set.
- Immediately transfer the bowls to the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Unwrap the custards.
- Top with the crabmeat, scallion and shiitake and serve.
water, eggs, cashews, lump crabmeat, scallion, shiitake mushrooms
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chawan-mushi (may not work)