Meaty with a dash of veggies

Hi, I’m Connie!
Home cook and writer by passion, photographer by necessity, and good food, coffee and wine lover forever. I write recipes, cooking tips and food stories. No AI is used in creating content for this blog.
More about me and Umami Days.

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Shiitake and asparagus stir fry
When there’s not enough leftover main dish to satisfy everyone, serving tasty vegetables on the side is always a bright idea. Here is a side dish that can go with a seafood, poultry or meat main dish. The sauce of this stir …
Pork, pepper and mango stir fry
It’s salty and sweet with a bit of tang and more than a little heat. The sweetness is supplied by mirin and mango. The heat is from shichimi togarashi (a Japanese spice mix) and sweet chili sauce.
Shichimi togarashi is a Japanese spice mix
In the U.S., the spice mix is marketed as nanami which is easier for English-speakers to pronounce and remember. Both names, shichimi and nanami, translate to seven flavors. Togarashi is the Japanese name for chili in the …
Spicy pork belly, spinach and coconut cream stew
Think of Bicol Express with more sauce and vegetables but with less heat. Born out of an effort not to waste excess vegetables in danger of spoiling, it’s a one pot dish that’s best enjoyed with newly cooked rice. …
Fish cake, sweet potato and kimchi soup
When I first published this recipe, I called the dish jjigae. Then, I learned about jeongol, guk and tang, and I’m no longer sure how this dish is classified in Korean cuisine. So, I’ll just call it a soup.