Hi, I’m Connie!
Welcome to Umami Days, a blog that advocates innovative home cooking for pleasurable everyday dining. No trendy diets, no food fads and definitely no ludicrous recipe names like crustless quiche, noodleless pho or chocolate lasagna.
one bowl meals
Biryani-inspired lamb and rice casserole
Cooked on the stovetop using a regular wok, this casserole may not be authentic Indian biryani but it does capture its …
Cranberry and pistachio pilaf
A lovely way to enjoy your bowl of rice. Dried cranberries, toasted pistachio nuts and golden raisins are stirred with rice …
Beef pares
In its earliest form, Filipino beef pares was just boiled beef and rice, with complimentary broth on the side. The plain …
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A Cook’s Diary
What is garam masala?
Garam masala which translates to “warm spice mix” is an ingredient often used in South Asian cooking. It isn’t one spice but …
Panko (Japanese bread flakes)
Strictly speaking, panko isn’t even crumbs the way bread crumbs are understood by the English-speaking world. They are light …
Easy tasty risotto for home cooks
My Mac’s dictionary defines risotto as “an Italian dish of rice cooked in stock with other ingredients such as meat and …
100% home cooked
Mushroom pilaf
A meatless one-bowl meal, this mushroom pilaf can also be served as a side dish to meat or seafood. Fast, easy and tasty. …
Arroz a la Cubana
A dish with four components: rice, fried egg, fried saba bananas and beef picadillo. It’s comfort food for my generation.
Soboro don
Minced chicken cooked in soy sauce, sugar, sake and mirin served over rice with egg and greens. The chicken is seasoned like …
Beef budbod
A rice bowl meal that’s been around for decades in the province of Rizal, beef budbod (literally, sprinkle) consists of …
Pork bulgogi rice bowl
Thinly sliced pork is marinated in soy sauce, ginger, shallot, garlic, mirin, sugar and gochujang for 10 minutes then seared …
Sweet chili fried chicken rice bowl
Bite-sized chicken fillets are marinated in Vietnamese-style mixed fish sauce, floured, battered, deep fried then tossed in …