Greens with peanut sauce, Japanese style

Many green veggies are suitable for this dish.  The original recipe uses Watercress, but I used Broccolini.  Green French beans, Asparagus or even Spinach would work well.  Again it can be served as part of a Japanese meal or as a side to any dish.

2 small bunches of Broccolini,  or about 500 g of preferred green vegetable.
Steam in Varoma until tender.  With the Broccolini,  I first started with the stalks and added the green tips for the last 10 minutes.
While greens are steaming,  mix in a large bowl,
4 tablespoons of Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
2 tablespoons Mirin

Tip hot veggies over the sauce and fold in with spoon until well coated.

Notes
This reheats well in the Microwave
Makes a nice meal with sushi  rice.

Pumpkin, Japanese style

Japanese vegetarian recipes, pumpkin with sweet glaze and sesame seeds

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Over the next few days I will post several Japanese inspired recipes,  that I served as part of a Bento Box lunch
The first is very simple and can be part of a Bento Box lunch or served as an interesting side with any meal. It is cooked in the Varoma and can be finished off in a frying pan. 

300 to 500g of peeled , deseeded butternut pumpkin. Cut into 2 cm cubes.
60 g of any sugar, ( white, brown , raw)
1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, ( if not available use 1/2 dark or mushroom soy and thin with white wine or rice vinegar )
1/2 cup of water

Place all , except sesames ,in heat proof dish that will fit into Varoma. 
Place 2 bamboo skewers under dish in Varoma to allow steam to circulate.
Pour 1 1/2 liters of boiling water into bowl and steam for 20/30 minutes. Stir 1/2 way through.
Test pumpkin with skewer to see that it is just cooked.

At this point,  tip into frying pan and boil rapidly to evaporate most of the liquid.  Serve
OR
Store and reheat by evaporating liquid as above.

Sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds.