For little guys, our new Japanese and beef sesame bites pack a lot in. A lot of veggies (carrots, zucchini, and spring onions), a lot of flavour (sesame, ginger, and garlic) and a whole lot of bite-sized convenience. That’s a lot to love. Oh, and did we mention the lip-smacking tonkatsu dunking sauce?
These beauties are bursting with versatility, so for those nights a simple dunk-and-eat experience doesn’t quite cut it, here’s three easy ways to lift your beef bite game.
Super Sliders:
Grab a pack of mini brioche buns and elevate your bite to slider. Soft sweet bun, cool, crisp iceberg lettuce leaf, then the hero – a perfectly browned beef and sesame bite, glossed with that sweet and tangy tonkatsu sauce. And don’t hold back on the kewpie mayo.
Noodle Bowl:
This isn't your college-era instant ramen situation. Thick, springy udon noodles tossed with the savoury bites and tonkatsu sauce, edamame for a protein punch, sliced spring onions for a pop of freshness – you get the idea. Feel free to throw in some bok choy, sugar snap peas or baby corn for extra texture and to up the veggie content.
Rice Bowl:
Everything is better in a bowl. Start with perfectly cooked short-grain rice (because yes, fluffy rice is a non-negotiable – tips below). Top it off with sliced avocado for creaminess, julienned carrots for crunch, and edamame for some extra protein. Now, the fun part - garnishes: seaweed for an umami kick, a sliver of pickled ginger to cut through the richness, and a dollop of kewpie. Yup, we love our kewpie.
Bonus Tip: Rice Like You Mean It:
Okay, let's ditch the claggy rice, shall we? Fluffy, restaurant-quality rice is easier than you think. No need for a fancy rice cooker here. Just eyeball how much rice you need in any cup or mug you have lying around (about half a cup per person is a rule of thumb). Rinse until the water runs clear (or clear enough).
Here's the bit most people miss out: soaking. This might seem like an unnecessary step, but it's the difference between fluffy perfection and sadness in a bowl. Place rice in a saucepan and cover with enough water to reach the first knuckle of your index finger (resting the tip of your finger on the top of the rice) and leave to soak for 15-20 minutes (the rice, not your finger!). Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid, turn down low and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it sit for a few more minutes with the lid on to steam and finish cooking. Fluff with a fork and taste the difference.
So there you have it! Three ways to turn your Japanese beef and sesame bites into weeknight rockstars. Dinner just got more fun – and even more delicious.