Roasted Asparagus

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed
• 2 teaspoons tea oil (olive oil)
• Sea salt to taste
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
2. Place the asparagus in a baking dish and drizzle with the tea (olive) oil, then season with salt and pepper; toss well.
3. Lay the asparagus out on the prepared pan in an even layer. Roast in the preheated oven until the asparagus is tender, about 25-30 minutes.

Kinpira gobo

Kinpira gobo is braised burdock root. is a coarse biennial herb native to Europe and Asia, and naturalized throughout North America since its introduction by European settlers. The roots contain as much as 45% inulin, as well as alkaloids, essential oil, flavonoids, glycosides,mucilage, polyacetylenes, resin, tannins, and volatile oil.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb gobo (burdock root)
• 1/4 lb carrot
• 1 tbsp soysauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp mirin
• 1/2 tbsp sake
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 2 tsps vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash the gobo skin and shred gobo into very thin strips. Soak the gobo strips in water for 5 mins and drain well.
2. Peel the carrot and cut it into short and thin strips.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan, and fry gobo strips for a couple minutes. Add carrot strips in the pan and stir-fry them.
4. Add all seasonings in the pan and stir-fry well. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle sesame seeds.