Bamboo Shoots

While leaving school the other day I received a freshly dug bamboo shoot! It just so happens that the previous day I had been looking at recipes and guides on how to cook bamboo shoots online, and wishing that I could go dig my own or at least cook a fresh one. I couldn't believe it when the very next day the students were doing just that!  As I was walking out, a group of students were returning from their little trip to dig bamboo shoots so I stopped to admire their crop. To my delight, one of the teachers gave me an extra one to take home. Which I quickly boiled up and turned into three different delicious dishes!

Bamboo shoots are a quintessential spring time vegetable in Japan. I have heard that many Japanese crave bamboo shoots around this time and that many don't feel like it is truly spring until they have had some to eat.

To prepare bamboo shoots you must first strip the many layers of husk off. This reduces the size of the shoot by at least half. After that the shoot is boiled to remove the bitterness. Then you store it in fresh water and add it to whatever dishes you choose to make with it!

Stir fry

Brown rice and bamboo shoots

Miso soup