Broccoli no Ohitashi

Japanese broccoli blanched and marinated in dashi, soy, and mirin

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

From the journey of Broccoli.

Ohitashi is the classic Japanese technique of soaking briefly blanched green vegetables in a cold dashi-based marinade, seasoning them from the outside in while preserving their vivid colour and clean flavour. The method works beautifully with broccoli, which arrived in Japan in the Meiji era (1868) and was slowly integrated into Japanese cooking through the 20th century. In January 2024, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture announced broccoli will achieve designated vegetable status in 2026 (the first new addition since potatoes in 1974) reflecting its complete absorption into Japanese food culture.

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 400 g broccoli, cut into florets

Marinade

  • 200 ml dashi stock
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 0.5 tsp sugar

Garnish

  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • small handful katsuobushi (bonito flakes)

Method

  1. Make the marinade: combine dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in a small pan. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Blanch the broccoli florets for exactly 2 minutes: they should be vivid green and just tender with a slight bite.
  3. Immediately transfer the blanched broccoli to a bowl of ice-cold water to stop the cooking and set the bright green colour. Leave for 2 minutes, then drain well and pat dry.
  4. Place the broccoli in a bowl and pour the cooled marinade over. Toss gently, cover, and refrigerate for 15–20 minutes.
  5. Serve cold or at room temperature, topped with toasted sesame seeds and bonito flakes if using. Serve as a side dish (okazu) alongside rice and miso soup.

Notes

For a vegan version, use kombu dashi and omit the bonito flakes. The dish keeps well in the marinade for up to 24 hours, improving as it sits.

The Gastrographer

The Gastrographer

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Became a culinary stapleColonial / trade control
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