Kinpira Gobō

also called きんぴらごぼう · kinpira gobō · kinpira gobo · キンピラごぼう · 金平牛蒡 · burdock and carrot · braised burdock · sesame burdock

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Kinpira Gobō: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
The knife work is the recipe: matchsticks of the same thickness cook at the same speed.
7 oz(200 g; scraped with the back of a knife, never peeled, cut into matchsticks)burdock rootsoak 5 min, drainfry hard 3 mincook dry 4 mintoss through off the heat
4 cups(950 mL; changed once)cold water
1(cut into matchsticks the same size)carrot
1(seeded, in rings)dried red chile
1 Tbs(15 mL)toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 Tbs(22 mL)soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbs(22 mL)mirin
1 Tbs(15 mL)sake
2 tspsugar
1 Tbs(crushed between your palms as they go in)toasted sesame seeds
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.12 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2soak 5 min, drain

3fry hard 3 min

goes in with what step 2 made

4cook dry 4 min

goes in with what step 3 made

5toss through off the heat

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 12 min1 of 4 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 7 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — stopping while there is still liquid in the pan shortens it, because wet kinpira sours by day two
  1. soak 5 min, drain

    5 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. fry hard 3 min

    3 minneeds you5 min in

  3. cook dry 4 min

    4 minneeds you(we think)8 min in

  4. toss through off the heat

    not timed12 min in

You'll need frying pan

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Kinpira Gobō
>> category: Vegetables & Sides
>> tags: japanese, burdock, carrot, sesame, make ahead, side, vegetarian
>> counters: Japanese Home Cooking
>> aka: きんぴらごぼう, kinpira gobō, kinpira gobo, キンピラごぼう, 金平牛蒡, burdock and carrot, braised burdock, sesame burdock
>> pairs-with: gohan, saba-shioyaki
>> servings: 4
>> time: 20 min
>> slack: forgiving — stopping while there is still liquid in the pan shortens it, because wet kinpira sours by day two

>> step: The knife work is the recipe: matchsticks of the same thickness cook at the same speed.
Four ingredients and three operations, and that is the correct size for it — not a simplified version of something bigger.

>> step: soak 5 min, drain
Soak @burdock root{7%oz}(200 g; scraped with the back of a knife, never peeled, cut into matchsticks) in @cold water{4%cups}(950 mL; changed once) ~soak{5%min}, until the water browns.

>> step: fry hard 3 min
Fry @&(~1)drained gobo{} with @carrot{1}(cut into matchsticks the same size) and @dried red chile{1}(seeded, in rings) in @toasted sesame oil{1%Tbs}(15 mL) in a #frying pan{} over a high flame ~fry{3%min}, until the gobo turns from white to faintly translucent.

>> step: cook dry 4 min
Pour @soy sauce{1 1/2%Tbs}(22 mL), @mirin{1 1/2%Tbs}(22 mL), @sake{1%Tbs}(15 mL) and @sugar{2%tsp} over @&(~1)vegetables{} and ~cook{4%min}, tossing, until the pan is dry and every stick is lacquered.

>> step: toss through off the heat
Toss @toasted sesame seeds{1%Tbs}(crushed between your palms as they go in) through @&(~1)kinpira{} off the heat.