relaxing summer suppers

this week i want to focus on some relaxing summer suppers we've enjoyed lately. 

lucky are we with farmer's markets and local organic produce, life is bursting with great options at the moment. the living is easy. the weather delightful. i could live out on the terrace with a glass of something cold and some light fresh appetizers all summer long. 

found some gorgeous very dark purple eggplant the other day at the japanese market. picked up some soba noodles (buckwheat), fresh tofu, scallions and our favorite dashi-based tsuyu sauce and put together a relaxing summer supper of warm eggplant salad, a mixed up version of sunumono with cucumber, carrot, radish, avocado and scallion, cool soba noodles with tofu and scallion. light and cool yet somehow earthy and satisfying. 

eggplant salad

serve warm or cool

serves 4

4 to 6 japanese eggplants, the small ones, cut into bite size cubes

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup dashi tsuyu sauce, all natural, such as morita brand

(in japanese markets)

soak cut eggplant in cold water for 5 minutes

steam eggplant for 8 to 10 minutes until tender, bamboo or other steamer

strain and allow to drain and cool slightly

squeeze eggplant gently if appears water-logged otherwise proceed to next step.

place in individual serving dishes.  sprinkle cut scallions over the eggplant. pour tsuyu sauce. serve.

cucumber, carrot, radish, avocado sunumono

1 japanese cucumber, sliced thin

1 carrot, sliced thin

4 radishes, sliced thin

1 avocado

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice 

scallion, thinly sliced

assemble ingredients in ceramic serving bowl. toss with vinegar and lemon. mix thoroughly but gently. sprinkle with sliced scallion