Pumpkin Chawanmushi
October 29, 2008 – 8:41 pm by wiffyI haven’t been posting or blog visiting for a while because I just had wisdom tooth surgery last Friday (still ouch!). So amidst recuperating at home, sleeping at 10pm every night, catching up on some work, and playing fable2 on xbox360, I didn’t have much online time. And sadly, one of my beloved hamsters Nikole passed away suddenly yesterday, which couldn’t come at a worse time (not that anytime is a good time) T_T
Thank you for the kind comments left on my blog for the past week … sorry I haven’t had to time to reply to most of them or visit you yet, but I promise to visit and reply once I have more online time!
Pumpkin Chawanmushi
No matter how busy life becomes, Halloween comes but once a year … so how can one miss cooking with pumpkin at this time of the year? Glad I still managed to sneak in some pumpkin into the cooking and make these adorable, (post-surgery-chew-friendly) pumpkin chawanmushi. The addition of pumpkin sweetens up this popular Japanese appetizer.
For those who aren’t familiar, Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) is egg custard that’s steamed in a tea cup and usually consists of an egg mixture flavored with soy sauce, sake and dashi. It is a traditional Japanese dish, commonly eaten as an appetizer. It can be eaten either hot and cool with a small spoon. I love to order this when I go to Japanese restaurants, but I realised that making it at home isn’t difficult at all and you can make all kinds of variations like this pumpkin variation by tweaking the basic recipe.
Ingredients
(makes 3-4 cups)
A) For the egg custard mixture::
- 3 eggs (4 if the eggs are small)
- 1 2/3 cups (about 250ml) kombu and bonito stock
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp sake or white cooking wine
- 3/4 to 1 tbsp light soy sauce
B) Filling::
- Kamaboko fish cake slices
- 4 large Prawns, de-shelled and de-veined
- feel free to add other ingredients (such as mushrooms, chicken, Imitation sharks fin, gingko nuts etc)
Others:
- 80g (raw) pumpkin flesh (skin and seeds removed)
Directions
1. Blend the pumpkin until smooth using a blender.
2. Break the eggs into the bowl. Gently stir the eggs with a pair of chopsticks using a cutting action.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients from A to the eggs mixture, as well as 50g of blended pumpkin. Blend the mixture till fine. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve.
4. Place fish cakes, chopped prawns and other ingredients at the bottom of each cup and pour the egg mixture over (do not fill to the brim, leave some gap on top).
5. Cover the cups with lids, transparent food wrap or aluminum foil (do not leave an opening).
6. Steam the cups over high heat for about 10 mins. To test if the chawanmushi is cooked, insert a bamboo stick into the mixture: if a little clear liquid comes out, it is cooked.
7. Steam the remaining blended pumpkin and 1 large prawn (half) for 5 minutes. Garnish on top of chawanmushi. You can also add some ebikko (egg roe) to garnish if you wish.
Cooking Notes:
- Straining the mixture through a fine sieve prevents bubbles from forming on the surface of the custard.
- You can cheat by buying instant powdered kombu and bonito stock (I did!), or you can also make it from scratch.
- Use a ceramic material for steaming the egg custard. Plastic material will melt during steaming. I bought my tea cups at Daiso.
- When steaming the cups, make sure they are sealed, other wise the evaporating droplets will land on the custard during steaming and cause unsightly bubbles.
Related Recipe
- Basic Chawanmushi
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I am submitting this Japanese-&-Halloween inspired Pumpkin Chawanmushi to Weekend Wokking, one of my favourite food events on the net. This month’s host is the wonderful Ning of Heart and Hearth featuring pumpkin (what an apt and delightful choice!). Check out the round up of pumpkin dishes here.
{{In memory of Nikole Chan}} 
Rest in Peace, Nikole Chan … run free at the Sunflower Valley, with lots of food!
Update (6 Nov 08)
This recipe is selected as featured recipe for Cookthink’s Root Source Challenge (Pumpkin). A big thank you to cookthink for selecting my entry ^o^
Share the good food
Tags: Appetizer, egg custard, Japanese, Pumpkin Chawanmushi
Posted in Blog Events, Japanese, Recipes, Vegseatarian, Weekend Wokking
39 Responses to “Pumpkin Chawanmushi”
Sorry to hear about your hamster…
you take care too.
By tigerfish on Oct 29, 2008
Your pumpkin chawanmushi looks fantastic! I can’t wait to try it out.
(I’m very sorry to hear about your Nikole :-/ )
By thehungryengineer on Oct 29, 2008
Nikole is soooo cute! She will be missed.
I hope you are feeling better. Wisdom tooth surgery is the worst! Am glad I am finished with it already!
Thank you for the wonderful write-up about me
Thank you for your beautiful and exquisite entry! I have never seen such a lovely cup of chawanmushi before. Am sure it is sweet and flavorful.
By Ning on Oct 29, 2008
Sorry to hear about Nikole. I really like that pic ture you took of her pushing the cart. *Hugz*
Ouch.. wisdom tooth surgery, I hope I don’t need to go through that at this age.
I saw so many pumpkins this afternoon and thought of buying some.
But your idea of pumpkin chawanmushi is so unique. 
By didally on Oct 29, 2008
What a coincidence! I just had removed my wisdom tooth last Tuesday. Luckily no surgery required. Taking anti-biotic and ponstan for 5 days. Having ulcers and swollen gum. Unlike you, I still need to cook and work.
Glad to know that u had put ur blender to good use!
By lk on Oct 29, 2008
So sorry about your sweet pet.
The prawns and the custard look delectable.
By lisaiscooking on Oct 29, 2008
Aww, I’m sorry to hear about your hamster. I know how much you love them so.
Sorry to hear the wisdom teeth are still bothering you.
But my verification word is sunny. Which means sunny days will surely come again. I know I’d be over the moon happy if I could have a piece of that pumpkin chawanmushi. Sunny!
By Wandering Chopsticks on Oct 30, 2008
Hey there, I just happened upon your site. Very nice!
I absolutely LOVE chawanmushi. I have never seen kabocha chawanmushi here in Kyoto, where I live. I do love kabocha too!
KyotoFoodieのPeko
By Peko-P on Oct 30, 2008
Sorry to hear about your hamster and wishing you recovery from your surgery.
The pumpkin chawanmushi looks beautiful!
By [eatingclub] vancouver || js on Oct 30, 2008
Sorry to hear about your hamster.
Neat addition of blended pumpkin to sweeten it up.
I wonder how chawanmushi would taste with jasmine tea?
By Nate on Oct 30, 2008
ouch!! I know how pain for u to pull out wisdom teeth! feel sorry to heard your sad news.Hope u feel better.anyway,your pumpkin presentation look so good!! I’m cracking my head what to do with pumpkin..I know the entry dateline is in 2 days,maybe I will pass..Take care
By beachloverkitchen on Oct 30, 2008
hey wiffy,
1. sorry about your hamster.
2. hope u feel better soon about ur tooth extraction.
3. i love chawan mushi and pumpkin is very festive definitely!
By tastesofhome on Oct 30, 2008
Fantastic!
A good dish to serve during Halloween. *slurp*
Hope you are recovering well from that tooth extraction.
By kisetsu on Oct 30, 2008
Hey there! Your pumpkin egg-custard looks delicious. I love reading your posts! There so entertaining and the pictures are always gorgeous. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve tagged you on my blog. Simply visit my blog for the details, and then tag your favorite blogs!
By Joanna on Oct 30, 2008
Sorry to hear about your hamster.
Your chawanmushi looks so silky smooth!
By Precious Pea on Oct 30, 2008
Awww - sorry to hear about Nikole.
I bet this tasted awesome!
-DTW
By Darius T. Williams on Oct 30, 2008
Simply amazing! I love it… even feel like biting the pics itself! Superb!
By Alice on Oct 30, 2008
The Pumpkin Chawanmushi looks great! Looks like I might have to attempt this recipe. Also Fable 2! how are you liking the game? I still unsure if i should pick it up or not.
By Chris on Oct 30, 2008
Very beautiful!
Nikole was very adorable. =)
By _ts of [eatingclub] vancouver on Oct 30, 2008
Oh wow, this looks really really good! (Perfect thing to have when you’ve had your wisdom teeth out. I still have mine, and at this point in my 30s, I hope they never have to come out…)
*hugs*
+Jessie
a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse
By Jessie on Oct 30, 2008
Sorry about your hamster and hope you are feeling better. Love your smooth chawanmushi and the cups!
By Little Corner of Mine on Oct 31, 2008
Sorry abt nikole and hope you’re feeling better. *hugs*
tht chawanmushi looks smooth and yummy-looking.
By Farina on Oct 31, 2008
Sorry about Nikole!! I have never been pet person, but grew up with all sorta pets - my broters’ and my dad’s. Feel better! And on that wisdom teeth too - ouch..I have this deep dislike about dentist.
Pumpkin chawanmushi - huh..I have never come across it. But of course, the first time I had my first chawanmushi was when I was in KL, only few years ago. Always learn new thing everyday
By Cecil on Oct 31, 2008
Wow that looks great! I love chawan mushi. I just made a batch of onsen tamago which is my other favourite egg dish.
By Marc @ NoRecipes on Oct 31, 2008
BTW sorry to hear about Nikole:( I used to keep hamsters, but after George and Peanut died, I decided I needed to find a pet that lived longer. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
By Marc @ NoRecipes on Oct 31, 2008
Sorry to hear of Nikole. Her auntie, Bullie also passed away on the 28th Oct 2008
By chipmon on Oct 31, 2008
Sorry to hear about your hamster. And hope you are recovering well. Take care.
As usual, your pics looks fabulous!
Happy Halloween! No treats for you though.
By WokkingMum on Oct 31, 2008
Hi everyone, thanks for the kind comments about my recipe and the words of comfort about my hamster … your words cheer me up … really appreciate it!
===
didally, lucky you! I still have another side to go thru
lk, what a coincidence … hope u get well soon!
Peko, thanks for visiting me, I love your site!
Nate, sounds interesting … perhaps u would like to try it out
beachloverk, I hope u think of something! ;D
Joanna, thanks for visiting me and for the tag!
Chris, it’s a great game (my biased opinion)! I have already completed one round =x now trying to replay
chipmon, thanks for letting me adopt Nikole … hope Bullie & Nikole keep each other company at the rainbow bridge.
Thanks again everyone!
By wiffy on Nov 2, 2008
I really like chawan mushi and your twist on it looks tasty. It’s always fun to make and has so many variations.
By Jude on Nov 2, 2008
I love the photo of Nicole Chan
… have seen those little shopping trolleys a while ago and now regret I did not get one…
My boyfriend is working on it.
Thank you for nice words about the design, website is still in “beta”… lots of little things to correct
Margot
By Coffee and Vanilla on Nov 4, 2008
I tried once and it cooked disastrously.
Yours look perfect. I didn’t know about the straining method. Will try this soon.
What a great idea for Halloween.
By Jun on Nov 4, 2008
Those look good. I like the sound of pumpkin chawanmushi. I have been wanting to try chawanmushi for a while now.
By Kevin on Nov 5, 2008
What a pity about losing your adoreable NiKole Chan…it’s really very hard to lose a pet. Hope you’ve recovered from the surgery too. I
m intrigued by this chawanmunshi. never heard of something like it before, & your pictures are enticing! Take care of yourself…cheers
By Deeba on Nov 6, 2008
Jude, thank you ^o^ I love all your pumpkin creations posted the Halloween season as well.
Margot, hope you find the little trolleys in future… they are great photography props ;p Your site is beautiful!
Jun, thank you girl ;p
Kevin, hope to see chawanmushi being featured on your blog soon =)
Deeba, thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it ^o^
By wiffy on Nov 7, 2008
Congratulations!
(re this being cookthink’s chosen recipe)
By _ts of [eatingclub] vancouver on Nov 9, 2008
My mom used to make this for me when I was little, but I haven’t thought about in ages. It’s great for someone who just got their wisdom teeth out =)
I hope you’re feeling better now!
By gaga on Nov 16, 2008
Thanks ts
gaga, thank you so much
By wiffy on Nov 21, 2008