Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri (shoujin ryouri) for the home

the_enlightened_kitchen.jpg

The Enlightened Kitchen: Fresh Vegetable Dishes from the Temples of Japan by Mari Fujii is a beautifully presented, easy introduction to the world of shojin ryori (or shoujin ryouri 精進料理), the highly refined vegan cuisine developed by Buddhist monks in Japan. I’ve often been asked by readers of this site and other people to recommend a good shojin ryori book: While there are many such books in Japanese, I haven’t really been comfortable recommending a book in English so far. Shojin ryori tends to use a lot of ingredients that are only available in Japan - even more so than ‘regular’ Japanese cooking - and it is a haute cuisine that requires a lot of skill.

The Enlightened Kitchen, on the other hand, is filled with nonintimidating recipes, that any amateur cook with decent access to Japanese ingredients could tackle. Some of the vegetables and dried ingredients may trip you up, but it’s easy to think up suitable substitions. The author, Mari Fujii, is married to a Buddhist monk, and has been teaching, speaking and writing about shojin ryori and other types of Buddhist vegetarian cuisines for 2 decades in Japan.

The book is divided into six sections: Soup; Salads; Tofu and Beans; Vegetables; Potato, Rice and Grains; and Desserts. There’s a small but essential Basic Techniques section, and a useful glossary. Most of the recipes are vegan, following shojin ryori teachings, but a few do use dairy products, which are used in Chinese Buddhist temple food for example. It’s a really beautiful book, with gorgeous photos and layout. It’s a pleasure to hold and just flip through.

You may have read my rave reviews of the Japanese vegan cookbooks by Yumiko Kano here before. The recipes in The Enlightened Kitchen are more straightforwardly traditional than those of Yumiko Kano, but are still very accessible and modern. And of course, this one is in well-translated English! I’ve tried a few of the recipes already, and they’ve all turned out very well with minimum fuss, even in my current tiny holiday home kitchen. Some of our favorites so far are the eggplant dishes, since eggplants (aubergines) are abundant here in southern France: Sesame-Flavored Eggplant (miso) Soup is rich and toasty, and Eggplant Salad with Lemon-Flavored Plum Dressing is a great side dish or starter. Even the resident dedicted omnivore approves heartily. (Check out the bento-friendly lentil salad inspired by a recipe in this book over on Just Bento.)

The Enlightened Kitchen: Fresh Vegetable Dishes from the Temples of Japan
Author: Mari Fujii
Translated by: Richard Jeffery
Photography: Tae Hamamura
Published by: Kodansha International
Amazon link (Amazonk UK link; Amazon.de link)

And now the part you’ve been waiting for (or skipped forward to): The Giveaway!

I have one copy of The Enlightened Kitchen to give away, courtesy of the publisher, Kodansha International. Just leave a comment to this article, making sure that you put a valid email in the email box (don’t worry, no one but I will see it). To make it a bit more fun, tell us what your favorite vegan dish is, linking to the recipe if possible. Your comment must be posted before 23:59:59 CET (Central European Time) on Sunday, June 7th. One winner will be selected at random, and announced sometime next week. Good luck!

The giveaway is now closed. The winner will be announced later this week!

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Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

mmmm, non-intimidating recipes, this sounds key! :) I wish i lived closer to an asian-foods store...the only place to get good Japanese ingredients is an hour away. It's well worth the trip, though! The health benefits themselves are a payoff!

A good version of one of my favorite vegan recipe, vegan fajitas, can be found at http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=286

Darcy Stone | 1 June, 2009 - 22:07
avlor | 1 June, 2009 - 22:21

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I'd love to enter. My favorite vegan recipe is actually a Mayo Clinic recipe for creamed chard (omitting the sprinkled Parmesan cheese as a finishing touch):

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RE00006

I cannot begin to describe how delicious this dish is!

Thanks for the review and the contest. :)

hypothermya | 1 June, 2009 - 22:22

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Argh - forgot to mention fave vegan dish. We don't get to eat many vegan dishes (thus my curiosity in the book). On occasion I can get by with stir fry with tofu or fried tofu.

avlor | 1 June, 2009 - 22:23

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

That sounds wounderful! I would love a japanese vegan cookbook! Its pretty hard to find vegan cookbooks that dont have the same recipes as everyone else or lists of insane ingrediants that I can almost never find.

My favorite vegan recipe...that would be between Black bean burger (from the book veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero) I think this recipe if fairly close to it though: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&fo...

Ashlie | 1 June, 2009 - 22:24

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

My favorite vegan dish would probably be either koyadofu (cooked in kelp dashi) or hiyayakko (with chopped zassai on top).

And I would love this book!

momotaro | 1 June, 2009 - 22:27

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I'm not a vegan, by any means, but a book with some interesting, tasty and not too madly fussy vegan recipes sounds excellent.

Perhaps there might even be a recipe that will inspire my children to eat tofu. They'll eat pretty much anything else, but the younger one in particular can smell the stuff a mile off!

sushidushi | 1 June, 2009 - 22:52

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

New to your site and am enjoying both sites. These "Barbecued Seitan Ribz" recipe is wonderful and is good for bento.

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/05/barbecued-seitan-ribz.html

Am vegetarian but starting to cook more vegan.

Keep up the great work!

Kim Coleman | 1 June, 2009 - 22:52

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

This cookbook sounds intriguing, and I'd love to own a copy! My favorite Japanese vegan dish is Kinpira Gobo. I've tried the recipe from one of my favorite food blogs: http://katnsatoshiinjapan.blogspot.com/search?q=kinpira+gobo

Caroline | 1 June, 2009 - 22:55

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

This one looks great! I love tofu in all forms so this book is extra exciting!

Johan | 1 June, 2009 - 22:59

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I would absolutely LOVE to have this book :) And red beans and brown rice is up there on the vegan list, though I don't follow a vegan lifestyle.

Ian | 1 June, 2009 - 23:07

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I'd have to say my favorite vegan dish varies according to season. In the late fall and winter, I like to make a dish of mushrooms braised in red wine with thyme, and a warm lentil salad. In the early spring, when it can still get a little chilly, I often make a simple ragu of spring vegetables like peas, asparagus, radishes, and green garlic. Once summer takes hold, it barely takes any effort at all - beautiful tomatoes and basil with a simple vinaigrette and some toasted walnuts, or chilled soba with dipping sauce are probably the most common.

Nick | 1 June, 2009 - 23:17

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I'm a vegetarian who comes very close to veganism, so I would love this book. As far as my fav recipe goes, I love this recipe for sausage-style tempeh crumbles. So much flavor while still being fairly virtuous. I use it in pasta, on toast with wilted spinach or for biscuits and gravy. Yum!

Lorena | 1 June, 2009 - 23:25

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Favorite would be curried lentils. Enjoy your site!

Anne | 1 June, 2009 - 23:34

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Sounds fantastic! My favorite vegan recipe is tofu mini-quiche, which are perfect for packing in a bento: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/12/mini-crustless-tofu-quiches.html

Becky | 1 June, 2009 - 23:46

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Hi Maki

This recipe is a new one for me, I only made it on the weekend, but it is awesome!

Vegetarian/Vegan chilli - http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/pierce-street-vegetarian-chili-reci...

Jackie | 1 June, 2009 - 23:46

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Oh a totally vegan book, this sounds great, just a lovely item to add to 'bulging' book shelves and to further stretch my cooking imagination

Scherie | 1 June, 2009 - 23:51

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Sounds interesting! I've been trying to incorporate more meatless dishes into my diet, this book would be an excellent source from the sounds of it.

Christine Barrett | 1 June, 2009 - 23:54

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I love this dish as it contains some of my favorite foods.
Coconut, mangoes and tofu.

Mango, Tofu and Herb Salad with Toasted Coconut and Sweet Chile-Lime Dressing

http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/cgi/recipeget.cgi?id=615

Note: PCC Markets is a wonderful shopping and eating experience. I luckily have one right in my area. They have many yummy healthy foods. Organic, vegan, you name it.

(Maki- can you see my email address?)

hapabento | 2 June, 2009 - 00:03

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Sounds wonderful! My first introduction to Shoin Ryori was by Soei Yoneda's Heart of Zen Cooking.
My favourite recipe - simple and flavourful Shungiku no Norimaki - Chrysanthemum Leaf Nori roll, delicious!

Terry Stone | 2 June, 2009 - 00:12

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I would love to have a copy of the book - I love vegetables and the simple and clean style of the recipies sounds very appealing to me.

My favorite vegetable recipie is a simple green bean dish that my mother makes with crunchy sliced beans with a seasoning of mustard seeds, nuts, ginger and fresh grated coconut that my mother makes.

Varsha | 2 June, 2009 - 00:26

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Sounds intriguing, and the library doesn't have it - count me in!

Nathan | 2 June, 2009 - 00:38
rebecca | 2 June, 2009 - 00:40

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Although I'm an omnivore, I cook mostly vegan dinners at home. One of my favorite vegan dishes is bread. Yep, bread. Just plain water, salt, yeast (or starter), and flour. It's so good right out of the oven, all warm and flavorful.

One way I like it is just with a little white bean dip, good tomatoes, and slices of ripe avocado.

Some pics here:
http://www.nakedsushi.net/2008/10/bread-baking-begins/

NakedSushi | 2 June, 2009 - 00:45

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I'm excited to check this book out. I am not a vegetarian, but I loved the shojin-ryori meals I've had in Japan. The creativity was stunning.

daisy | 2 June, 2009 - 01:08

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I would love to win this. I like to eat vegan dishes, but I don't have a favorite recipe of my own.

Therese | 2 June, 2009 - 01:15

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Mmmm. Personally, I love legumes, all of them (Even natto). I'm a big fan of an impromtu beans tossed in herbs and quickly cooked - a great example of this is from another favourite food blogger, Stonesoup.

Stealthflower | 2 June, 2009 - 01:30

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

Temple food IS enlightenment.. when you do a temple stay program at a Japanese or Korean temple (I did this one.. http://eng.templestay.com/), stiff from sleeping on the floor, sore but relaxed from a few hours of meditation, enjoying the smell of pine and magnolia, but somehow inexplicably ravenous despite sitting on a cushion all day... really the food is as close to heaven as I have ever been.

I am never disappointed by Robin Robertson's Vegan Planet and Quick Fix Vegetarian. I modified her Split Pea Soup recipe and ended up with a really satisfying result.
http://ilovealbertabeets.blogspot.com/2009/03/split-pea-soup.html

ilovealbertabeets | 2 June, 2009 - 01:33

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

I own that book. It's great! I bought it at the kinkakuji!!

kanmuri | 2 June, 2009 - 01:46

Re: Book review: The Enlightened Kitchen, shōjin ryōri ...

My favorite changes by the week, but socca is pretty great. Totally worth the pain of finding imported chickpea flour. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/dining/191mrex.html?_r=1

And for sweets, these cookies are simple and fabulous - fluffy and soft just out of the oven, turning shortbread-like when they cool. The recipe is in Japanese, but basically just mix 100g flour, 30g sugar, 8g sesame seeds, a little salt and 30g vegetable oil. http://cookpad.com/recipe/216364

AWO | 2 June, 2009 - 01:54

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