Hakusai and Japanese cream stew

Hakusai (not to be confused with Hokusai) is a popular winter vegetable in Japan. Also called napa cabbage or Chinese cabbage, it grows here in Kanto during the winter months (which are warm enough to grow certain vegetables but cold enough to feel the bite of winter). It has lots of umami and is great for soups. It was the key ingredient in last nights cream stew.

 Recipe (serves 8):

1/4 hakusai

3-4 onions

1-2 carrots

1-2 turnips (or potatoes)

800 grams of chicken breast

200 ml of water

1 L of milk (or soy milk)

40 grams of butter

50 grams of mozzarella cheese

4-6 cubes of consome (or chicken bullion)