Vegetables
Royal fern
ゼンマイ ぜんまい zenmai
Also known aszenmai
At its best in Apr, May
When it is at its best
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
In seasonAvailable
How to cook
Simmered
Simmered gently in dashi and soy sauce.
Namul (Korean seasoned vegetables)
Dressed with sesame oil and salt, usually from the dried form.
Shira-ae (dressed with mashed tofu)
Dressed with mashed tofu.
Stir-fried and simmered
Cooked down with fried tofu.
How to choose
Thick, firm stems covered in down, with the tips still curled.
Storage
Fresh shoots must be de-bittered before refrigerating. Dried ones keep a long time at room temperature.
Main areas
Good to know
It cannot be eaten raw; the bitterness has to be drawn out with baking soda. Dried zenmai keeps well and is rehydrated for simmered dishes and namul. Thicker stems and a covering of down tell it apart from warabi.
