🍤 What is Happosai?
The name Happosai comes from the Chinese word “Happo” (Ba Bao), which means “eight treasures” (many precious ingredients). It is a dish made by gathering a variety of high-quality ingredients.
- Ingredients: Traditionally, it features a colorful mix of pork, shrimp, squid, quail eggs, Chinese cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and wood ear mushrooms.
- Characteristics: It is defined by a savory “An” (thickened sauce) that locks in the umami of the ingredients. When served over rice, it is a popular dish known as “Chukadon” (Chinese-style rice bowl).
🥫 Tidbits on SOMI SHANTAN
This is the “magic seasoning” used in Japanese households to recreate authentic Chinese flavors at home.
- Content: A paste-style soup base made from a refined blend of premium oils, vegetable extracts, and spices.
- Role: “SOMI SHANTAN” is a paste-style seasoning that packs the authentic richness and umami of “Chintan”—a clear, deep broth that is incredibly difficult to recreate at home. Simply dissolving it in hot water allows you to perfectly replicate that clear, deeply flavorful soup, just like it was simmered for hours at an authentic Chinese restaurant!
🥗 Nutritional Comparison: Shrimp vs. Chicken Breast (per 100g)
Shrimp is even lower in calories and fat than chicken breast. Its plump texture also makes it very satisfying, making it an ideal main ingredient for weight loss.
I use a type of shrimp called Whiteleg shrimp. Whiteleg shrimp is called “vannamei shrimp” in Japan. It is a variety available at any supermarket.
| Ingredient | Calories | Protein | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp (Vannamei) | 82 kcal | 19.6 g | 0.6 g |
| Chicken Breast (Skinless) | 105 kcal | 23.3 g | 1.9 g |
【Ingredients】 (2 Servings)
- Main: Vannamei shrimp (Whiteleg shrimp) – 80g net of peeled shrimps
- Vegetables: Chinese cabbage – 200g, Onion – 80g, Shiitake mushrooms – 60g
- Oil: Sesame oil – 4g
- Combined Seasoning (Soup):
- Water – 150g
- SOMI SHANTAN – 3g
- Light soy sauce – 12g
- Sugar – 6g / Salt – 2g
- Potato starch – 6g (for thickening)
💡It is common to use chicken bone broth when making Happosai (Eight-Treasure Vegetables), but using Somi Shantan provides enough rich flavor even without meat.
【Instructions】
- Prep the Shrimp: Peel the shrimp and remove the tails. Make a shallow cut along the back to remove the dark vein. Rub the shrimp with salt water (Although not listed in the ingredients, a good guideline for making saltwater is 2g of salt per 100ml of water.), rinse under running water, and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels.
- Cut the Vegetables: Chop the Chinese cabbage, onion, and shiitake mushrooms into bite-sized pieces.
- Stir-fry: Heat sesame oil in a frying pan. Add the shrimp and vegetables. Stir-fry until the stalks of the Chinese cabbage become soft.
- Simmer: Give the “Combined Seasoning” (including the starch) a quick stir and pour it all into the pan at once.
- Finish: Heat while stirring until the sauce thickens and becomes translucent. It’s ready!
✨ Pro-Tips
- Thickening Trick: While potato starch is usually dissolved in water separately, mixing it into the soup base beforehand prevents lumps and makes the process foolproof.
- Variations: Try adding a few slices of wood ear mushrooms or carrots for a pop of color—it makes it look even more like a true “Eight Treasures” dish!
🥗 NUTRITION FACTS (Per Serving)
- Calories: 106 kcal
- Protein: 10.5 g
- Total Fat: 2.9 g
- Total Carbohydrate: 12.3 g
- Salt Equivalent: 2.7 g
📖Read the Japanese version of this article here! [「材料最小限」めんどくさいを克服するヘルシー八宝菜のレシピ]
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