chawanmushi Meaning

  • culinary
  • formal

A savory Japanese egg custard dish, steamed and served as an appetizer, typically containing ingredients like chicken, shrimp, ginkgo nuts, and mushrooms in a delicate dashi-based broth.

A WordDream illustration of chawanmushi
A picture makes chawanmushi easier to remember than a definition alone.

chawanmushi in Conversation

At a Japanese restaurant, a customer asks the waiter about the dish.

  • Customer: What is chawanmushi exactly?What is chawanmushi exactly?
  • Waiter: It's a steamed egg custard with chicken and shrimp, very soft and savory.It's a steamed egg custard with chicken and shrimp, very soft and savory.

Chawanmushi is often served in a small lidded cup.

Two friends discussing a recent dinner.

  • Friend 1: I tried chawanmushi for the first time last night.I tried chawanmushi for the first time last night.
  • Friend 2: Did you like it? It's like a warm, silky pudding.Did you like it? It's like a warm, silky pudding.

The texture is often compared to a savory pudding.

A home cook explaining the dish to a guest.

  • Host: This chawanmushi has mushrooms and a bit of ginger.This chawanmushi has mushrooms and a bit of ginger.
  • Guest: It's so delicate and flavorful.It's so delicate and flavorful.

Common additions include kamaboko, mitsuba, and yuzu peel.

Examples

  1. Chawanmushi is usually served in a small cup with a lid.

    Chawanmushi is usually served in a small cup with a lid.

  2. The chef carefully steams the chawanmushi to achieve a silky, smooth texture.

    The chef carefully steams the chawanmushi to achieve a silky, smooth texture.

  3. Unlike a thick pudding, chawanmushi relies on a light dashi broth to create its savory, custard-like consistency.

    Unlike a thick pudding, chawanmushi relies on a light dashi broth to create its savory, custard-like consistency.