【Recreating Kaldi's Recipe】"Spicy Menma Salad" requires no microwave! Perfect as a side dish or snack.

Kaldi Coffee Farm, a multinational food shop located near train stations and shopping malls. Many people probably stop by after work or during shopping on holidays. Challenge yourself to make an official recipe using Kaldi's products to easily enjoy flavors from around the world!

I found Menma sold at a Taiwanese local supermarket at Kaldi

Aizumi's bamboo shoots in chili oil 120g / 321 yen.

Using only the tender tips of Taiwanese bamboo shoots, this Menma in chili oil has a soft texture that's easy to eat. The exquisite combination of the umami from shiitake mushrooms and kelp with a spicy kick is a flavor that becomes addictive once you try it.

Actually, the author had purchased it at a Taiwanese supermarket before and thought, "I want to eat it again~", and to my surprise, it was being sold at Kaldi! The charm of Kaldi is being able to easily purchase ingredients from local overseas supermarkets.

Plenty of chili oil! It’s delicious to pour this over rice.

I tried to recreate "Spicy Menma Salad" using Taiwanese Menma.

"Spicy Menma Salad" Main Ingredients.

The Chinese snack "Spicy Menma Salad," also found in the Kaldi official recipe, can be easily made.

【Ingredients】2-3 servings

Ainomi Spicy Bamboo Shoots 1/2 jar (60g)
Chicken breast meat 2 pieces (100g)
Cucumber 1
Bean sprouts 100g
White sesame seeds 2 teaspoons
Sliced red chili pepper to taste
Chicken bouillon powder 1 teaspoon
Sake 2 teaspoons
Salt to taste<

【Instructions】

By poking holes in the chicken breast with a fork, the heat will distribute evenly.<

1. Microwave the chicken breast
Remove the tendons from the chicken breast and poke several holes with a fork. Arrange in a heatproof dish, sprinkle with a little salt and sake, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and microwave at 500W for 1 minute. Flip it over and heat for another minute. After that, leave it covered to finish cooking with residual heat.

2. Cut the cucumber
Cut the cucumber into thick julienne strips, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, let it sit for 5 minutes, and squeeze out the excess moisture thoroughly.

3. Heat the bean sprouts
Wash the bean sprouts, place them in a heat-resistant container, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Heat in the microwave at 500W for 1.5 to 2 minutes, and drain the excess moisture thoroughly.

The author tore it into thicker strips for a satisfying texture

4. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces
Once the chicken breast has cooled down slightly, tear it into bite-sized pieces by hand.

5. Mix the ingredients and finish
In a deep container, combine the chicken breast, cucumber, and bean sprouts, then add the bamboo shoot chili oil, chicken stock powder, sesame seeds, and chili, and mix well to complete.

What is the taste of "Spicy Menma Salad" made with Taiwanese menma?

"Spicy Menma Salad" made with Taiwanese menma is complete. The aroma of chili oil rises, stimulating the appetite.

With just one bite, the crisp texture of the vegetables matches perfectly with the moist meat of the chicken breast! Additionally, the starring role of this dish is the spiciness of the menma pickled in chili oil, combined with the bamboo shoots, making it a hearty dish despite being a snack.

Since the menma is made using only the tips of the bamboo shoots, its soft texture is impressive. There is also none of the fibrous texture typical of menma that lingers in the mouth, so it seems perfect not only as a snack but also for a variety of dishes!

This is a dish I would recommend for those times when you’ve overeaten during the New Year celebrations but still want to enjoy a hearty snack. Why not give it a try?

Search Menma on Amazon

Search Menma in chili oil on Amazon