Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots)
Sweet-soy simmered carrots, soft and glossy.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 5 Carrot
- 5 g Kombu (dried kelp)
- 2 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
- 2 tbsp Mirin
- 1 tbsp Sugar
Method
- Wipe the kombu, then gently simmer it in 400 ml water for about 5 minutes to make a light dashi; lift out and discard the kombu.
- Cut the carrots into bite-sized chunks.
- Add the carrots, soy, mirin, and sugar to the dashi and simmer, covered, until the carrots are tender.
- Turn off the heat and let the carrots rest in the liquid to soak up the flavour as they cool.
- Reheat gently if needed and serve, spooning a little of the glossy liquid over the carrots.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots)
Ninjin no nimono is a classic Japanese simmered side, carrots gently cooked in a sweet-soy broth until soft, tender, and glossy. It belongs to the broad nimono family of home-style simmered dishes that form the backbone of a traditional Japanese meal, valued for their quiet, clean flavors and their role in balancing a rice-centered spread. The dish begins with a light kombu dashi, made by steeping dried kelp in water, which lends a gentle marine umami that lifts the carrots without any meat or stock. From there the carrots simmer with soy, mirin, and a little sugar until they drink up the seasoning.
The result is soft, sweet, and savory all at once, the carrots holding a glossy sheen from the reduced liquid and a depth that belies the short ingredient list. Nimono dishes like this are typically served warm or at room temperature as one of several small sides, and this version happens to be vegan and light while still tasting rounded and satisfying. The key move is patience rather than technique: turning off the heat and letting the carrots rest in the liquid as they cool, which is when they actually absorb most of the flavor. Spooning a little of the glossy simmering liquid over them at serving keeps them moist and brings the whole dish together.
Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots): frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots)?
One serving of Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots) has about 69 calories, with 1g of protein, 16g of carbs, 0g of fat and 2g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots) gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots) take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 8 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Ninjin no Nimono (Glossy Simmered Carrots) make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.