Alright guys, just got my hands on that Dragonball Cookbook, y’know the official one? Figured I’d try whipping up their top 5 fan favs. Total kitchen chaos ahead, fair warning.
The Ambition Strikes First Thing Sunday
Woke up way too early buzzing about this cookbook. Spread it out right on the kitchen counter, coffee brewing strong. Flipped straight to the “Fan Favorites” section. Five recipes stared back: Master Roshi’s Seared Fish, Bulma’s Berry Salad, Goku’s Herculean Chicken Wings, Mr. Popo’s Secret Stew (it ain’t that secret now, is it?), and Chaozu’s Cloud Cabbage. List looked… possible? Famous last thoughts. Grabbed my keys, mumbled “grocery run,” and flew out the door.
Market Mayhem & Missing Finds
Hit the international market first. Needed this funky seaweed for the stew broth. Took me forever hunting down the aisle, finally spotted it tucked behind some miso paste. Relief! Then came the hunt for specific Korean chili paste for Goku’s wings. Label was tiny, my eyes aren’t what they used to be. Got it eventually. Almost forgot the cloud cabbage—ended up just getting napa cabbage. Sorry Chaozu, improvisation time! Wallet felt lighter walking out.
Back in my Tiny Kitchen
Ingredients covered every surface. Deep breath.
Tried Roshi’s Seared Fish first. Simple enough? Sliced some ginger thin. Fired up the pan, tossed in oil. Almost immediately smelled ginger burning. Rushed! Fish in next, skin side down. Supposed to get crispy. Mine kinda… stuck. Peeled it off awkwardly. Skin looked sad, but the flesh inside? Actually moist and flaky! Drizzled that sweet soy glaze over it. Flavor bomb! Score one. Presentation? Let’s not talk about it.
Bulma’s Berry Salad was next. A break maybe? Chopped mint, washed berries, easy peasy. The dressing though—poppy seeds, orange juice, honey. Whisked it up nice. Poured it over… looked gorgeous! Bright colours! Fork in mouth. Tasted… fresh. But honestly? Kinda regular salad vibes. Pretty, sure. Groundbreaking? Nah. Nice palate cleanser maybe.
Then came Goku’s Herculean Chicken Wings. Okay, time to get messy. That Korean chili paste smelled intense! Mixed it with gochujang, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic. Finger dipped in for a taste. Wowza! Spicy, sweet, sticky goodness. Tossed the wings in it good. Oven preheated. Slid ’em in. Timer set. Smell filling the kitchen? Heavenly. Pulled them out—gorgeous sticky red! One bite. Perfect crispy skin, juicy inside, sauce clinging everywhere. Lips tingling! Fan favourite? I get it. Totally. Probably burnt some, but who cares.
Mr. Popo’s Secret Stew felt intimidating. Chopped veggies—carrots, onions, potatoes. My potato chunks ended up super uneven. Oh well. Sautéed onions and garlic first. That weird seaweed? Tossed it into the broth pot with water. Let it simmer. Smelled… earthy. Kinda funky. Added veggies, chunks of beef. Waited. And waited. Felt like a lifetime. Finally thickened up. Ladled some into a bowl. Broth deep brown. Rich! Savoury! Comforting. Potatoes were mush though. My bad. Flavour-wise? Winner. Texture? Varied.
Chaozu’s Cloud Cabbage (aka My Napa Substitute). Last stretch, tired. Needed to braise cabbage pieces. Sauce was oyster sauce, garlic, ginger. Simple. Wilted the cabbage down in a pan with sauce. Quickest thing I made. Tasted it. Decent! Savoury, veggie crunch still there. Nothing mind-blowing, but solid side dish. Felt like a victory just finishing it.
The Aftermath: Messy Counter & Stuffed Belly
Kitchen looked like a tornado hit. Every burner used, every bowl dirty. Goku’s wings vanished instantly, no contest crowd-pleaser. Roshi’s fish and Popo’s stew fought for second place flavour-wise. Bulma’s salad looked fancy, Chaozu’s cabbage did the job.
Truth bomb? Recreating anime food is hard! Some hits, some near-misses. That chili sauce for the wings? Totally stealing that for game nights. The stew might be my new winter thing. Burnt the fish skin? Happens. Mushy potatoes? Lesson learned.
Expensive ingredients? Yeah. Time-consuming? Absolutely. Fun as heck? You betcha. Felt cool just saying “Dragonball dinner’s ready!” Maybe next time I nail the crispy skin. Or the cloud cabbage… if I ever find it. Hungry now? Grab the cookbook, dive in. Expect chaos, enjoy the wins. Later!
