Agedashi Tofu at Raku in Las Vegas
I’m so glad that Corey and I ventured off the Las Vegas strip on our recent vacation to try Raku—an authentic Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown. That day we had completed an 11.6-mile hike in the blazing desert sun at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and we were very tempted to lounge in our hotel room and get room service. But I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to eat at Raku, especially after reading all the rave reviews.
Krab salad with spicy mayo makes for a wonderful appetizer or light entrée. It’s made from imitation krab sticks, which are composed of precooked fish with crab flavoring. Krab sticks have a slightly sweet taste with a hint of crab. They’re low in fat, easy to prepare, and inexpensive, making them an excellent item to have on hand. If you’ve ever tried a California roll, then you’ve had imitation krab.
The spicy mayo adds a nice kick to the subtly sweet krab. The krab’s delicate texture, which mimics actual crabmeat, gives the meal an airy lightness, balanced with the richness of Japanese mayo. The spicy zest of the mayo and the thick, sweet eel sauce add waves of flavor to this salad and really takes it to the next level.