Though it should be the coldest period of winter in Hokkaido, we recently had warm days that felt like early March. 
To cool down the heat building up inside my body and satisfy a craving for something refreshing and light, I made this simple dish of Chinese yam and cucumber salad with ume (pickled plum) dressing. 
(I usually avoid eating cucumbers in winter as they are a cooling food.)
This dish is perfect for those who find ume too sour to eat itself, or simply don't like it. It’s also a great side dish to enjoy with fatty and richer-flavored meats to balance things out.

The recipe is super easy: just cut the Chinese yam and cucumber into bite-sized pieces and mix them with the other ingredients.

From Yakuzen perspective, this dish is beneficial for anti-aging. Yam is well known for helping strengthen your kidneys, while cucumber replenishes flids and releases excess heat from your body. Adding a sprinkle of cilantro and bonito flakes boosts the health benefits even more!

Ingredients (4 Servings)

200g Chinese yam (peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 Cucumber (cut into bite-sized pieces)
15g Cilantro (cut into 1cm width)
1 small handful Bonito flakes
1 1/2 tsp Soy sauce
2 Big pickled ume plums (remove the seed and chop) 
1 tsp Sesame oil

Method

Step 1 - Combine the chopped ume plums, soy sauce and sesame oil in a bowl.
Step 2 - Add the Chinese yam and cucumber and mix.
Step 3 - Add the cilantro and bonito flakes and mix gently.