Japan is well known for its amazing cuisine, with a variety of delicious options to suit all tastes and palettes. From ramen to miso soup and tempura to sashimi, there is something for everyone that will leave you satisfied and looking forward to your next meal! We’ve shared our favorite Japanese recipes below so that you can enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine from the comfort of your own home.
Sushi & Sashimi
Possibly the most iconic Japanese foods are sushi and sashimi, composed of the freshest ingredients to make food that will make your mouth water. Sushi is made from rice which has been mixed with sugar and salt and then topped with a range of different food items, including seafood, seaweed, and vegetables. It comes in a wide range of options, and each type of sushi has its own specific name. Sashimi is a raw dish made from different types of seafood. The fish and seafood are cut into small slices, presented on a plate, and served with both soy sauce and wasabi as well as radish. Like sushi, there is a wide range of different types of sashimi to choose from, but each fish or seafood item that is used has to be as fresh as possible for it to be safe to eat raw.
Ramen
If you are looking for Japanese comfort food, then you can’t go wrong with a steaming bowl full of ramen! The ingredient options are endless, and you start by cooking a portion of noodles and place them in a bowl of miso soup, soy sauce, or any other broth you want to use. With the noodles in the broth, you then load your ramen bowl with all the ingredients that appeal to you.
“Sushi is made from rice which has been mixed with sugar and salt and then topped with a range of different food items, including seafood, seaweed, and vegetables. It comes in a wide range of options, and each type of sushi has its own specific name.”
The most traditional options include slices of chashu made from pork, spring onions, eggs, sesame seeds, and nori sheets. However, you really can put anything that you want into the mix, making it a great recipe for leftovers and keeping your meal prep to a minimum.
Bang Bang Cauliflower
Bang Bang Cauliflower is another great Japanese recipe that is a popular choice for street food as it is simple to make, suits a range of diets, and is absolutely delicious! To make it, you just need to break a cauliflower head into small florets and marinade the pieces in a mix of onions, oil, and a hot and spicy sauce.
Once it is marinaded, you simply heat your wok and cook the cauliflower until it is browned around the edges and cooked. You can eat it on its own, in a wrap or with a salad or rice, depending on how hungry you are!
Tempura
Another great snack or starter food is tempura – a dish that uses fresh vegetables and seafood and covers them in batter before frying them off. The traditional rule with tempura is that whatever you choose to batter, it should be cut small enough before frying so that it can fit in your mouth in one piece after it has been cooked. Simply choose the vegetables and seafood you want to eat and chop them into pieces before lightly coating them in the batter. Tempura batter is very light, and the vegetables and seafood will be visible inside the batter when cooked. Pair them with Tetsuya sauce for an authentic touch.
Okonomiyaki
If you are looking for something a bit more filling, then okonomiyaki is a good choice. It’s similar to a loaded pancake but is savory and cooked with ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables, and cheese.
“While not a food, matcha tea is also worth mentioning on our favorite recipe list as it is a drink that is widely enjoyed across Japan, with the matcha flavor being used in many recipes too!”
To make your own okonomiyaki, mix a batter with flour, eggs, and yams and then pour a portion onto a hot griddle and top it with your chosen fillings. You can then flip it to sear the top or leave it with a soft set finish to make it truly authentic.
Yakitori
If you want a Japanese finger food that is easy to eat, then yakitori is the obvious choice – typically made with chicken, this dish is cooked and served on skewers. Many people have revamped this dish to include other meats, tofu, and even vegetables, making it a great dish to enjoy with friends with drinks and other nibbles. Simple skewer bite-sized chunks of your chosen ingredients and then cook them over a grill until they are done. Before serving, brush or dip each skewer in teriyaki sauce and then serve on platters with extra sauce on the side.
Gyoza
If you want some other Japanese nibbles to serve with drinks, then gyoza is a great choice and can be fried in a pan, deep fried, or even boiled, depending on your preferences. Each half-moon-shaped gyoza is a type of Japanese dumpling, and the fillings depend on what you want them to taste of when you serve them! Many people choose meat or vegetables, but you can even use fish or shrimp if you’d prefer. Simply get your ingredients, chop them as small and fine as possible and then place a small spoonful into the dumpling wrapper before sealing it and cooking.
Matcha Tea
While not a food, matcha tea is also worth mentioning on our favorite recipe list as it is a drink that is widely enjoyed across Japan, with the matcha flavor being used in many recipes too!
To make your matcha tea, you simply use a special tea frothing tool and whisk up the tea powder with hot water before serving. The strength of the tea depends on your specific preferences, but the result should be a drink that is slightly bitter and thick.
Enjoy Some Japanese Cuisine Today
If you love the idea of the foods we have discussed, then why not try some today? Either brave the recipes and cook them at home or head out to your local Japanese restaurant and let someone else do the hard work. Either way, Japanese food is sure to impress you and will become a staple go-to meal choice when you want something delicious and nutritious to eat.
