The best recipes of Japanese cuisine. Japanese food recipes

Japan is an elusive, paradoxical island country, and it is truly one of a kind. Over the years, Japan has managed to intrigue the entire globe by embracing modern advancements while preserving traditions. This is not only technology, but also cuisine.
When Japan opened its doors to the world in the 19th century, a lot changed. The simple homemade style and seasonal ingredients have been updated to suit modern standards while maintaining its traditional appeal. This has made Japanese cuisine unique - its traditional and modern sides are combined to satisfy the taste of any gourmet, and combine sweet, sour, spicy or even spicy.
Here is a list of 10 dishes and foods worth trying!
1. SUSHI

Sushi is a gift from Japan to the world, a delicate explosion of taste buds. Every gourmet dreams of trying this dish made from fresh ingredients, cut by the deft hands of a master. The dish has many variations, but the most popular is raw fish tucked into a roll of vinegared sticky rice rolled over seaweed. This delicious dish also comes in a rectangular shape with the addition of beef or fish.
2. WAGYU


Another form of steak, wagyu, is now popular even in the West. It is also a healthier option as it contains high levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. The meat simply melts in your mouth, and some of the fat remaining on the steak adds to the feeling of delicious and tender meat. Compared to other steaks, Wagyu contains more fat, but it is definitely a healthier fat.
3. TEMPURA


Another Japanese favorite, tempura, is also familiar throughout the world. This dish, along with sushi, might be a culinary export of Japan, but it has its origins in Portugal! Portuguese missionaries arrived in Nagasaki in the 16th century and brought their deep-frying technique, which the Japanese liked and stayed with!
It soon became a nationwide hit, and tempura is now one of the essential Japanese dishes. The tempura technique allows you to reduce the amount of oil while still leaving the food as tasty and crispy as conventional cooking. Whether it's kisu fish, or scallops, or asparagus, with the help of tempura any ingredient can be made not only tasty, but also healthy.
4. RAMEN


This dish has been featured in many books and films. Ramen is the only noodle dish that is popular all over the world. Ramen is traditionally noodles with seasonal vegetables and meat in a salty, fatty broth. It's not only healthy, but also delicious! The different combinations that ramen comes in only add to its fan following!
Ramen is made using wheat, and the broth usually consists of meat or fish, with additional sauces such as soy or miso to give the dish a richer flavor. Sirircha or miso with simple bacon and egg will please absolutely everyone!
5. YAKITORI

Yakitori is grilled meat with different flavors. This dish is a popular summer snack and a favorite at picnics in Japan. The most preferred version of this dish is grilled chicken. Street versions of this dish are served with soy sauce, mirin or rice wine, but real gourmets only add salt. The most valuable cuts of meat in yakitori are the skin, liver and breast, and the most popular additive is wasabi.
6. TAYAKI


Taiyaki is one of the most famous and beloved confectioneries in Japan. Wafer-like cookies stuffed with chocolate or bean paste are a sweet treat. Taiyaki is shaped like a fish! The story goes that the cookies came to be shaped like this after they were introduced to poor people who could not afford expensive Thai fish. A rarer but more expensive version of taiyaki is stuffed with sweet potatoes!
7. DOG


The Japanese's favorite dish is buckwheat noodles, or soba. It is either served hot, in broth, or cooled with sauce. Soba noodles are an inexpensive fast food option, which is why they are so famous in train stations. The main advantage of these noodles is that they can be eaten both in summer and winter! Soba is generally served with a sauce, mainly dashi or mirin. Hot soba is served with fresh onions and shihimi togarashi mixed with chili powder. Popular variations of the dish are kake soba, tororo soba, sensei soba and kitsune soba.
8. OKONOMYAKI


These are delicious pancakes that have a variety of ingredients - from cheese to pork, shrimp and even octopus! The name okonomiyaki means “as you like it!”, and this name is very suitable for the dish due to the variety of its fillings. The dish is usually grilled and done right at the table! Some options can be prepared at home yourself, but a dish prepared by professionals will definitely suit your taste.
9. ONIGIRI


Onigiri are rice balls that are the most popular fast food in Japan. Onigiri is versatile in that it can be served in a variety of combinations, such as spicy cod, pickled vegetables, stir-fried beef, and even matsutake mushrooms! They have become so popular that they are available in every department store in Japan! And the most popular addition to this dish is mayonnaise!
10. SANUKI UDON


Delicious and tender sanuki udon is very popular in Japan. These are very filling and tasty noodles! You can also combine ingredients in this dish; only the noodles remain unchanged. Sanuki udon is best served with tempura or dashi.
Japanese cuisine has adapted to the times, but its greatest strength is its unique use of seasonal ingredients and vegetables in a way that is not only delicious, but also healthy. Freshly prepared side dishes such as pickled vegetables, fish and broth not only enrich the dish, but also enhance its flavor. The meat was not used in Japan before, but its modernization led to dishes such as tonkatsu.

Everyone knows that the Japanese are the healthiest and longest-living nation in the world. This is a great merit of traditional cuisine, which gives preference to natural products with a minimum of processing. So what do the Japanese eat in everyday life?

Many people mistakenly believe that the Japanese eat exclusively sushi and rolls. In fact, their diet is quite varied:

  • Fish: tuna, salmon, mackerel, sea bass, eel, sea bream, fugu and many others.
  • Seafood: octopus, mussels, shrimp, scallop, sea urchin, squid, crab.
  • Rice. The Japanese call it "Gohan".
  • Soybeans and products made from it: miso, tofu, natto, soy sauce.
  • Noodles: udon (wheat flour without eggs), ramen (egg and wheat flour), soba (buckwheat flour), rice noodles (rice flour), glass noodles (bean starch).
  • Beans.
  • Seaweed.
  • Meat: beef and pork
  • Vegetables: cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, sweet potatoes, daikon, ginger, asparagus, bamboo shoots.

The Japanese, unlike other Asian peoples, prefer to emphasize the natural taste of food in their cuisine. Therefore, they use few seasonings, practically do not fry, and eat many foods raw.

Table setting and food culture occupy a very important place in Japanese cuisine. The Japanese eat with chopsticks, all dishes are served in small portions in a certain order. There are rules for how to eat this or that dish.

Europeans often wonder why the Japanese don't eat with forks. This is due to the fact that chopsticks (called “hashi” in Japan) appeared in Asia much earlier than other cutlery. Initially, chopsticks were used only for cooking, and people ate with their hands. The Japanese have been using hashi for food for thousands of years. In addition, the sticks are made from natural materials. Since they can capture a small amount of food, it promotes better digestion.

In Japan, it is believed that there should be three meals and each of them must include rice.

What do the Japanese eat for breakfast?

Modern Japanese often eat European cuisine, including for breakfast. But a traditional Japanese breakfast consists of:

  • Boiled rice and natto. Natto is a type of soybean that is seasoned with sauce and placed on top of rice. Since natto is very rich in vegetable protein and satisfies hunger for a long time, this dish is popular for breakfast.
  • Tamago-yaki is an omelette rolled into a roll. Tamago-yaki differs from the usual omelette in that a little soy sauce with added sugar is poured into it.
  • Misoshiru is a soup made from miso bean paste. To prepare it, soy cheese tofu, wakame seaweed and other ingredients are used. The composition of the soup largely depends on the season and region of residence of the Japanese.
  • Tsukemono – pickled vegetables. Each type of vegetable has its own pickling method. Since vegetables are not heat-treated, they retain all their beneficial substances. Nowadays, much less salt is added to tsukemono than before.
  • Tea. Most people in Japan drink green tea. Not a single meal is complete without tea.

Despite the variety of dishes, they are served in very small quantities. It is noteworthy that the Japanese practically do not eat bread and butter, even for breakfast. Soy products are very nutritious and provide long-lasting energy.

What do the Japanese eat for lunch?

The Japanese prefer light lunches. Its basis, of course, is rice. It is served with fish, which can be raw, grilled or marinated. Boiled vegetables or salads can complement lunch. Rice vinegar or soy sauce is used as a dressing in salads. I almost never use mayonnaise in traditional cuisine. At the end of lunch they drink tea.

Nowadays Western influences are increasingly felt in Japan. That's why you can often find young Japanese people eating fast food.

What do the Japanese eat for dinner?

The Japanese eat dinner quite heavily. Standard dinner includes:

  • Rice or noodles.
  • Soup. The Japanese love soups very much. The most commonly prepared dishes are misoshira and suimono (clear soups). They can be fish, meat, vegetables. For most soups, all ingredients and broth are boiled separately and combined only before serving. It is noteworthy that the Japanese eat soups with chopsticks, first catching pieces of vegetables and meat. Then drink the broth directly from the cup.
  • Meat or fish in any form.
  • Vegetables that can be steamed.
  • Pickled snacks - tsukemono.
  • A dessert made from traditional Japanese sweets called wagashi. There are many varieties of wagashi. To prepare them, rice or legumes, sweet potatoes, gelatin, chestnuts, herbs and fruits are used. They have a specific taste and are absolutely different from European sweets.
  • Green tea.

Of course, the Japanese menu depends on personal preferences and family customs.

The article talks about what the Japanese usually eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, what dishes are most popular and what products are used to prepare them. Some traditions associated with eating are also described.

There are dozens of recipes for Japanese dishes that can be prepared at home - the abundance is amazing.

The Japanese carefully plan their diet - only the best fruits of the earth and gifts of nature should be on the table.

Let's take a closer look at the features of Japanese cuisine and learn how to cook some at home with our simple step-by-step recipes and photos of ready-made dishes.


Main ingredients used in preparing Japanese dishes

Due to the fact that Japan is surrounded by seas, that is, rich in marine resources, seafood is the basis of its food system.

Until many years ago, people ate about 25 varieties algae.

Today, more than 100 species are known, each of which is used both for preparing simple snacks and for complex recipes for Japanese dishes at home.

The researchers were surprised by the Japanese knowledge about the properties of products, because the poisonous fugu fish was also present in the diet of ancient people.

They knew how to cook it, what could be eaten, and what was dangerous to health.


Rice is the basis of most dishes

And it was the Japanese who made it so popular soy and soy sauce. This is not surprising, since the composition of soy protein is similar to meat protein and is simply irreplaceable.

In Japan, it is mandatory to eat soy once a day in the form of tofu, or.


Baked rolls

Japanese style rice

Required ingredients:

  1. 150 grams of rice
  2. 1 red or yellow bell pepper
  3. 250 g beans
  4. 1 onion
  5. Canned corn
  6. 1 carrot
  7. 50 ml soy sauce
  8. Sugar
  9. Garlic

Japanese style rice

Step by step instructions:

  1. Boil the cereal in salted water and leave to cool. Finely chop the garlic, onion, pepper into cubes, and carrot into rings.
  2. Next, heat in a saucepan, put all the vegetables there, keep on fire, stirring, for about 10 minutes.
  3. After this, add soy sauce and a little sugar. Place rice and corn in a saucepan and simmer for another 10 minutes over low heat.
  4. If you have an electric stove, when the time is up, turn off the burner and leave the dish to finish cooking.

Beans with teriyaki sauce

You won't be able to pass by this simply wonderful dish that will become...

You need:

  1. 150 g beans
  2. 2 bell peppers
  3. 1 onion
  4. 1 pepper

Beans with teriyaki sauce
Mochi

Step by step instructions:

  1. First prepare the filling. For example, chop fruits along with nuts.
  2. Then add sugar to the rice flour, then water with 3 drops of vinegar.
  3. Watch the consistency of the dough; there should be no lumps. While pouring water, mix the mixture thoroughly.
  4. Once you have achieved a uniform consistency, cover the container with cling film and leave in a warm place for 30 minutes.
  5. After time, make a “sausage” from the resulting mass, divide into 10 equal parts.
  6. Roll out each piece with a rolling pin, put the filling in the middle, cover with the edges of the dough, and shape into a ball.
  7. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
  8. Bon appetit!

Yokan

You will need:

  1. Anko bean paste
  2. 50 g cane sugar
  3. 100 ml purified water
  4. Agar-agar

Japanese dessert yokan

Step by step instructions:

  1. Pour 300 ml of water into a container, add agar-agar, keep on fire for 7-10 minutes, just do not bring to a boil.
  2. Once heated, add the anko paste and cook until the mixture begins to smoke.
  3. Pour the finished mixture into molds and leave to harden.
  4. Top with caramel or jam.

Sweet rolls

Components:

  1. 150 g dried apricots
  2. 50 g flakes
  3. 60 g seeds
  4. 10 ml lemon juice
  5. 1 banana

Sweet rolls

Step by step instructions:

  1. Soak the dried apricots for 5 minutes in cool water.
  2. Dry the seeds in a frying pan for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Using a blender, make a homogeneous mass of dried apricots, seeds, oatmeal, then roll out using a rolling pin.
  4. Place it on the edge of the “pancake” and wrap it like a roll.
  5. Wrap in foil and refrigerate for 4 hours.
  6. Then cut and serve.

If you want to make a Japanese dish at home, but are not confident in your abilities, watch this useful video with a step-by-step guide to preparing sushi:

Culinary community Li.Ru -

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Until recently, many people associated Japanese cuisine exclusively with sushi and rolls, but gradually other dishes from the Land of the Rising Sun are gaining popularity around the world. In today's article we will briefly talk about 50 dishes that are definitely worth trying if you find yourself in Japan.

1. Sushi / Sushi

Sushi is a dish that combines Japanese rice and seafood (although other ingredients are sometimes used). There is also a type of fermented sushi known as nare-zushi, but the most typical types of sushi are nigirizushi and temakizushi.There are many other ingredients for those who don't like raw fish, including boiled shrimp and fried eel.

You can find sushi all over Japan, but sushi from high-end restaurants such as those in the Ginza area or near the fishing ports is especially delicious. If you want to eat inexpensively, then you should go to a kaitenzushi sushi restaurant or conveyor belt sushi, where you can enjoy it for only 100 yen per plate.

2. Tempura / Tempura

Tempura is a dish in which seafood, fresh vegetables and other ingredients are first dipped in flour and egg batter and then deep-fried. Although you can enjoy tempura in many restaurants, if you want to try a particularly tasty and fresh dish, it is better to visit a specialized tempura restaurant. In such an establishment, dishes are served on the table immediately after preparation.


3. Sukiyaki / Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki is a dish in which meat and vegetables are stewed in an iron pot. The sauce added to sukiyaki, known as warishita, is made from soy sauce and sugar.

There are many variations in ingredients and methods of eating this dish depending on the region. For example, some areas mix a beaten egg with the sauce to create a milder flavor. Overall, if you want to enjoy a lot of beef, then this dish is definitely for you.


4. Ramen

Ramen is a dish made from wheat noodles that has become incredibly popular. The soup was originally prepared with chicken, but in recent years pork, beef and seafood have also been added. In addition to the traditional version, today you can also enjoy ramen with the addition of curry. It is worth mentioning this type of ramen, where noodles and soup are served separately, it is called tsukemen.

5. Curry rice

If we talk about curry seasoning, it originated in India. But in our case, we mean a unique, localized dish based on curry that came to Japan from the UK. It is made with meat and vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions, etc.), seasoned with curry, stewed and served with rice. Sometimes pork cutlets may also be added on top of the dish. You can taste this dish both in specialized curry restaurants and in a regular restaurant.


6. Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a dish consisting of pork cutlets as they are prepared in the West, that is, when a thick slice of pork is dipped in flour and beaten egg batter, then coated with breadcrumbs and fried in oil. The best place to try tonkatsu is at a specialty restaurant.


7. Soba noodles / Japanese Soba

A dish of noodles made from buckwheat flour, eaten with soy and sugar sauce, and with fillings such as egg, tempura, etc. Soba noodles, which you can buy in stores, are especially tasty, but at the same time very expensive, so we recommend try soba in a restaurant. There you can easily decide on the fillings that are listed on the menu.


8. Udon noodles

Udon is a noodle made from wheat flour. They eat it the same way as soba, with soy and sugar sauce. You can taste udon in many restaurants, but, again, the most delicious food is prepared in specialized udon restaurants. And in winter, we recommend trying a delicious noodle stew known as nabe yaki udon.


9. Karaage / Karaage

Karaage is chicken seasoned with soy sauce, salt and a number of other spices, sprinkled with starch and fried in oil. The dish is similar to the Japanese version of fried chicken, but the taste is completely different.

There are many different variations of karaage in Japan, depending on the region. For example, chicken nanban in Miyazaki, where the karaage is seasoned with tartar sauce, or Tebasaki in Nagoya, where the karaage is served with a sweet and spicy sauce. They are definitely worth a try.


10. Yakitori / Yakitori

Yakitori is shredded chicken skewers cooked on a barbecue and flavored with a sweet or soy sauce. We also recommend trying the pork shish kebab (yakiton in Japanese).

11. Yakiniku / Yakiniku

Yakiniku is beef soaked in sauce and grilled. It is very important to use the freshest possible meat for this dish. By lightly grilling the dish, you can enjoy the mild flavor of Japanese beef.

The most popular yakiniku are sirloin (known to the Japanese as rosu) and galbi (Korean marinated meat). At yakiniku restaurants you can taste all kinds of meat. The price of meat depends on the quality, so if you want to try real yakiniku, we recommend going to an upscale restaurant.


12. Sashimi / Sashimi

Sashimi is a traditional Japanese dish of raw fish cut into pieces. Served with soy sauce. By adding seasonings such as wasabi or ginger, the sashimi becomes even more delicious.

You can enjoy sashimi in other countries, but the degree of freshness will most likely be lower. If you want to try inexpensive sashimi, then order a meal set at a restaurant near the fishing port. But if you're willing to spend a little more, then you should try a sushi restaurant or a traditional Japanese restaurant. When staying at a ryokan or traditional Japanese inn, you'll likely get sashimi for dinner.


13. Robatayaki

Robatayaki is not really food, but rather a restaurant. In the restaurant, fish and vegetables are cooked over an open fire in front of customers. Dishes are cooked directly on charcoal, which gives them a unique aroma.

14. Shabu-shabu / Shabushabu

A dish in which meat and vegetables are boiled in water seasoned with konbu and other ingredients. A typical sauce for shabu-shabu is ponzu or sesame sauce. The main point is to lightly immerse the meat in water before eating it.

You can order both beef and pork shabu shabu. Sometimes udon noodles are added to the dish at the end of the meal. Unlike some other dishes, you won't be able to find shabu-shabu in non-specialty restaurants other than a few sukiyaki restaurants.


15. Gyutanyaki

This dish originates from Sendai, where beef tongue (gyutan) is cooked in a special way that tenderizes the meat. You can find this dish only in special restaurants.

A typical gyutanyaki contains rice cooked with barley (mugimeshi), and beef soup along with beef tongue. Tororo, or grated yam, is typically served with mugimeshi, along with various pickles such as cabbage or chili. Please note that in special gyutan restaurants the beef tongue is quite thick.

16. Kaiseki Ryori

Kaiseki-ryori is again not a dish, but a style of eating most suitable for a banquet. In this case, the menu usually consists of:

  • ichijusansai (soup, sashimi, fried dish),
  • snacks (otooshi),
  • fried foods (agemono),
  • stews (mushimono),
  • Japanese salad (aemono), pickled dishes.

At the end of the meal, it is customary to serve rice, miso soup, pickles (konomono) and fruit (mizugashi). Naturally, such food is only available at designated kaiseki ryori restaurants, and reservations are usually required. It’s also worth mentioning that the price of kaiseki-ryori is often very high.


17. Gyudon / Gyudon

This dish is rice with beef. Gyudon, or beef bowl, has already become a popular dish around the world, but gyudon prepared in Japan may be slightly different from gyudon prepared in other countries. Firstly, the quality of rice differs. Also, the quality of beef may be different. By the way, if you want to try a really tasty gyudon, we recommend pouring a beaten egg over the beef.


18. Chankonabe

Chankonabe is prepared in a large pot using very nutritious meat and vegetables. This dish is popular among sumo wrestlers who use it to gain weight. If you want to try real chankonabe, then go to a restaurant run by a former sumo wrestler.


19. Motsunabe / Motsunabe

A famous dish from Fukuoka in which beef and pork meats are cooked in a pan with various vegetables such as cabbage and Chinese leeks (nira in Japanese). You can add other ingredients during cooking. After the main course, the soup is usually accompanied by Chinese chanpon noodles or rice. You can find motsunabe restaurants in Tokyo, but it’s better to try the original motsunabe in Fukuoka.

20. Onigiri / Onigiri

Onigiri is a ball of cooked rice, lightly salted and often with ingredients such as umeboshi (dried plum), salmon or cod, wrapped in a sheet of nori (dried seaweed). The21.re - specialized onigiri stores. However, you can buy them in other stores. This dish is very popular among foreigners.

21. Unagi-no-kabayaki

Unagi no kabayaki is eel ("unagi" in Japanese) coated in sauce and grilled over charcoal. In some regions it is steamed rather than fried. There is a type of kabayaki that is not dipped in sauce before frying, known as shiroyaki, however, generally the eel is dipped in soy and sweet sauce before frying.

You can enjoy unagi either as a separate dish or with rice (the second option is more popular). Nagoya has a unique way of eating unagi known as hitsumabushi, where the tea is poured over rice and then eaten.


22. Kani (crab) / Kani (Crab)

Kani, or simply crab, is found in all parts of the planet, but the crab in Japan is special. Hairy crab (kegani in Japanese) has exquisite meat and deep flavor. The Japanese especially love the part of the crab called kanimiso. It is a dark green paste from the intestinal cavity that has a slightly bitter taste.

If you want to try crab, we recommend Red King Crab (tarabagani in Japanese), which can be found in Hokkaido restaurants and specialty restaurants.


23. Yakizakana / Yakizakana

Yakizakana is a traditional fish dish that is grilled directly over an open fire, resulting in a crispy fish. Most often, mackerel (aji), saury (sanma), mackerel (saba) or salmon (shake) are chosen for this dish. Yakizakana can be enjoyed throughout Japan, and if you stay in a ryokan or traditional Japanese inn, you will be served this dish for breakfast.


24. Nizakana / Nizakana

Nizakana is fish cooked in soy sauce. Mackerel (saba), right-eye flounder (karei) or alfonsino (kinmedai) are commonly used for this dish. Another popular dish is buridaikon, where fish is boiled with daikon. You can enjoy nizakana at a variety of restaurants, including izakaya.

25. Fried dishes from western-style restaurants

Besides tonkatsu, there are a number of fried dishes that are prepared similarly to tempura. These include korokke (croquettes), menchikatsu (deep-fried mince pie), ebi fry (fried shrimp), kani cream korokke (crab croquettes) and kaki fry (fried oysters). You can enjoy these delicious dishes in Western style restaurants. The method of serving the dish depends on the specific restaurant.


26. Jingisukan / Jingisukan

This is a local dish from Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture. Jingisukan is meat and vegetables cooked in a special pan with a raised center. The meat is cooked in the center of the pan, allowing the juices from the meat to drain and be absorbed by the vegetables on the sides. Please note that lamb has a very distinct smell, so you may not like the dish.


27. Kansai-style Kushikatsu

A popular dish in the Kansai region is meat and vegetables that are skewered and then fried in a batter, like tonkatsu. There are many different types of kushikatsu, so you can enjoy a wide variety of flavors if you wish.

Before eating kushikatsu, you should dip it in Worcestershire sauce. But please remember that the sauce is shared with other customers, so you should only dip the kushikatsu into it once. Also note that non-specialty kushikatsu restaurants in the Kanto region serve deep-fried pork and onion skewers as kushikatsu.


28. Oden / Oden

Although there are often large differences in preparation between Japanese regions, typical oden is a dish in which daikon, meat and fish balls, boiled eggs and other ingredients are simmered in a broth of dried bonito or konbu mixed with soy sauce. You can try oden in specialized oden restaurants; this dish is also sold in regular stores.

29. Okonomiyaki

This dish consists of vegetables, meat, seafood and other ingredients that are mixed with wheat flour and eggs and cooked on the stove. In some regions of Japan, the ingredients are placed on top of the flour and egg mixture rather than mixed into them.

It is worth mentioning that in most regions, chefs in restaurants prepare okonomiyaki themselves, but in the Kanto region there are many restaurants where the customer makes it himself. However, if you are not confident in your abilities, you can contact the restaurant staff and they will do everything for you.

The special sauce is the usual flavoring and adding mayonnaise to the dish makes it even better. You can also find okonomiyaki stalls at various festivals and events.


30. Buta-no-shogayaki / Buta-no-shogayaki

Buta no shogayaki is made with thinly sliced ​​pork and ginger, and is flavored with soy sauce and sake (Japanese rice wine). This dish can be found on the menu of any restaurant.


31. Katsudon / Katsudon

This dish consists of tonkatsu and onions cooked in soy sauce and topped with beaten eggs. Freshly fried tonkatsu is delicious on its own, but katsudon is a whole new flavor experience. Katsudon can be found not only in special tonkatsu restaurants, but also in regular restaurants. However, to enjoy the best katsudon, we recommend visiting a tonkatsu restaurant.

32. Fugu / Fugu

Fugu fish is a poisonous fish that can only be legally prepared in licensed restaurants. This is a rather expensive dish. At fugu restaurants, you can enjoy a variety of fugu dishes such as fugu hot pot, fugu karaage and fugu sashimi.


33. Gyoza

Gyoza are traditional Chinese dumplings. In China, suigyoza, or boiled gyoza, is mainstream, but in Japan, yakigyoza, or fried gyoza, is more popular. Another difference is the use of garlic in the fried gyoza. Gyoza dumplings are usually dipped in soy sauce, Chinese chili sauce, vinegar and other sauces that you can choose to suit your taste.

34. Nikujaga

This is one example of traditional Japanese home cooking, where potatoes and meat are boiled in soy and sugar sauce. Sometimes carrots and shirataki (konnyaku noodles) are also added to the dish. This typical dish can be found in both izakaya and regular restaurants.

35. Takoyaki

To prepare takoyaki, a mixture of wheat flour, water and broth is poured into a special frying pan with semicircular shapes. Then the filling is made from chopped squid, cabbage and dried shrimp, which are added to the resulting mixture, and then fried. After some time, turn the pan over to fry the other side.

Takoyaki has a similar taste to okonomiyaki. Before eating, they need to be poured with sauce. A plate of takoyaki in restaurants costs about 500 yen (almost 300 rubles).

36. Sauce Yakisoba

Yakisoba sauce is a dish of fried noodles, pork, cabbage, bean sprouts and other ingredients seasoned with Worcestershire sauce. Yakisoba sauce is usually garnished with red pickled ginger and sprinkled with green dried seaweed. You can find Yakisoba sauce at stalls or okonomiyaki restaurants, as well as in stores.

37. Rice omelette / Omelette rice

To prepare this dish, you need to fry rice, chicken and onions together, seasoned with ketchup, and then pour a thin layer of omelette over it. The resulting dish is usually topped with demi glace sauce. Rice omelet is very popular with children, but adults love it too. This dish can be found in Western style restaurants and set menu restaurants.

38. Napolitano / Napolitan

Napolitano is sausage, onions and green peppers fried with cooked pasta and topped with ketchup sauce. The end result is a Japanese version of spaghetti with tomato sauce, but with a completely different taste. You can find Napolitan pasta in Western-style restaurants and cafes.


39. Kamameshi / Kamameshi

Kamameshi is a dish in which individual portions of rice are cooked in an iron pot called a kama with soy sauce, mirin (sweet sake for seasoning) and other ingredients. Before cooking, rice, chicken, seafood, vegetables, etc. are also added to the pot. Salmon roe is added after cooking. The finished dish is not eaten from kama, but is served in bowls. You can enjoy kamameshi in special kamameshi restaurants.


40. Tamagoyaki / Tamagoyaki

Tamagoyaki is a type of rolled omelette. This flavorful dish is very easy to make. In some cases, soy sauce or broth, known in Japan as dashi, is added to tamagoyaki. Tamagoyaki with added dashi is called dashimaki tamago, and although its appearance is similar to regular tamagoyaki, the taste is completely different. You can find tamagoyaki in both regular stores and specialized tamagoyaki stores.

41. Potato Salad

Japanese version of potato salad. This dish uses Japanese mayonnaise, which has a slightly different taste than European mayonnaise, thus giving the potato salad a different taste than it does overseas. Corn, cucumber, carrots and onions are also often added to this salad.

You can find potato salad in stores, but we recommend trying it at a restaurant or izakaya, where the homemade taste is truly fantastic.


42. Miso-shiru (Miso soup)

Misoshiru (miso soup) is a standard Japanese soup. It is prepared by mixing miso paste, bonito flakes, konbu and other ingredients. Common miso soup ingredients also include tofu, wakame and daikon. By the way, there is a dish called buta-jiru, which is prepared almost exactly the same as misoshiru, but it also adds pork (buta nike in Japanese), daikon, carrots and taro (satoimo in Japanese) .

43. Tofu / Tofu

Tofu has become well known overseas, but while you're in Japan, be sure to try real tofu. A very simple dish that uses tofu is hiyaakko. This is when bonito flakes and ginger are placed on tofu and soy sauce is poured on top. You can try it at izakaya and other restaurants. We also recommend trying dengaku, which is sliced ​​tofu, grilled and topped with miso.

44. Chawanmushi

A dish in which various ingredients such as chicken, white fish, shrimp, fish paste (kamaboko) and gingko nuts (ginnan) are added to a mixture of eggs and dashi in a bowl (chawan) and steamed. You can order chawanmushi in traditional Japanese restaurants. The dish is similar in appearance and texture to custard, but has a unique aroma.


45. Tsukemono / Tsukemono

Tsukemono are vegetables soaked in salt, vinegar or sake. Tsukemono is usually served in traditional Japanese restaurants, but tsukemono from specialty stores is a real delicacy. There are many different types of tsukemono that are definitely worth trying.

46. ​​Tamago kake gohan / Tamagokake gohan

This rice dish is prepared by mixing raw egg with soy sauce and pouring the mixture over hot rice. Tamago kake gohan has become so popular lately that you can even find tamago kake gohan restaurants in Japan.


47. Edamame / Edamame

Edamame are young soybeans boiled directly in the pods in lightly salted water or steamed. This is an excellent beer snack, which is often ordered at a bar. Although edamame has a simple taste, many people still like it.

48. Chazuke / Chazuke

This is a dish in which tea is poured directly onto rice. It is often eaten at the end of a meal. It has a very light and refreshing taste, so you can eat it even if you are already full. Toppings such as dried seaweed, cod roe and salmon are often sprinkled on top of the dish.


49. Umaibo / Umaibo

This Japanese snack is very popular abroad. It is said that there are no children in the world who do not love umaibo, which cost only 10 yen. There is a wide range of flavors including salami, takoyaki and cheese.


50. Kasipan / Kashipan

A type of sweet bun that can be bought in stores or bakeries. There are different flavors of kashipan and different fillings, such as anpan (with sweet paste) and curry (with curry sauce), and also flavored ones, such as melon flavor). They usually cost around 100 yen, so they're definitely worth a try if you find yourself in Japan.


  • Added: 10/22/2018
  • Views: 8250
  • Tags: ramen , rolls ,
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