• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Thanks for the Meal

Savoring Japan's Culinary Treasures

  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks by Lucy
  • About
    • News
    • Why “Thanks For The Meal”?
  • Contact
  • My Favorite Things
    • Japanese Cookbooks

Easy Japanese Recipes for the Home Cook

Whether you’re new to Japanese cooking or new to cooking in general, these easy recipes are a great place to start. Not only does Lucy walk you through easy Japanese hors d’oeuvres, main dishes, and desserts, but she covers donburi and ramen as well!

See it on Amazon Now >>

thanks_forthemeal

Japanese food blog by zen life coach and author Lucy Seligman.

Thanks for the Meal
Don't miss these delicious Japanese noodle recipes Don't miss these delicious Japanese noodle recipes, including soba, ramen, and other easy Japanese pasta dishes. #linkinbio #Japaneserecipes #Japanesefoods #ramen #pasta
I was only married for two weeks when I experience I was only married for two weeks when I experienced Osechi for the first time.

In a way, it was a culinary bridge to getting to know my new Japanese family through the endless hours of preparing Osechi with my new mother-in-law and sisters-in-law.

I love Osechi as a our special year-end ritual and annual tradition and Kohaku Namasu is one of my favorites!
It's just about that time of year again - time for It's just about that time of year again - time for Osechi!

What's YOUR favorite Osechi recipe??
It's that time of year again - nearly time for Ose It's that time of year again - nearly time for Osechi!!

So to celebrate, naturally I had to share one of my favorite Osechi recipes - Kuri Kinton. 

((it also happens to be one of my favorites featured in my Osechi cookbook!))

Check it out, up on the blog now! #Japanesefood #Osechi #JapaneseNewYear #holidayfoods #candiedchesnuts #thanksforthemeal #foodblogger
I made hoto the other day and knew I just had to s I made hoto the other day and knew I just had to share it with you! Find the recipe up on my blog now! #linkinbio #Japanesefood #udonsoup #yum #thanksforthemeal #Fallcomfortfood #japanfood
In honor of #NationalDessertDay I had to share one In honor of #NationalDessertDay I had to share one of my favorite Japanese dessert recipes - this black sesame pudding! You can find this recipe in my cookbook Easy Japanese Recipes for the Home Cook - available on Amazon and via the link in my bio!
As the cooler fall months are right around the cor As the cooler fall months are right around the corner, now is the perfect time to cozy up to some traditional Japanese autumn dishes. Check out my latest blog post for some of my favorites! #linkinbio #Japanesefood #japanesecuisine #thanksforthemeal #asianfood #japaneserecipes #FallFoods #fallfavorites
Some new bowls to add to my collection. Some new bowls to add to my collection.
This fresh sashimi salad is perfect for summer! I This fresh sashimi salad is perfect for summer!

It's a simple dish made with salad vegetables such as carrot, cucumber and celery topped with tender slices of fresh sashimi.

It's a great salad for lunch, a light dinner, or for a healthy addition to dinner.

This recipe is fully customizable and is sure to be a hit for anyone who enjoys Japanese cooking or anything involving sashimi - yum!

Get the recipe via the link in my bio now!
A fusion play on Mongolian Beef served over Yuba N A fusion play on Mongolian Beef served over Yuba Noodles!
It’s hard to believe but it’s officially been It’s hard to believe but it’s officially been over a year since I published my second cookbook – Easy Japanese Recipes for the Home Cook.

I originally wrote this book as a way to show that Japanese cooking is in fact accessible to all! It doesn’t require a ton of special tools or complicated culinary knowledge, but in fact can be quite easy (and always delicious!)

Since publishing this book, I’ve heard from so many happy home chefs – from those of you serving up the easy Japanese hors d’oeuvres to wow your friends to many enjoying homemade ramen with their families for the first time.

I want to thank all of you who have purchased the book and left a review on Amazon – those reviews truly make all the difference for a “small time” author such as myself and I thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your support.

Should you ever want a signed copy, they make for great gifts! #linkinbio

Maybe one day I’ll work on a third cookbook, but for now I just want to say - arigato!

#thanksforthemeal #Japanesefood #cookbookauthor #cookbook #Asiancuisine #Easyrecipes #homecook
I love dry-roasted almonds and am always looking f I love dry-roasted almonds and am always looking for new flavors to have as a healthy protein-packed snack. Recently I came across @spiritalmond (based in LA) and was intrigued by the Japanese flavors. I did a taste test of the 6 different flavor Sampler Pack with a friend and the clear winners were Koji Salt and the Black Garlic.
I'm obsessed with the ube delights from @mybsweet I'm obsessed with the ube delights from @mybsweet 🤤 Check out their feature in my latest blog post, where we highlight some of the best of the best in Japantown on Sawtelle in LA! #linkinbio
What's your favorite flavor to use when making oni What's your favorite flavor to use when making onigiri? 

Check out our latest recipe - up on the blog now! #Thanksforthemeal #Japanesefood #foodblogger #onigiri #riceballs
Check out my recipe for this shredded chicken + Ja Check out my recipe for this shredded chicken + Japanese radish dish - up on the blog now! It's such an easy meal, and one you absolutely will want to try this week.
I had some left-over black pepper rice, and fried I had some left-over black pepper rice, and fried it in a little oil the next day so that it was browned and crispy. Delicious! Whether you are on team rice cooker (my daughter), or team stove-top (me), this rice dish is definitely one you want to try! Up on the blog now!
At Hinamatsuri, also known as Girls’ Day Festiva At Hinamatsuri, also known as Girls’ Day Festival, on March 3, tradition dictates fare such as shirozake (white sake), arare (cubed rice crackers), and inarizushi (sushi rice in pouches of deep-fried tofu).⁠
⁠
Find this delicious Inarizushi recipe on Thanks For the Meal now!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#Hinamatsuri #Inarizushi #inarisushi #Japanesefood #Japanesecuisine #GirlsDayFestival #Japan #Thanksforthemeal #friedtofu #Japaneserecipe #foodblogger
Here’s some recent culinary finds from my area! Here’s some recent culinary finds from my area! Planning to make pickles with the #shisovinegar and use the #yuzusalt on EVERYTHING!
This recipe from @rooted__eats is inspired by the This recipe from @rooted__eats is inspired by the flavors of Japan. These Japanese fusion pickled veggies are sweet, gingery, and have a little bit of a kick (if you so choose). They also have that oh-so-good crunch and that acidic tang thanks to the rice wine vinegar and tamari.⁠
⁠
Check out the latest blog post on Thanks for the Meal to get the recipe now!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#japanesefood #japanesefoodblog #foodblogger #pickledveggies #Asianinfused #thanksforthemeal #japanesefusion #japanesecuisine #vegrecipe #japaneserecipe
Just bought Momofuku’s chili crunch set! Any sug Just bought Momofuku’s chili crunch set! Any suggestions on what dishes to add them to? #momofuku #chilicrunch
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Never Miss a Recipe!

Japanese salad dressings

Get Lucy’s ebook, “How to Make Traditional Japanese Salad Dressings” FREE when you subscribe.



Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


.

Recipes by Category






My Favorite Condiments for Japanese Cooking

I recently looked around my kitchen and realized I have a lot of Japanese condiments! And I use them all the time. When it comes to Japanese cooking, there are a few condiments that are the foundation of what I consider “must-haves” for beginners and experts alike. These condiments will help you further create andRead On >

My Favorite Tools for Japanese Cooking

When it comes to Japanese cooking, there are a few tools that I consider “must-haves” for beginners and experts alike. Whether you’re looking to set up your Japanese kitchen or just streamlining your cooking processes, these kitchen tools will help you get started with easier (and more fun!) Japanese cooking. My Favorite Tools for JapaneseRead On >

AbeBooks.com. Thousands of booksellers - millions of books.

Kishimen japanese recipe

Japanese Noodle Recipes

By Lucy Seligman Leave a Comment

In the mood for some delicious Japanese noodles? Whether you’re looking to try your hand at a new yakisoba recipe, on the hunt for ramen, or simply exploring different noodle recipes, these are sure to delight! Japanese Noodle Recipes Let’s start with one of my favorites – Yakisoba! Yakisoba is very easy to make atRead On >

Kuri Kinton

Kuri Kinton

By Lucy Seligman Leave a Comment

The first few days of the new year in Japan, known as O-shogatsu, are a gourmet’s delight. In particular, the New Year’s Day banquet, or Osechi, traditionally enjoyed in every home features many special foods. It is truly my favorite holiday and one I look forward to every year. And let’s be honest, it isRead On >

hoto recipe

Hoto: Udon Stew Recipe

By Lucy Seligman 2 Comments

A long and mysterious history lies behind hoto, an udon noodle-based stew from Yamanashi Prefecture, near Tokyo. It appears to be mentioned in the Pillow Book, a collection of essays of the Heian era (794-1185), but its precise origins are unknown. Many intriguing stories have grown up around it, however, all likely containing an elementRead On >

Fall Japanese Recipes

Japanese Recipes to Make This Fall

By Lucy Seligman 2 Comments

As the cooler fall months are right around the corner, now is the perfect time to cozy up to some traditional Japanese autumn dishes. These meals are hearty, delicious, and in many cases, healthy options as we wind down summer and enter the later part of the year. If you’re entertaining guests, tucking in forRead On >

Sashimi salad

Fresh Fusion Sashimi Salad for Summer

By Lucy Seligman Leave a Comment

This simple yet delicious and easy main course salad is truly a mingling of Eastern and Western cuisines, a fusion of cultures and ingredients to create something new and exciting for your palate.  The main ingredients –raw sashimi-grade fish and Japanese herbs –  are unmistakably Japanese, but the presentation is a Western – style salad.Read On >

Making Taiyaki

Japantown on Sawtelle in Los Angeles

By Lucy Seligman 2 Comments

Japantown on Sawtelle in Los Angeles is about as close to Japan as we’ve been able to get these last two years. As someone who considers Japan to be a second home, the inability to travel to Japan has been rough. One thing that helped (a little anyway…) is knowing I’m not alone in missingRead On >

Onigiri

Onigiri – Rice Balls Recipe

By Lucy Seligman 3 Comments

Onigiri (rice balls) also called omusubi is Japan’s brilliant, versatile and endlessly creative answer to savory sandwiches. It is completely portable and you can take onigiri to school excursions, exams, picnics…well just about anywhere. For an added treat, you can grill the onigiri, wrap in nori (seaweed) if desired and serve hot. Typical shapes ofRead On >

shredded chicken japanese radish

Unusual Edo Tastes: The use of Black Pepper and Garlic

By Lucy Seligman 3 Comments

Japan may have been cut off from the rest of civilization during the Edo period (1603-1867), they sure didn’t suffer when it came to food and  had a surprisingly rich food culture. They had a vast and plentiful diet, that included many western imports. Over 300 cookbooks were written during the Edo Era. The followingRead On >

Inarizushi recipe

Inarizushi – Sushi Rice in Pouches of Deep-fried Tofu

By Lucy Seligman Leave a Comment

Auspicious foods are a classic feature of Japanese festivals. At Hinamatsuri, also known as Girls’ Day Festival, on March 3, tradition dictates fare such as shirozake (white sake), arare (cubed rice crackers), and inarizushi (sushi rice in pouches of deep-fried tofu). The Fox’s Favorite – A POCKETFUL OF RICE The word inari originally meant aRead On >

Oyster Nabemono

Oyster Riverbank Stew with Miso

By Lucy Seligman Leave a Comment

Oyster Riverbank Stew – otherwise known as Kaki no Dote Nabe – is one of my favorite nabemono dishes. This stew uses both red and white miso as a powerful, pungent, decadent and seductive flavoring agent. The name riverbank probably refers to the bank of miso on the inside of the pot. There is anRead On >

© Copyright 2023 Thanks For The Meal. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Affiliate Disclosure