Nishime is a must when it comes to welcoming the new year! In fact, when it comes to tradition-bound festive holidays in Japan, nothing beats New Year’s, also known as Osechi – a time of family gatherings, gossip, and lots of good food and sake. As such, making nishime is always a part of myRead On >
All Recipes
Four of My Favorite Osechi Recipes
As the New Year approaches, I like to prepare classic Osechi recipes to mark the transition and bring good luck. The choices of food, colors and even the names of the dishes are all very intentional with Osechi. Plus preparing food ahead of time means a relaxing start to the New Year. It’s honestly myRead On >
Japanese Winter Comfort Foods
When it comes to winter comfort foods, one-pot dishes, soups and stews are a given – especially in the Japanese culture. Winter is the perfect time to cozy up, enjoy the snowfall, and make some of your favorite Japanese winter comfort food recipes. Japanese Winter Comfort Foods Chanko Nabe is a traditional hot pot dishRead On >
Jibuni: Kanazawa-style simmered duck stew
Kanazawa boasts a special regional cuisine called Kaga no aji. In general the taste is mildly sweet, like most Japanese country cooking. Visually, it is not as sophisticated or ornate as Kyoto’s kaiseki haute cuisine, since it’s based on the food of the samurai – substantial and hearty, with taste, not looks, being paramount. JibuniRead On >
Regional Japanese Recipes
We may not be able to travel to Japan in person at the moment, but we sure can sample and cook our way through it with our taste buds by visiting Honshu Island (some of my favorite noodle recipes from Nagoya (where I used to live) and a fish sukiyaki recipe from Osaka), Shikoku IslandRead On >
Japanese Shokupan: A Slice of Nostalgia
One of the first things you’ll notice at any Japanese bakery or hotel breakfast is the abundance of shokupan, literally “eating bread.” In the West, you’ll more likely to see the name “Hokkaido milk bread” or “Japanese milk bread”in a nod to the prefecture’s well-known association with premium dairy; depending on the recipe, you’ll seeRead On >
Vegetarian Japanese Recipes
Vegetarian Japanese recipes aren’t often highlighted, but today we’re going to change that! Whether you’re a vegetarian traveling to Japan or a home chef looking to cater to a vegetarian diet, these vegetarian Japanese dishes are sure to be a hit. Vegetarian Japanese Recipes As I’ve shared before, despite much of Japanese cuisine consisting ofRead On >
Sushi Hand Rolls
It is getting hotter here in the Bay area, so I don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen….but still want delicious and easy Japanese dishes! You can’t get much easier than Sushi Hand Rolls (temaki). Make a pot of sushi rice, set out lots of yummy toppings on trays, and let yourRead On >
Easy Japanese Recipes for Beginners
When it comes to Japanese cooking, there are some easy recipes that will still wow dinner guests! Whether you’re new to Japanese cooking or a beginner chef in general, these Japanese recipes are some of the easiest to get started with. Easy Japanese Recipes for Beginners Over the years, I’ve heard from many home cooksRead On >
Japanese Curry Rice Recipe
As much a part of the national food culture as sushi, various types of curry served with white rice (Kare Raisu, カレーライス) has been an enduring favorite in Japan since the Meiji era (1868-1912). Known as “curry rice” or “rice curry”, these days they usually contain meat or poultry, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Unlike IndianRead On >