Satumaimo Gohan or Japanese Sweet Potato Rice is a popular rice dish to make at home when satsumaimo is in season in the fall and winter. Naturally sweet and somewhat sticky satsumaimo go really well with steamed rice. It is so easy to make if you have a rice cooker at home, and you only need 5 ingredients. All you need to do is to put all of the ingredients in the rice cooker and push the button! Salt is all you need for flavor, but adding sake will enhance the aroma. If you don’t have sake or don’t want to use it, you can skip it. Satsumaimo Gohan is great to serve with grilled fish or meat and any seasonal vegetables. Enjoy the taste of the season with this easy and delicious rice dish!
Genmaicha is a traditional Japanese tea made by blending green tea with roasted brown rice. It’s a type of tea characterized by the toasty aroma of roasted grains, typically made by blending relatively inexpensive tea leaves with roasted brown rice and other grains as everyday tea. Its distinctive roasted flavor makes it stand out from other types of Japanese green teas. Because genmaicha uses less tea leaf—about half the amount typically found in green tea blends, due to the addition of grains—it contains less caffeine. This makes it a suitable choice for those who don’t want to take too much caffeine.
Today’s miso soup is with grilled tofu and spinach. Grilled tofu and spinach miso soup is a comforting and nutritious dish that blends the smoky, savory flavor of tofu with the fresh, earthy taste of spinach. The grilled tofu, broiled to achieve a charred surface, adds a hearty texture, while the spinach provides vibrant color and nutrients. Combined with the umami-rich miso broth, this soup is a perfect balance of flavor and health, ideal for any meal. If you can’t find grilled tofu at your stores, don’t worry! Broil regular tofu with a handheld burner (a kind you use for crème brûlée), or even pan-fry to get it browned. Hope you give it a try!
Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs, a delicious fusion dish that brings together Japanese and American flavors, creates something both familiar and excitingly new, perfect for everyday dinners or as elegant appetizers at holiday gatherings. We’ve paired ground turkey, a beloved American protein, with the irresistible sweet and savory notes of Japanese teriyaki sauce to create something really special.
Miso Mayo Dip is an easy and delicious dipping sauce you can make in just a few minutes with only 5 basic ingredients! You can quickly mix all the ingredients, cut some fresh vegetables, and you have a delightful appetizer in no time! It is a great flavor combination of creaminess from mayo and yogurt, saltiness from miso, and a hint of sweetness from maple syrup. If you like to add some kick to it, add some shichimi togarashi or chili oil to it. It can’t be any easier to whip up an appetizer at the last minute for a party or family gathering!
Stick Harumaki are deep-fried spring rolls filled with shrimp, edamame, and cheese. Long and skinny, they’re perfect finger food for party appetizers.
Unlike traditional Japanese spring rolls where fillings are tightly wrapped, these Harumaki have a more relaxed wrapping style, making them easier to prepare. The filling doesn’t require pre-cooking – just cut and stuff. When planning a holiday meal, appetizers should be as simple as possible, and these are easy enough that kids can help (except for the deep-frying part). Important steps to remember when making Stick Harumaki: Make sure to carefully pat dry the shrimp and edamame before wrapping, as excess moisture can cause the rolls to break during frying. When frying, handle the rolls gently to avoid piercing the skin – any holes can cause hot oil to splash. If you prefer extra-crispy rolls, try using whole Harumaki wrappers for each roll. While this method requires longer cooking time, it results in an exceptionally crunchy texture.
Seared Tuna is a popular dish served at Izakaya or Robatayaki estaurants (Japanese food bars) throughout Japan. Traditionally, the surface of the tuna is seared over flames, often fueled with rice straw or charcoal, which adds a smoky aroma while leaving the inside raw. It’s served with ponzu (a tangy citrus-soy sauce) and wasabi, making it an excellent appetizer that pairs well with sake or your drinks of choice.
Roasted Kabocha with Soy Maple Butter is an easy and delicious way to eat Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin. Kabocha is cut into bite sized pieces and coated with melted butter mixed with maple syrup, olive oil, and soy sauce. There are so many ways to cook Kabocha (see all of our Kabocha recipes here), but this is one of my favorites, and it’s probably the easiest!
Potato Gratin consists of thinly sliced potatoes baked in a rich and creamy sauce. While simple, its browned surface is especially appetizing, making it a universally appealing dish. Known as scalloped potatoes in the US, many countries have their own version of this dish. Japan has embraced it as well, and it’s now a western-style Japanese dish commonly found in restaurants and home kitchens. This combination of potatoes and béchamel sauce is popular among both the young and the old.
Today’s miso soup features pork and white button mushrooms. Use ordinary white mushrooms that can be found at any local store. While they don’t have as strong a flavor as shiitake mushrooms, not everyone always wants distinct mushroom flavors in their miso soup. White button mushrooms have just enough umami flavor for everyday soup. Pork adds more savory flavor, but you can substitute with tofu or other vegetables if you prefer a milder taste. Dashi is omitted here because there are rich flavors from the pork and mushrooms. It’s a very easy but satisfying miso soup. Hope you give it a try!