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!
Pumpkin Purin is a Japanese-Western fusion dessert that combines Western-style custard pudding (called “Purin” in Japanese) with Japanese kabocha squash, a widely popular sweet pumpkin variety. While its exact origins are unknown, it has long been a staple at Western-style confectionery shops and bakeries in Japan, eventually becoming established as a beloved dessert that’s also popular to make at home.
When you are craving for Karaage or deep-fried chicken, but you have no time or energy to make it at home, this easy air fryer chicken karaage recipe is for you! It’s also a lot healthier than the typical deep-fried Karaage. Chicken thighs are cut into small bite size pieces, seasoned well with typical pantry ingredients, and cooked in the air fryer. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes! Since the chicken is cut small, there is no need to marinade this for a long time. Smaller pieces will also shorten the cooking time and make them crispy outside just like the deep-fried karaage.
The Katsu Sando (カツサンド) is a popular Japanese sandwich made with tonkatsu (breaded and deep-fried pork) placed between slices of shokupan (Japanese toast bread). Typically cut into triangles or rectangles, this sandwich has become a beloved staple across Japan, frequently found in bakeries and convenience stores. It’s a common choice for school or work lunches due to its convenience and satisfying taste.
Mixed Rice, or Takikomi Gohan in Japanese, is an easy seasoned rice dish made right in your electric rice cooker. Mixed Rice with Salmon and Edamame requires minimal cooking involved, yet you end up with a delicious rice dish when it’s done. Here I used salmon fillet and frozen edamame. After seasoning the salmon, simply place it on top of the uncooked rice (no need to cut it!) and let the rice cooker do the rest. If you use pre-shelled edamame, which is commonly available today, you can skip the shelling step. Fresh ginger root adds a refreshing taste and subtle kick to the rice – you can adjust the amount to suit your preference. Despite using salmon, the dish isn’t fishy at all, especially with the ginger’s bright flavor. Serve this Takikomi Gohan as part of your meal, then transform any leftover rice into Onigiri rice balls for the next day’s lunch. I hope you’ll give it a try!
Beef Steak with Garlic Soy-Butter Sauce features a thick cut of sirloin steak with a Japanese-flavored garlic soy butter sauce. This hearty red meat may not be an everyday dish for many, but it’s the perfect choice when craving substantial, meaty food. Our sauce is bold and strong, eliminating the need for any bottled steak sauce.
Garlic Yaki Onigiri is a variation of Yaki Onigiri, Japanese rice balls that are grilled to crisp on the outside. In this recipe, we simply pan-fried the rice balls with oil infused with garlic. Seasoning is quite simple, only with soy sauce, but Katsuobushi bonito flakes mixed in the rice adds so much umami to this simple dish. The flavor combination of fried garlic and rice can’t go wrong, and it’s simply irresistible. You might want to double or triple the recipe as you may need more than a couple once you start eating these rice balls!
Basque Cheesecake is a Spanish cheesecake with a distinctive burnt and caramelized top. Its creamy, almost custard-like interior without a crust became a culinary sensation around the world. Japan is no exception, and Basque Cheesecake was THE dessert in the late 2010s that everybody was talking about. It is still going strong in Japan, and not only restaurants and bakeries but also many convenience stores have started making packaged Basque Cheesecakes, making it super popular among the ordinary public, not just foodies.
Oatmeal with Tofu is a healthy breakfast alternative to more traditional oatmeal with cream and sugar. This savory version has plenty of delicious Japanese flavors such as Dashi and tofu, and it’s still very quick and easy to make. It’s almost like soup because that’s how I like it, but if you prefer it thicker, reduce the amount of water (you may want to reduce some of the seasonings too). Oatmeal has many health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar. It also contains a lot of fiber and keeps you feeling full until the next meal. Tofu is a great source of healthy protein, and Wakame offers various minerals. Overall, Oatmeal with Tofu is a healthy choice for breakfast. Hope you give it a try!