Welcome to my new series, Noriko’s quick and delicious 10-Minute Dish. In this series, I’ll be sharing easy Japanese recipes you can make in just 10 -15 minutes. Life gets busy, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up on homemade food. These dishes are quick, satisfying, and perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast. Today’s recipe is Yakiniku Fried Rice, a flavorful twist on classic Japanese fried rice.
Welcome to Happy Hour with Noriko! This is my little corner to unwind and share a favorite cocktail or sometimes another fun drink—paired with a simple bite, often from Japanese cuisine or beyond, that goes perfectly with it. Think of it as a mini treat to kick off your evening. Today’s menu features Plum Wine mixed with soda water and Satsuma Age.
Welcome to Happy Hour with Noriko! This is my little corner to unwind and share a favorite cocktail—or sometimes another fun drink—paired with a simple bite, often from Japanese cuisine or beyond, that goes perfectly with it. Think of it as a mini treat to kick off your evening. Today’s menu features Lemon Fizz and Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon.
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!
Skillet Korokke is a delicious and convenient alternative to traditional deep-fried korokke. The mashed potato filling and crispy panko topping come together in an iron skillet, creating the same great taste as the deep-fried version. If you want to enjoy korokke but don’t have the time to cook the potatoes, shape the patties, batter them, and deep-fry, this skillet method is perfect for you. It’s all done right in the skillet, and you can serve it straight to the dining table. The key is getting that signature crispy exterior on the panko topping, which gives you the authentic korokke experience without the hassle of deep-frying. This skillet version is just as tasty, but much easier to prepare. Hope you give it a try!
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!
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!
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!
This recipe transforms simple steamed rice into soft, chewy, mochi-like rice cakes. By mashing and cooking the steamed rice in a boiling water, it break down into a sticky, smooth dough that resembles traditional mochi in texture. Perfect as a base for both sweet or savory toppings, these rice cakes make a quick and satisfying treat. Kinako (roasted soybean powder) and sugar is the simplest topping for skewered Dango, but you can also use sweet red bean paste (Anko) or Mitarashi sauce. For a toasty flavor, try searing the cakes in a frying pan. No special tools or ingredients are required, making this an easy way to enjoy the taste and texture of homemade mochi using just cooked rice. Hope you give it a try!
Today I’ll show you how to make a super easy and tasty toast dish. This isn’t traditional Japanese food, and it’s a little on the junk food side, but it’s a popular breakfast or snack food in a pinch. First, squeeze Japanese mayo along a slice of Shokupan toast bread. Then, drop an egg in the center of the toast and bake it in a toaster oven. That’s it! While the egg is cooking on the toast, you can get ready for school or work. The whole process takes just 10 minutes. You think there’s too much mayo on the toast? Yes, it is! But that’s what makes this dish so delicious. If you’re young, healthy, and resilient, this is the great snack for you. However, if you’re aging and watching what you eat more carefully, like me, this is a dish to enjoy only occasionally as a special treat. I hope you enjoy this quick and tasty dish!