Ramen (ラーメン) is Chinese-style noodles served in strongly seasoned hot soup with various toppings. Ramen has been a very popular dish in Japan for many years. Now the world is catching up with us. Ramen shops are absolutely everywhere, inside and outside Japan. And people just love it.
Chicken Karaage (唐揚げ) is a Japanese-style fried chicken, and it is one of the most popular Japanese dishes. It is a great appetizer to go with drinks, a family-friendly dinner entree, and a perfect item for a Bento lunch box. Chicken is marinated well before coated lightly with flour and starch, and deep fried. With…
Chicken Udon (鶏うどん) is a simple yet satisfying dish made with Udon noodles and tender chicken thigh pieces simmered in a flavorful hot soup. It’s a light meal but hearty enough to enjoy on its own. While Chicken Udon is great any time of the year, it’s especially comforting and delicious during the colder months.
Kinpira Sweet Potato (さつまいものきんぴら) is braised sweet potato seasoned with Soy Sauce and sugar, just like Kinpira Gobo or Kinpira Carrot. This is a great small side dish that goes very well with any kind of entree, fish or meat. Or make it as a snack to have with tea in the afternoon. Kinpira usually…
Fried Squid Ring (イカリングフライ) is squid sliced into “rings,” coated with Panko and deep-fried. It could be an appetizer dish to go with drinks or a tasty entree for dinner. Fried Squid Ring is more a home cooking dish than restaurant food. It can be served at some diner-type restaurants, but more often, you may…
Soba Sushi (そば寿司) is rolled Sushi made with cooked Soba inside instead of Sushi rice. The soba is seasoned with rice vinegar just like Sushi rice. This interesting and refreshing taste of a Soba dish may not be an everyday dinner, but it is a wonderful appetizer for special gatherings.
Tuna Poke is raw Tuna cut into cubes and marinaded with a spicy soy-based sauce. Poke is actually a Hawaiian dish, but Japanese immigrants there may have contributed to the development of the evolution for the seasonings of Poke.
Aspara Bacon (アスパラベーコン) is asparagus spears wrapped with a bacon strip and pan-fried. It doesn’t sound like a very Japanese dish, but it is a popular side dish for different occasions. Aspara Bacon is so simple to make with easy-to-find ingredients. It is great for a Bento lunch on a busy morning. It is also…
Stuffed Shiitake Mushroom (椎茸の肉詰め), Shiitake Nikuzume, is Shiitake mushrooms stuffed with ground meat and cooked with Teriyaki sauce. It is just like Renkon Hasamiyaki, and the harmony of vegetable and meat is enjoyed with a tasty sweet and salty sauce. Stuffed Shiitake Mushroom is great as a dinner entree and also good for a Bento…
Tanuki Soba (たぬき蕎麦) is hot Soba noodles in soup with Tenkasu fried Tempura batter bits. It is a Soba dish with a pretty simple topping, but that addition gives the dish richer flavor. “Tanuki” literally means raccoon dog which is an animal found in Japan and a popular character in stories and culture there. One…