Japanese Cuisine: Delicious & Versatile

Japanese cuisine is extremely varied and consists of a variety of food items. So, if you think that Japanese food is only about Sushi and bowls of cooked rice, you should definitely reconsider. Japanese cuisine is extremely versatile and if you are a foodie, you will surely love the wonderful array of food items that Japan has to offer.

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Food served in Japan is inherently Japanese but world cuisine is also making its presence felt in the cities. However, the people of Japan are still extremely fond of and attached to Japanese cuisine and are also proud of it. Japanese cuisine is spreading across the world and people are accepting it with open arms.

If you want to try out Japanese cuisine and are keen on savouring some of the delicacies, then here are some Japanese food names that are extremely famous for their deliciousness.

As rice is the main staple in Japan, here are a few rice dishes you must sample:

Hayashi Rice: This is cooked rice topped with thick and tasty beef stew.

Onigiri: These are rice balls that are wrapped with seaweed and have a little stuffing in the middle.

Omurice: This is basically an omelette stuffed with fried rice, a delicacy.

Gyudon: This is a type of donburi. It is basically steamed rice with a topping of seasoned beef.

Katsudon: This is also a type of donburi. It comprises steamed rice with a topping of bread-crumbed pork cutlets.

There are various other kinds of rice dishes available; here are the Japanese food names of deep fried dishes:

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Tempura: This is a dish that is loved by all. It consists of prawns and vegetables, dipped in a batter and deep-fried.

Karaage: This dish comprises bite-size portions of fish, chicken, octopus, or different kinds of meat, which are floured and deep-fried.

Tonkatsu: Deep-fried pork cutlets that are breaded

Noodle dishes are also famous in Japan; here are the names of a few:

Udon: This is basically wheat noodles that are white and thick and served with various types of toppings like curry soup (Japanese style), etc.

Ramen: This type of noodle is light yellow and thin and is served in a hot broth of pork or chicken. This is extremely popular in Japan.

Soba: This is basically buckwheat noodles and is brown in colour. Soba is either served hot or cold.

Japanese food is extremely tasty and if you visit Japan or want to taste different sort of cuisine, then you must try out these dishes.

Savour Japanese Cuisine to find Out its Specialty

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One of the aspects that are most fascinating about Japan is its food. Japanese food is varied in flavour and preparation. Japanese cuisine is nothing like any of the occidental cuisines. Japanese food consists of oriental flavours, a lot of seafood and an array of different spices and herbs exclusive to Asia.

After taking a look at the entries at the Asian Food Fest, you can easily make out that Japanese food is truly one of a kind and purely Asian in form, texture and taste. Japanese cuisine consists of a variety of staples from different kinds of rice preps to a wide range of noodle. Rice and noodles is used in a various number of dishes that are incredibly delicious.

Some of the dishes that consist of rice, noodles, and different sorts of protein are:

• Gyudon

• Nabeyaki Udon

• Yakisoba

• Tonkotsu Ramen

• Matcha soba noodle salad

• Unadon

• Soboro Donburi

• Open Sushi

• Onigiri

• Omurice

• Hosomaki

• Katsudon

• Onsen Tamago Tofu

• Chicken Katsu

• Tempura (Vegetable, seafood, etc.)

• Tebasaki

• Chicken Karaage

• Daikon no Soboroni

• Buta Kakuni

• Supearibu no Nikomi

• Miso Soup

• Bacon Enoki Rolls with Teriyaki Sauce, etc.

These are some of the dishes that you must try out if you visit Japan. Various Japanese food items are available easily at restaurants and street side stalls. Japanese food can also be savoured in other countries but if you want the authentic taste, you will only get it if you eat Japanese food in Japan or made by chefs who have received training from Japan. The dishes that were presented in the Asian Food Fest are reflections of how important food is in Japanese society. You can also read up about Japanese cuisine if you are interested in knowing more about it.

The Hokkaido Course to Enjoy in Japanese Restaurants

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Japanese dishes are known worldwide for the great taste and sumptuousness. People around the world devour different kinds of Japanese dishes. The world know Japanese people as great foodies but you will be surprised to look at their fitness levels, in spite of the fact that they have a big appetite.

A lot of culinary Japanese dishes are popular among the people from every nook and cranny in the world. Though culinary dishes taste the best, foods at the restaurants are no less extravagant. There are several restaurants around the Japan and other parts of the world where you could taste the exclusive Japanese delicacies.

These restaurants keep changing their menu in order to introduce new dishes. The chefs in these restaurants use fresh quality ingredients and produces incomparable dishes with their skilful technique and creative flair.

Hokkaido Course in Japanese Restaurants

One of the most delicious Japanese dish courses being made available to you at the Japanese restaurants is Hokkaido Course that includes appetisers, sashimi, Hokkaido Ginkarei Shioyaki, Char-grill Ohmi, Hata Tempura and signature prawn, Miso soup and Bara Chirashi Sushi bowl.

The seasonal appetiser with this meal course consists of handmade noodles with foie gras, pumpkin tofu and vegetables with sesame sauce. The wild prawns used in the signature prawn and hata tempura give it a lovely sweetness. With crispy texture and savoury nature, the airy and tight tempura is a complete pleasure to devour at the Japanese restaurants.

• The Halibut is a type of fish with versatile qualities and different flavours. Hokkaido Ginkarei Shioyaki is quite tender and goes well the teriyaki sauce.

• The Char-Grill Ohmi is exceptionally tender and succulent and being served in cubes. The supple and tender fat cubes are slight crunchy and melts down in your mouth. It may look small in size but only a few cubes are enough to satisfy your beef craving.

• The thick slices of salmon on Bara Chirashi Sushi bowl will make you fall in love with it.

• The sushi lovers can go for Otoro set where you are served 6 pieces of sushi (2 pcs otoro aburi, 2 pcs otoro and 2 pcs Tai). All the fish pieces are fresh and cover the rice generously.

• The Tai Nyumen Mushi is mainly a wild snapper fish. It is cooked in bonito broth with fish noodles. MSG is not required and noodles are crunchy.

• You can also take a bowl of green tea.

So, if you are visiting any Japanese restaurant in your neighbourhood, you will have plenty of dishes on your plate.

The Food and View at Izu Peninsula in Simple Breathtaking

Japan is a very interesting place to visit if you like travelling the world. Japan is a mixture of the old and the new. On one hand you can see how technologically advanced it is and on the other hand, you will still find it deeply rooted in tradition, customs and history. The Japanese are a proud race and they take pride in their country. Therefore, when you visit Japan, make sure you soak in the true essence of the country.

If you are wondering, where to go in Japan, where you can take some time off, eat Japanese food and behold the beauties of the country, then you must take a trip to the Izu peninsula. The Izu peninsula is just an hour away from Tokyo, so if you are staying in the capital city, a trip to this place will be quick.

You can go to Ajiro and stay at a ryokan there but on your way to Ajiro, try and stop at Atami. This town is by the sea and it is very popular, especially with tourists. You can take a walk around town and behold Japanese buildings that have aged with time. The walking paths in the city are gorgeous and therefore you will have a fun time taking a stroll. The town is extremely charming.

If you visit Atami, and love Japanese food, then you absolutely must visit a few restaurants that sell exquisite food items. A restaurant called Kamatsuru sells excellent dried fish that you must taste. It is around 150 years old and now the fifth generation runs it. Apart from the dried fish, you must try out the bottled anchovy in this place. Near Kamatsuru there is this wonderful sushi restaurant and another tempura restaurant. If you are in the Izu peninsula, you must try the red snapper.

Another restaurant called Unamasa is a specialist restaurant that has only eight seats and the delicacy they specialise in is baked eel. As the restaurant uses eels that are domestic, the produce is highly restricted. Therefore, if you want a taste of the lovely delicacy, go there during lunchtime.

The third restaurant that must make it to every foodie’s list is Tokiwagi, there specialty is sweet bean jelly. This jelly is a sweet native to Japan and is called Yokan. It is prepared with simple ingredients such as sugar, azuki beans and water, and the taste is delicate and subtle. They have various types of traditional sweets along with sweets with a modern twist.

The ryokan in Ajiro is beautiful and complements the picturesque view of the town. The rooms have open-air baths that are splendid indeed and view of the ocean from the rooms is simply breathtaking. You can eat dinner that is served Kaiseki style and there are around eight to ten dishes as each dish is rather small. Every single dish is scrumptious and will have you asking for more. So if you don’t want to visit the Izu peninsula for the view, do visit it for the amazing food that is served.

How to Prepare Delicious Japanese Food, Chestnut Rice with Pacific Saury?

Japanese people are sometimes called “90-day people” because of the importance of four distinct seasons into their life. Each of these four seasons is three months long. With a change in the season, climate of the country, fashion trends and even the food culture change.

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Autumn is almost there in Japan and leaves have started turning to the beautiful shades of orange, red and yellow. Lots of holiday events are taking place and stews and other hot dishes are being served to keep you warm, as the temperature go down.

Autumn is the ideal season to celebrate the glories of Japan and oftentimes referred to as the “season of healthy appetites.” As this is the season of harvest, plenty of healthy and home-grown vegetable dishes can be found in the restaurants across the country. So, if you are planning a holidays in Japan around the winter season, enjoy the delicious Japanese food in autumn and do not miss to view the flowers change their colours.

Chestnut

Various autumn delicacies have already started being found in the shops. If you are looking for the delicacies prepared with home-grown ingredients, you can go for chestnut rice with home-grown chestnuts as primary ingredient. You can accompany the delicious chestnut rice with another yummy autumn delicacy, Pacific Saury.

Now, take a look at the recipe for preparing chestnut rice, at first,

Ingredients

• 360cc of sticky rice
• 12 chestnuts
• 1 tablespoon of sake
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 table spoon of mirin
• 1 small cut of kelp

Preparation Method

• Firstly, wash the rice and allow it to dry for around 30 minutes. Use sticky rice, not the normal white rice.
• Meanwhile, take a pan and boil the water into it. Add the chestnuts and bring them to boil again. Continue the boiling process for a few minutes.
• Now, take away the pan from heat and place the chestnuts into cold water.
• When the chestnuts are cool enough to handle with ease, use a knife to peel off their outer skin from the bottom to top.
• You will find another layer of skin underneath the chestnuts, peel this as well.
• As they easily get discoloured, place them in water soon after peeling off their skin.
• You can use a rice cooker and put dried rice in the cooker and add cut kelp, sake, salt and mirin.
• Add 330 ml water and place the chestnuts into the cooker. Switch on the rice cooker.
• It will take a few minutes for chestnut rice to cook properly. When it is done, add mixed grated black sesame seeds and salt on top of rice.
• While the rice is cooking, utilise the time in grilling the Pacific saury.
• Enjoy the chestnut rice with grilled Pacific saury.

Chestnut-Rice

So, do not forget to munch on this delicious dish while staying in Japan. You can also try other seasonal dishes made of home-grown ingredients.

Stay Healthy by Cooking Food Japanese Way

Japan cuisines have evolved over the last decade. The traditional Japanese diet is known for their health benefits. The basic ingredients of Japanese diet are vegetables, tofu and fish whereas rice is the main staple. However, if you are eating out the restaurants and banquet meals, rice is eaten at the end with pickles and soup. Many households also practice this.

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Usually, rice is not served with the alcohol and Japanese people enjoy their cocktail drinks at leisure with small quantities of different varieties of foods. Meal along with rice is consumed only once the people have finished their drinks. As rice is served after drinks, people consume a reasonable amount of rice, usually only one small bowl. Again, during the lunch time, Japanese people eat less quantity of rice. This is the secret of healthy living in Japan.

However, this is not the only secret of healthy living of Japanese people. A lot depend upon how they cook their foods. Many people want to know how to cook Japanese food; the key is including healthy and quality ingredients.

Healthy Way of Cooking Food

Unlike Chinese cooking, where oil is used to stir-fry the food at high temperature, Japanese usually use water, and not oil, while cooking. The predominant techniques of cooking include raw, simmered and grilled whereas frying is occasional. For the healthy balance of meal, they generally eat only a few pieces of fried food, like tempura, along with other dishes.

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It’s because of the prevalence of water to sustain seafood and grow vegetables that Japan is available with plenty of seasonal products. Japanese have a belief that it’s healthy to include foods of different colours in every meal. In spite of using high amount of sugar in the foods, you will find that Japanese meal do not include desserts regularly. And, even if there is a dessert in the course of menu, it will consist of small pieces of fresh fruits.

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At the last, presentation is very important in Japanese culture. They tend to serve foods in small amount and more attention is given to the tableware. Wasting food is considered rude in Japan, So, if you are dining out at restaurants or have been invited to a party, order the right amount of food, neither too much nor too little.

Japanese Cuisines are Healthy and Authentic

The staple or traditional food of any country or nation has an important role to play in showcasing its culture. There are so many countries in the world, each having different language, life style, eating habits and clothes. From a well developed country to a desert, it is very interesting to know about them all. Japan is one such country to talk about. Everything from their garden to temples to clothes, life style, festivals all reflects their love for their tradition.

Even they are very particular about their traditional food also! The Japanese cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes with regional specialties. Here we will talk about the popular Japanese dishes, their traditional food, table manners etc. The traditional and authentic Japanese food is ‘rice and miso soup’ with other dishes such as fish, pickled vegetables and vegetables cooked in broth. Fish, a very common traditional food, is often grilled or served raw as sashimi or in sushi.

Noodles

Noodles such as soba, udon, ramen, somen and yakisoba are also their staple food beside rice. They are very popular and served either hot or cold, depending on the season.

Seafood

Japanese people are very health conscious so they eat seafood a lot as they are very nutritious and have mineral intake in them. Hundreds of different types of fish, selfish, lobsters, clams and other seafood from oceans, seas, rivers and lakes are used in Japanese cuisine. They are eaten in many ways, such raw, dried, boiled, grilled, deep fried or steamed.

Nabe Dishes

Nabe, or hot pot dishes, are prepared in hotpots. Typical ingredients required for it are vegetables such as negi (Japanese leek) and hakusai (Chinese cabbage), mushrooms, seafood or meat. There are many varieties, and they are especially popular in the cold winter months.

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For over 2000 years, rice has been the authentic food of Japan. Instead of changes in their eating pattern rice has been the most important ingredient of their daily life. Now the rice is eaten as bowl rice, sushi, donburi, rice balls, fried rice, kayu etc. Japanese people also eat meat dishes, soybean dishes, and yoshoku dishes a lot. They also eat an indigenous type of sweet called wagashi. Green tea is their staple beverage which is formed in various multiple ways giving different tastes such as honey lemon, cardamom etc.

Some authentic Japanese food are as follows: Sesame soba salad, Vegan gyoza, Tuna tartare with yuzu gelee, Oya kodon, Miso Glazed cod, Seaweed salad, Tonjiru, Taco rice, Omurice, Negitoro sushi etc. Japanese cuisine, particularly sushi, has now become popular throughout the world. The characteristics of Japanese food are the use of sparing meat, fats, oils and dairy products. They love to decorate their food with tree leaves and branches. Seasonality is another attribute of their food which is referred as ‘bounty of the mountains’ and ‘bounty of the sea’. The traditional way of having dinner is sitting on tatami floor. There is still a lot more to know about Japanese food and lifestyle so keep finding and reading. It’s interesting!

Japanese Food You Must Try

Recently, I was having a talk with my friends about how important food is in every country.

Food plays a very important role in any culture. One of the most important things it does is that it brings people together. Families sit down to eat together at least once a day, children share their food with classmates at lunch, office workers get together after work to eat and socialise in the evenings. Food is also an essential part of any celebration. Whether it is a birthday, an anniversary, or just friends getting together after a long time, food is essential.

And it is no different in Japan here. Here food brings people together too. In fact many come to visit Japan to taste its authentic cuisine. Even vegetarians. It is not all just about sushi, you know. So here’s a list of Japanese food that you can enjoy with friends and family.

RICE

This is the staple cereal of Japan. Short and sticky you will find this as an accompaniment to many styles of food from the fancy sushi and nigiri, to a simple meal of rice with vegetables. Hakumai is the preferred choice for rice as it is polished white rice that is thought to be very tasty. If you want to cook together with friends and family, rice is a simple thing to start with.

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NOODLES

After rice, it is definitely noodles that are the most popular. Whether you have the soba noodles that are made from buckwheat flour, or udon noodles made from wheat. These are usually eaten on their own with simple sauces or some vegetables and meat as toppings. The soba noodles can also be eaten cold and because of this are great for serving at large dinners or parties.

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YAKITORI

This is similar to a barbeque stick or a kebab. Skewered on a bamboo stick, little pieces of vegetables, chicken and chicken liver are prepared over coals instead of an electric or gas oven. This is a wonderful dish for friends to share.

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SHABU – SHABU

If you and your friends like to eat meat, this is a dish that you all will enjoy at a restaurant as it involves the eater in the preparation as well. You will be given chopsticks, a pot of boiling water, dipping sauce and very thinly sliced strips of beef. To eat you will have to pick up a beef slice with your chopsticks, swirl it in the boiling water and then dip it in the dipping sauce.

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So enjoy these dishes mentioned above and don’t forget to let me know how you liked them.

A Common Japanese Food Trend to Keep You Fit During Summer

The spring has given way for the summer season to alter and modify one’s lifestyle. The scorching heat of summer is harsh and unkind that requires people to completely change their way of living. Summer in Japan can take a toll on your health, if you do not consumer proper foods.

It’s that time of the year, when people in Japan start wearing short sleeved or non sleeve tops. Summer season also gives you an opportunity to shed certain post-winter weight and fat from your body.

The Kouso diet is common to have in Japan during the summer season. Kouso is a general term for enzyme that can help you reduce fat and maintain the fitness level of your body. The food enzyme that you take from the Kouso diet helps to increase the metabolism of body and burns a great amount of calories.

This diet has certain rules that you need to follow strictly, they are

• Prefer to have fresh vegetables and fruits each day
• Kouso juice should be taken as breakfast
• Your every day diet should include 40 percent cooked and 60 percent non-cooked dishes
• While eating out, add salad or pickles to the main dish
• Start your meal by having vegetable dish at first, meat or fish dish comes next and carbohydrates should be consumed at the last
• Take dinner before 8 PM
• Try not to include white rice, plain flour and refined sugar in your meal

Kouso juice is a frequent Japanese food and prepared with mixed vegetables and fruits. The vegetables and fruits are diluted with water or coconut juice and green leaves, such as spinach, are common ingredients. This can be prepared in a juicer or a low-speed compression squeezed juicer.

You can choose to start with spinach, papaya, lemon and cucumber. Papaya contains a significant amount Kouso and cucumber helps to improve skin conditions.

Kouso juice is available in different flavours. There are plenty of juice bars where you can go for choicest flavour. While travelling in a train or tube, you can find lots of flavours from the food stalls at stations. The food falls in departmental stores also make you available with different flavoured juices.

You can combine your daily diet with exercise regime and see if any difference is noticed in a few months. This will help you reenergise for the day and you can spend the entire day with a positive frame of mind.

If you start eating out Kouso diet, it’s for sure that you will feel a huge difference in your body shape as well as mind set-up within just a few months.

Few Most Popular Spring Vegetable Dishes in Japan!

No exaggeration, Japan is a foodie’s delight. By now, it is evident that this country is one of most frequented tourist destinations in Asia. A large number of foreign tourists flock the country envisaging an exceptional experience of natural beauties, culture and traditions, unique fashion sense and Japanese cuisine.

Japan is known for the incomparable tastes and varieties of foods. On the global platform, it has carved niche amongst the gourmets. There are different varieties of dishes to experience in Japan.

Traditionally, Japanese dishes are rooted in rice with miso soup and different other dishes. Interestingly, when you visit a restaurant, each food is served in particular shape of utensils and more emphasis is put on the seasonal ingredients.

The side dishes are usually comprised of fishes, pickled vegetables and broth-cooked vegetables. Fishes are considered traditional food in Japan and often served grilled. You should not get surprised after finding out raw fishes served as sashimi or in sushi.

It’s the month of spring in Japan. Around this time, dishes prepared from home-grown vegetables are quite common to experience in the country. There are various types of dishes prepared from different vegetables.

Spring Bamboo Shoot

Spring bamboo shoot is one of the most haves vegetable in the spring season. You can find some of the delicate dishes prepared from the bamboo shoot. Apart from grilled spring bamboo shoot, you can have bamboo shoot omelette and stewed bamboo shoot with chicken dumplings. Bamboo shoot rice is another delicacy prepared from this spring vegetable.

If you are in Tokyo, The Japanese Izakaya restaurant offers you some of the best quality of bamboo shoot dishes.

Field Mustards and Udo

Around the spring month, Japanese supermarket is available with lots of green vegetables, fruits and sea foods. Another attraction of spring dishes in Japan is field mustard and Udo. The latter one can make wonderful salad, which tastes exceptionally well and are nutritious too.

You can prepare Peperoncino pasta with field mustard. After adding some ingredients, you can have the pasta of your lifetime. The Goemon is a restaurant chain and offers some of the best quality Peperoncino pasta.

Vegetable Tea

These days, there is a trend of vegetable tea in Japan. There are different varieties of vegetable tea served in the restaurants around the country. Vegetable tea helps you in proper bodily functions and is extremely tasty.

The Jerusalem artichoke tea can help diabetic patients in lowering down the glucose level in body. It smells like sesame seeds and tastes light.

You can sip onion skin tea that helps in anti-aging, prevention of cancer and improves immunity.

Similar to these Japanese food and beverages, there are different other varieties available in the restaurants. You can also prepare these recipes at your home and enjoy with family and friends.