Flavor Adventure: Japan

Photo: Jenn/Peas and Crayons

While the first thing that comes to mind when associating food and Japan is sushi, there is so much more to Japanese cuisine. In this edition of Cookbook Create’s flavor adventure, take a culinary journey to Japan to learn about this beautiful and traditional food culture filled with exciting flavors and of course don’t forget- Umami!

Ingredients and Flavors Used in Japanese Dishes

Some classic ingredients you might be familiar with used in Japanese dishes include soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi paste.

CR from XLBCR uses soy sauce, brown rice, and bonito flakes to help create authentic Japanese dishes. Brown rice is a great foundation to use for dishes while soy sauce provides the Umami flavor. Bonito flakes can either be used as a garnish for an extra pop of flavor or used to infuse a fish flavor into broths.

Pickled ginger might be a well known Japanese condiment as it is usually served with Sushi dishes. Nami from Just One Cookbook makes her own pickled ginger that is delicious, tangy, and free of artificial ingredients!

Spaghetti is not the go to noodle eaten in Japan, but rather dishes include noodles such as Udon. Udon noodles are commonly found in soup based dishes. They are thick, a touch chewy, and oh-so delicious! Emi from Goboroot shares her homemade recipe for Udon noodles- and they are worth making.

 

You Might Be Familiar with These Classics

Sushi is great, but it tastes even better when made at home. There is something satisfying about rolling your seaweed and sushi rice together, just right. Jenn from Peas and Crayons provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to easily make sushi at home!

Ramen is the newest craze- it’s not just for broke college students anymore. The savory and filling soup has become a food trend. Lindsay from Pinch of Yum shares her delicious version of a vegetarian ramen that is spicy and filled with tofu.

 

Get to Know these Delicious Dishes

Asides from Sushi and Ramen, there are many other lesser known dishes from Japan that are as equally delicious!

AiPing from Curious Nut shares her recipe for Okonomiyaki, which is a savory Japanese pancake. Filled with vegetables and topped with a Japanese style mayonnaise, these are a great side dish to an Asian inspired meal!

If you like pork and rice, check out Katsudon. A panko fried pork chop bowl over white rice with an egg and onion- this dish sounds like a winner. Sarah from The Woks of Life shares her easy Katsudon recipe for a great idea for weeknight dinners.

Another crispy pork bowl is Tonkatsu. Similar to the Katsudon, but with a different sauce, this savory and delicious dish from Nicky of Kitchen Sanctuary will satisfy any of your pork cravings.