Japanese Style Chocolate Roll CakeMy whole family loves this dessert because of its super soft, fluffy cake and very delicious chocolate ganache. For this dessert you need to spend money on 200 g (0.44 lb) of dark chocolate, but this is the only expensive ingredient and it is only used in the ganache. My family has a very humble life, but I think that it is very important to please our loved ones with something very tasty at least 1-2 times a year.
Chicken Katsu CurryJapanese curry is one of my absolute favourite comfort meals. Adding chicken katsu to it just knocks it out of the park. Chicken katsu is a crispy fried chicken cutlet cooked to perfection.
Easy Pork Tonkatsu in Creamy Pepper GravyA long day of work at home, moving things, cleaning up and everything deserves a good treat so I decided to cook a rewarding dish for dinner. We couldn't eat out so the best thing to do is bring restaurant recipes at home.
Sticky Rice ShumaiShumai is a delicate and delicious Asian dumpling, traditionally formed with a thin flour-based wonton style wrapper. You can forego using the wrappers and roll them in sticky mochi rice before steaming. I love the textures of these more than traditional shumai!
Japanese Fruit SandwichThis is a popular sweet treat from Japan that falls under the sandwich category because it is assembled like one. The outcome is more of a cake, and it is so refreshing and delicious. We like to have these for afternoon tea. It's so easy to make, it's a great all-ages recipe.
Tuna Mayo OnigiriOnigiri are Japanese rice balls that can be filled with any number of things. We like to form them into triangles or rounds then wrap them with seaweed sheets for easy handling (and deliciousness). When my mother was in university in Japan as a late-teen, this was one of her go-to meals. It's easy to make, costs very little, and is super yummy!
Japanese Glazed Tofu SteakThis tofu steak is so good, it will have you forgetting about meat. I'll share a couple tofu techniques with you to make sure you never have bland and squishy tofu again. I hope you will love this delicious tofu steak as much as I do!
Japanese Sweet Potato RiceIt is sweet potato season and I love it! One of my favourite ways to use up sweet potato is inside this warm and comforting rice dish. It's really easy to make and creates a great side for any entree. I used a rice cooker here but you can use whatever method you usually cook your rice.
Japanese Skewered Chicken (Yakitori)Yakitori is a longtime favourite street food in Japan. It was one of the first things I had when I first visited Japan as a kid, and by far the best. Nothing really beats having it on the streets of Japan, but my family's recipe comes close. You can make this on an outside grill, as well as indoors. You'll love it either way...promise!
Japanese Style Potstickers (Gyoza)These potstickers may seem daunting to prepare, but once you make your first batch, you'll be an automatic-potsticker-making-machine! These are fabulous as appetizers, sides or full meals. I like to serve them at get-togethers, but watch out, they go fast! I've included an alternative lettuce wrapped version here, as well as how to make my special dipping sauce.
Japanese Chicken CurryJapanese curry is different from Indian curry because it's more of a hearty stew. It tends to be much less spicy and has big soft chunks of veggies and meat. This is the way I make it when I'm in a rush to make a lot of food in a short amount of time. A dollop of cooling yogurt and a drizzle of citrus preserves make for the perfect accompaniment for this dish. I hope you try it!
Pandan Pancakes with Coconut CustardMy best friend and I frequent an Asian tea house that serves excellent pandan waffles. We really like how soft the middles are, so we decided to try making our own pandan pancakes. Pandan sweets always pair nicely with coconut, so we made a coconut custard to go along with the cakes. When the layered stack is placed in the fridge for an hour, the breakfast treat turns into a dense cake, which is also a nice way to enjoy this!
Easy Japanese CroquettesThese "croquettes" are easy to make, and yummy with the crispy outside, and soft insides with potato, onions and ground beef. They can be served with rice, shredded cabbage or fruit. This is a real easy dish to make, and a great way to also use left over mashed potatoes when you have them.
Wakame Seaweed SaladThis Japanese seaweed salad is very popular anywhere sushi is served. Since I've been eating these salads since I was a kid, I roll my eyes at the prices marked on them because I know a huge batch can be made for under a buck. Wakame seaweed is not only tasty, it is packed full of calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, and vitamins B2 and B9.
Salmon Chan-Chan YakiChan-chan yaki is a Japanese dish that uses fish and vegetables with a sweet and savoury miso sauce. They say that "chan-chan" is the sound the spatulas make when used to flip and piece up the ingredients on the hot pan. This is typically made on an electric griddle at the table with everyone sitting around, but you can use a big pan and serve it up in plates with rice.
Japanese Style Beef and OnionsThis is a family recipe which was derived from a Northern Japanese post World War II era recipe. It is said that American troops ate a lot of beef at their bases in Northern Japan. The Japanese up there were poor after the war, but they could afford to buy leftover bits and pieces of beef from the Americans. They grew a massive amount of onions up there, and that is how this recipe came to be.
Japanese Style Watermelon Rind PicklesThis is one of my family's longtime "waste not want not" recipes. Don't throw out your watermelon rinds! With a bit of salt, you'll have a beautifully refreshing and crunchy pickle. It goes really well with a warm bowl of rice or noodles.
Mashed Potato SushiI have been making wasabi mashed potatoes for a long time now and it's definitely one of my favourite sides. I thought it would be cute (and yummy) to turn that mash into something super cute: mashed potato sushi. Making perfectly rolled sushi can be daunting getting the rice perfectly cooked so it sticks enough, but doesn't get mushy. Using mashed potatoes will make getting the shape right much easier... and you don't even need a rolling mat!
Crispy Grilled Caramel Puffs (Karumeyaki)This is my mother's childhood recipe for a traditional Japanese grilled caramel called Karumeyaki. It is said this recipe is over 400 years old. It's mostly sugar but with a little help and the high heat from a copper ladle, it turns into this beautiful meringue-like cookie. It's actually quite the edible science experiment!
TeppanyakiTeppanyaki is a super fun and delicious table grill style meat and veggie feast that originated in Japan. It may not look like it, but you use so little food to prepare this. We call this our frugal fun meal. You cook the food yourself in front of you while sitting around an electric griddle, dip it in some sauces, and eat it with rice. It's so fun for groups and very romantic for two. If you've ever eaten at Benihana, this is the at-home version of that.
Japanese Style Sardines (Iwashi Nitsuke)I adore sardines mostly because they have so many health benefits. They fight against mood disorders and depression. They reduce inflammation in the body, and they're backed with calcium and vitamin D. This is one of my favourite ways to prepare them as they have such a beautiful complex flavour. I've demonstrated steps on how to use them with a pressure cooker for optimal taste results, but do read the last step if you'd like to try it without one, using a pan.
How to Prepare Ginkgo NutsGinkgo nuts have many health benefits including improving memory, alleviating pains, and helping the nervous system. They also have a unique nutty flavor and texture unlike anything else. They're a super popular snack in Japanese restaurants but are actually very easy to prepare at home.
Cold Soba Noodle SaladWhen we have left over rotisserie chicken or any chicken on hand this is our go to quick meal. Tastes delicious and very easy to make.
Pork YakisobaThis is a very simple yet versatile stir fry dish that you can substitute the protein to your liking (I used pork shoulder) or add more vegetables/opt vegetables. Customize this noodle dish the way you like it. I love how this noodle dish has your grains, protein and vegetables all in one.
Japanese Pickled Plums (Umeboshi)Umeboshi is a very popular salted pickled plum from Japan. Not only do they taste great with rice dishes, but once ingested, they are high in alkaline content and act as a natural antibiotic. Many use Umeboshi for morning sickness, motion sickness, and a simple cure for hang overs.
Japanese Style Fried Chicken (Karaage)Karaage (pronounced kara-ah-geh) is a super yummy Japanese style fried chicken. It has always been my favourite as far as fried foods. You can have them as an appetizer but we eat them as one of many little dishes when we make Japanese food.
Japanese TamagoyakiTamagoyaki is a traditional egg dish from Japan. It's basically a slightly sweet rolled up omelette. You can eat it with rice or on its own. The lovely part about it is the layers it creates in the rolling process. You will love this soft and scrumptious comforting treat!
Miso SoupBecause of the medications I have to take, my vitamin B12 becomes greatly depleted and the supplements give me acid reflux. So I needed to search for vitamin B12 rich foods that I like to eat to help compensate.
Yakitori TareYakitori is Japanese bite sized chicken pieces skewered, marinated and grilled with basting sauce. You can also use an assortment of other types of meats and/or veggies, but that will change the recipe title to "Kushiyaki".
Beef TeriyakiThis is one of those meals that you can literally walk in the door at night, put on the skillet, and start cooking. If you're thought ahead and already cut the meat into strips. While the meat browns, cut up the pepper and onions.
Japanese ChickenYou know the smell that wafts at you in the food court? The one you wish you could find among all the vendors? Well this is it. Now you can make it in your own kitchen. Don't walk, run out to pick up the ingredients. You won't be disappointed!
All Purpose Oriental SauceIf you like Oriental food like stir fry, you will like this recipe. It is a good tenderizer, marinade, and works for flavoring any stir fry or fried rice. It is a thrifty alternative for those expensive Japanese grills. This marinade will work for about 5 lbs of boneless meat just as a marinade.
Easy YakisobaThis was my re-creation of a lunch plate I had recently at a local deli. It would also be delicious without the noodles and served over rice.
Teriyaki BeefSpray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray; cook beef strips over medium-high heat 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Yaki SobaSimmer until transparent. Boil 1/2 large head chopped cabbage in 1/2 cup water until tender-crisp. Cook needed amount of spaghetti. Rinse in cold water.
