Japan

Temaki is a Japanese sushi dish made of a cone-shaped roll of nori (seaweed) which is filled with sushi rice, seafood, vegetables, and topped with condiments such as wasabi and pickled ginger. Temaki translates to ‘hand roll’ in English, referencing the method used to create its shape. The rice used to make this dish should …

Anmitsu is a traditional Japanese dessert consisting of kanten jelly accompanied by fruit, mochi and anko topped with ice cream and kuromitsu. The jelly is prepared ahead of time, while the other ingredients are assembled just before serving. It is a popular summer dessert. Kanten is a gelling agent derived from red seaweed. It is …

A sake bomb is a popular drinking ritual that combines Japanese rice wine called sake and beer. It is often enjoyed in social gatherings and is particularly popular in Japanese-themed bars, college parties and casual get-togethers. The process involves dropping a shot glass filled with sake into a glass of beer and then chugging the …

Tonkatsu Ramen is a Japanese ramen noodle dish made with noodles and a creamy broth made from pork bones and flavored with garlic, ginger, scallions and onions. Toppings such as a soft-boiled egg, sliced pork belly, and green onion are often added to accompany the noodles.  The creation of all ramen broths is a notoriously …

Rakugan are Japanese sweets that are known for their delicate and artistic appearance. They are made by kneading a mixture of finely ground sugar and glutinous rice flour with water, forming it into various shapes, and then drying it to achieve a hardened texture. Rakugan are typically small in size, ranging from a few centimeters …

Ikayaki is a Japanese street food consisting of squid grilled in a soy sauce glaze and served on a stick or sliced on a plate.  This food is an easily transportable snack and is popular in street food markets and at summer festivals all across Japan.  The term ‘ikayaki’ meaning grilled squid, actually has several …

Shrimp chips are a popular snack or side dish in many parts of the world, particularly in Asia. They are typically made from a combination of shrimp paste, tapioca starch, and water, which is then shaped into thin, round chips and deep-fried until crispy. The chips are usually served as a light and crunchy snack …

Tamagoyaki is a Japanese dish similar to an omelet, unique for the way that the egg is rolled over itself and seasoned with soy sauce, mirin and sugar. While tamagoyaki will sometimes use fillings such as seaweed, green onions, salmon, or tuna, it is just as often served plain. Despite being known as a Japanese …

Tuna eyeballs are a delicacy in some parts of the world, particularly in Japan where is it known as Maguro No Medama Yaki, which translates to ‘grilled tuna eyeballs’. They are certainly one of the most unusual foods in the world. They are prepared by boiling or simmering the eyeballs of fresh tuna and serving …

Mentsuyu, also known as Tsuyu, is a Japanese soup base typically prepared using sake, mirin, soy sauce, kombu and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). It is usually added to soba and udon noodle dishes, and its flavor is said to be subtle yet strongly savory. Because of the addition of soy sauce and bonito flakes, this …

Basashi is a traditional Japanese horse meat sashimi dish. It is typically accompanied by condiments including sliced onions, grated ginger and garlic, and is then dipped in sweet soy sauce. It is usually consumed cold (almost frozen in the middle) and is considered to be a popular side dish for drinks. It is said that …

Ponzu sauce is a traditional Japanese dipping sauce prepared using soy sauce or tamari, citrus juice, mirin, katsuobushi (bonito flakes), kombu (kelp) and rice vinegar. The sauce is typically consumed as a condiment for sashimi, shabu shabu (hot pot), tataki (grilled meat), gyoza (dumplings), cold noodles and tempura. Ponzu sauce can also be used as …

Unadon is a typical Japanese dish consisting of grilled unagi (eel) fillets placed over steamed rice. The unagi is made kabayaki-style, like teriyaki. The fillets are coated with a sweetened soy-based sauce (also known as tare) and caramelized, generally over a charcoal fire. Traditionally, pulverized dried berries of sanshō (also known as Japanese pepper) are …

Tanuki soba is a traditional Japanese noodle dish prepared using buckwheat soba noodles. The dish is typically served in a dashi broth which is seasoned with soy sauce and then finished off with crumbled tempura batter. The tempura helps to provide the dish with a crunchy texture. Usually consumed hot, this Tanuki Soba is sometimes …

Japanese 7 spice, also known as shichimi togarashi, is a Japanese spice mixture that translates to ‘seven-flavor chilli pepper’. It is usually prepared using seven ingredients, which include red chilli pepper, sansho pepper, hemp seeds and/or poppy seeds, white sesame seeds and/or black sesame seeds, ground ginger, yuzu or mandarin orange peel and nori. This …

Turtle soup is a delicacy prepared in many different variations in countries including China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan and the United States. The ingredients vary accordingly depending on the culture but all recipes use the meat of turtles in a type of soup or stew. Turtle soup is said to taste like a mix of …

Udon is a traditional, thick Japanese noodle prepared using wheat flour. Udon can be prepared in many different ways and is considered a comfort dish for many locals. However, the simplest version is in a hot soup known as kake udon, along with a broth (commonly known as kakejiru). The broth is prepared using dashi, …

Sea urchins are spherical, hard-shelled animals generally found on the seabed of every ocean. They usually live in cracks and crevices on coastal rocks and reefs. Despite the fact that it may appear odd to consume the spiny sea urchin, it is in fact relished in several countries around the world. Some of them include …